A relatively unknown yet highly influential woman in the Model A era was Mary Brooks Picken. Mary transformed millions of women from clothing vendors to seamstresses capable of improving their lives and making money with their sewing machines. Mary published 96 books on sewing, needlework and textile arts. She was a premier fashion authority for years. “Fashion Service” publications were produced by the Women;’s Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences which she founded in 1916.

These publications are available today for purchase as a downloadable pdf file from mrsdepew.com

~ Chris Aupperle, Rockford A’s