Women as Agents of Change

Women as Agents of Change

A different kind of revolution has occurred in the United States since the American Revolution.  John Hoyle Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution used narration, music, antique clothing and historic objects to enlighten Chapter members of women’s impact in American history over the last 250 years.  Members Suzanne Williams and Harriet Bannon, assisted by Melinda Herzog, Executive Director of the Catawba County Historical Association and Denise Baxter Yoder, vocalist with the Puddingstone Group, facilitated the presentation at the October 14 meeting.

Upon arrival, members received a feast for the eyes - Peggy Travis and Tina Hatcher, mother and daughter, modeling Victorian-era gowns.   Travis and Hatcher research and sew their own authentic costumes.  Travis wore a brilliant two-piece blue calico print trimmed in white over a puffy white blouse and hoop skirts.  A small lacy white hat trimmed in ribbons and flowers, delicate gloves and a large broach finished off the look.   Hatcher wore a gorgeous Victorian off-the-shoulder lavender satin ballgown laden with lace and made voluminous with a hoop, long white gloves and a dramatic feather headpiece.  Around her waist was a long silk bag to discreetly carry her umbrella if needed as protection against the sun.

Williams then introduced the presentation, and Yoder launched an instrumental vocal of “I Am Woman” by Helen Reddy.  Historian and storyteller par excellence Melinda Herzog began the narrative of the struggles of North Carolina woman Grace Bowman.  Bowman manufactured gunpowder for the patriots during the Revolution.  While looking for the culprit, British loyalists came upon Grace’s farm.  They didn’t find the gunpowder but stole some of her horses.  She went after them and forced the soldiers to return her livestock.  Like Grace, many brave women were instrumental in winning American independence.

Women’s suffrage, the Temperance Movement and serving in public office were Herzog’s next subjects.  This was the era of Carrie “down with demon rum” Nation and Florence Nightingale, a celebrated English social reformer and founder of modern nursing.  To set the tone, Denise Baxter Yoder sang and played “The Temperance Army” followed by a costumed, corseted and clamorous Carrie Nation as portrayed by Peggy Travis, a historical researcher and member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

Next Herzog spoke of labor conditions and especially child labor from mid-1800s through WWI.  During this period Florence Kelley, American social and political reformer, campaigned against dangerous and difficult work conditions and the exploitation of children in factories and tenement sweatshops. This era is documented in more than 5,000 heart-rending photos by Lewis Hine (1874-1940), American photographer and sociologist, housed at the Library of Congress.  One positive outcome of WWI and WWII was getting women into the workforce and preparing them for a political and economic voice.  Period music “Babies in the Mill” and “Bread and Roses” were sung by Yoder, as John Hoyle Chapter DAR Chaplain Betty Schwartz appeared in a historic nursing uniform.

Finally, changes in laws and attitudes toward education for women and children were explored by Herzog.  In rural America, wealthy farmers and plantation owners hired tutors to educate their children, and often children of surrounding well-to-do neighbors were included.  This practice helped only the privileged until public education laws were passed for all children.  Today we are surprised to learn that from circa 1840 up to the 1930’s, a woman had to be single to teach.  If she wished to marry, she had to give up her career.  Betty Schwartz and Eleanor Herbert modeled a typical teacher’s and young girl’s clothing from that period while the 1907 song “School Days” was played and sung by Yoder.

The meeting ended with an exhibit of interesting and antique items primarily used by women over the years, and a viewing of a portrait painted by member Carol de Perzcel titled “Granny’s Gown”.