December 18^th

Ms. Hannah Howard 

The Use of Clothing in 17^th Century England

Ms. Howard is the Volunteer Coordinator & Project Assistant at Pennsbury Manor State Historic Site, the home of William Penn.  For the past three years, she has been supervisor of Pennsbury’s Reproduction Clothing collection, used during their Living History programs and school tours.  Her research into 17^th-century English and colonial clothing has informed the customized patterns and garments created on-site. 

Ms. Howard will be discussing 17^th-century clothing, its evolution, and its impact on people’s lives.  Fashion has been used throughout the ages to tell the world who you are.  In modern times, it’s often used as a form of artistic expression, a chance to show off our personalities.  But in William Penn’s time, fashion was used to keep people in their place.  It wasn’t just serviceable or showy - your clothing told the world about your social rank, your job, and your wealth (or lack thereof).