Please join us for a presentation by Michelle O'Donnell Josephson, who will share her experiences of reconstructing historical Irish women's dress.
Michelle O’Donnell Josephson has Irish roots reaching back from Portland, Maine, to County Galway. She is a former docent at the Tate House Museum in Portland, where she was a founding member of their Sew Historical Society. The group hand-sewed period attire for museum docents. She is currently a site manager at Portland’s Victoria Mansion, where she has collaborated on efforts to expand the Mansion’s interpretive materials to include those employed there as domestic servants, many of whom were Irish immigrant women. Michelle co-founded The Portland Bridget Project, which aims to tell the stories of 19th and early 20th century Irish women who worked as servants in Portland. She also volunteers at the Maine Irish Heritage Center.
In a virtual presentation, Michelle will describe the personal research project that led her to recreate the traditional Irish attire her ancestors might have worn, from undergarments to outer wear. Please join us for an unusual portal to Irish immigrant history.
Remote attendance is possible; please register in order to have the login information sent to you. If you plan to attend in person, there is no need to register.
2023 Global Gathering Ireland is funded by the Bettendorf Public Library Foundation and supported by our Title Sponsor: Northwest Bank & Trust and Presenting Sponsor: Iowa American Water Company.
The Bettendorf Public Library has served the community of Bettendorf since July 12, 1955. We offer Library events for all ages, and our meeting rooms are available for public use. See more information about our meeting room policy at http://www.bettendorflibrary.com/services/meeting-rooms/.
