The roles of women during the 1860s will be the topic when Juanita Leisch Jensen, a noted historian of civilians in the Civil War era, delivers an illustrated talk at the Historical Society of the Town of Middletown (HSM) Saturday, Aug. 10 at 1 p.m.
The program, “Women’s Roles and Wardrobe in the Civil War Era,” will be held at the HSM hall, 778 Cemetery Rd., Margaretville. Admission is $4 ($2 for HSM members).
The hall will be open at 11 a.m. so that visitors can see a special exhibit on Middletown in the Civil War. The exhibit is on view every Saturday from 11 to 2 through Labor Day.
Details can be found at www.mtownhistory.org.
Juanita Leisch Jensen is a nationally known speaker and author of two books, An Introduction to Civil War Civilians and Who Wore What: Women’s Wear, 1861-65. Each went through eight printings.
Leisch’s research is artifact-focused, which has led her to amass collections of clothing, photographs and artifacts which she shares through speaking, writing, and lending to museum exhibits. She served as guest curator for two 3,000-square-foot exhibits at the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, PA, and has artifacts on loan to the American Textile Museums’ “Homefront and Battlefield” exhibit which is currently touring the US.
Leisch was named a Fellow by the Company of Military Historians, and is a 50-year participant in the North South Skirmish Association. She and her husband, military historian Les Jensen, began their celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War by travelling to and giving talks for the American Civil War Round Table of Melbourne, Australia.
