Tech Directions - November 2008 - (Page 12)

She also made a dress for Varina Davis, wife of Senator and later Confederate President Jefferson Davis. That dress led to the ﬁrst one she made for Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of Dennis Karwatka President Abraham Lincoln. A purple d.karwat@morehead-st.edu velvet gown she made for Mrs. Lincoln in 1864 is occasionally displayed Elizabeth Keckley and Dressmaking Innovation at the Smithsonian Institution’s NaBy the time she reached her In the 19th century, very few tional Museum of American History. teens, she was as proud and indepenAmericans attended school beyond Keckley was so close to the Lindent as a person could be in high school. Most left after the 6th coln family that Mrs. Linher situation. Wanting to or 8th grade because few people coln referred to Keckley demonstrate her skills, thought that education was very as her best friend. she made clothes for important. But some women knew Keckley accompathe Burwells that that it was the keystone to success in nied the family were of outstanding the workplace. They started educaton the train that quality. Others saw ing themselves by attending public took President what she made and lectures and visiting museums. Lincoln’s body hired her to work on Many popular books of the early to Illinois after their projects in her 19th century were written for female his assassinaspare time. readers. By mid-century, America led tion in 1865. Her The Burwell the rest of the world in the amount long association family fell on hard of public and private education availwith the Lincolns times in the 1840s, able to women. Elizabeth Hobbs encouraged her and Keckley had to Keckley was a Virginia slave whose to write a book move several times. experience reﬂected this emerging about her experiFrom Behind the Scenes, or Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House Her son, George, educational movement. During the ences. Keckley was born in 1842. mid-1800s, she developed an imreturned to her Elizabeth Keckley (He later lost his life proved system for cutting and ﬁtting dressmaking ﬁghting with the Union dresses. business in Washington, DC. In 1892, forces during the Civil she was offered a position at WilberKeckley was War.) force College in Ohio. She went there born near PetersKeckley and her as a head of the Department of Sewburg, VA, in 1818 new owner moved ing and Domestic Science Arts. She to George and Agto St. Louis in about quickly organized an exhibit for the nes Hobbs. It was 1850. She purchased 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. Keckley during the time of freedom for herself eventually returned to Washington, slavery, and she and her son in 1855 for DC, where she died in1907. did not have a about $1,200, mostly typical family life. with income from her Her parents lived References sewing. Wanting to on different farms James, Portia, P. (1989). The real Mcshare her knowledge and her father Coy—African-American invention and experience with was forced to and innovation. Smithsonian Instiothers, Keckley moved move away when tution Press. to Baltimore in 1860. she was about Keckley, Elizabeth. (1868). Behind She hoped to open a eight years old. the scenes, or Thirty years a slave school for free black Keckley’s and four years in the White House. women to teach them mother worked Carleton and Co. Publishers. Title page from Keckley’s her system of cutting in the house of 1868 book Loewenberg, Bert James, & Bogin, and ﬁtting clothing. Armistead BurRuth. (1976). Black women in The Baltimore venture did not well, which provided some special nineteenth century American life. succeed, and Keckley moved to privileges, such as access to books. Pennsylvania State University Washington, DC, to open a dressmakShe taught herself to read and write, Press. ing business for the wives of political and she passed those skills to her ﬁgures. She made dresses for such daughter. Keckley was a housemaid Dennis Karwatka is professor notables as Mary Anna Lee, wife of for the younger children and learned emeritus, Department of Industrial and Robert E. Lee, who would lead the the basics of the dressmaking trade Engineering Technology, Morehead Confederate forces in the Civil War. from her mother. (KY) State University. technology’s past 12 techdirections ◆ NOVEMBER 2008

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Tech Directions - November 2008 Technically Speaking Contents Direct fromWashington The Report Technology’s Past Technology Today Mastering Computers Exploring Engineering—Pros Can Help Make It Real Challenge Students to Design an Energy-Efficient Home CTE Teacher Succession—Insuring a Smooth Transition Reservoir High’s TE Site Wins Web Site of the Month ACTE Convention and Career Tech Expo— Racing Toward Charlotte Hands-On Activities More than Fun

Tech Directions - November 2008

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