The Morristown Sewing School is a little known and little recorded facet of Morris County history. Instructed on a volunteer basis by some of the most prominent women in Morristown, the school taught local girls, mostly daughters of tradesmen, practical sewing skills throughout the 1880s. From darning to patchworking, classes devoted to specific skills were taught on Saturday mornings at the Maple Avenue School just off the Green.
Despite serving more than 500 students during its lifespan, there is little documentation of the school’s existence. What is known comes predominantly from two years of research based on the 45 teachers’ books donated to Morris County Historical Society in 2018. Fortuitously, the books were a gold mine, and with their assistance, students and their teachers were traced via the census and other records, providing fascinating insight into two very distinct strata of Morristown society.
Beginning Sunday, Feb. 12, through late May, an exhibit based on the research will be on display at Acorn Hall to tell the story of the school, its teachers, and students. As many of the students were lifelong residents of the area, if your family has roots in Morristown, someone on your family tree may be a part of this remarkable chapter in local history.