Merrill Historical Society is pleased to bring the fascinating presentation “Victorians’ Secrets: The Revealing History of Women’s Underwear” to Merrill on Saturday, March 14 beginning at 1:30 p.m. at their location at 100 East Third Street in Merrill.
The speaker is Ms. Leslie Bellais, who is traveling from Madison where she is the curator of social history at the Wisconsin Historical Society.
The presentation consists of a slightly risqué Power Point where those in attendance will learn the secret behind the Victorians’ tiny waists and explore how women’s undergarments reflect societal values. At the end of the presentation one lucky lady (drawn from those who have purchased chances) will help Ms. Bellais show the layers under her 1858 reproduction dress.
From an early age, Leslie loved visiting historic homes and sites, especially Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia. At age 10, she told her grandmother that she was going to attend the College of William and Mary and work at Colonial Williamsburg. Leslie accomplished that goal and went on to work at the Hershey Museum of American Life in Hershey, Penn. In 1990, she became the curator of costumes and textiles at the Wisconsin Historical Society, where she has curated popular exhibits on wide-ranging topics such as the history of weddings, the Wisconsin home front in World War 1, Wisconsin Olympic athletes, Civil War mementoes, and “Wisconsin Women of Style,” which featured some of the most stunning dresses in the Society’s collection, all worn by significant Wisconsin women. She is currently finishing her Ph.D. in American History at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Space is limited.
The Merrill Historical Society’s mission is to educate the public about our heritage using the unique historical and cultural resources we collect and preserve. For further information on the programs and activities of the Merrill Historical Society, or to become a member, please contact the Society at 715-536-5652 or [email protected], or see the website at www.merrillhistory.org.