Dr. Jonathan Michael Square will present the first chapter from his forthcoming book Negro Cloth: How Slavery Birthed the American Fashion Industry (Duke University Press, 2025), which explores the pivotal role of enslaved individuals in the production and use of "negro cloth," specifically "Lowell cloth."

This chapter draws on slave narratives and testimonies collected by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), delving into the intricate web of the fashion supply chain during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Enslaved individuals found a powerful means of self-expression through the creation and wearing of textiles, a recurring theme across the book's chapters. The chapter's focuses on the significance of Lowell cloth, named after the Massachusetts city where these textiles were often manufactured. This textile not only highlights the prominence of Lowell as a shining example of American industrialization, it also highlights the pivotal role of fashion and textiles in understanding the experience of enslaved people.

Date
Thursday, May 23rd, 2024

Time
4 pm - 5:30 pm ET

Location
Zoom, a link will be sent to participants the week before the lecture

Cost

Tickets for this event are sold on a sliding scale beginning at $10 with a suggested donation of $25, but if you wish to pay less or more than the suggested donation, you may select a different amount from the drop down menu. As always, we are grateful for your support, which ensures the continuation and preservation of textile knowledge. Thank you for making this series possible. 

Tatter Library is a registered 501(c)3. Our speaker series is part of our community programming and proceeds support the continued success of our talks with artists, scholars, and historians we admire. For this event, all ticket proceeds will go towards keeping this series alive. 

Recording

This lecture will be recorded. A link to the recording will be emailed to all those who register following the live session. This link is live for one month for you to watch at your convenience.