McClennen to talk on "Hannah Smith, an Early 19th Century Medfield Girl"

McClennen to talk on "Hannah Smith, an Early 19th Century Medfield Girl"

Medfield Historical Society, in partnership with Medfield Public Library and the Council on Aging, hosts a presentation about “Hannah Smith, An Early 19th Century Medfield Girl,” on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 5:30 PM at The Center, 1 Icehouse Road by Walter McClennen. .

McClennen, a local historian specializing in women and minorities, will consider documents written by and to Hannah Smith Draper, a farm girl turned straw hat maker who lived in and near Medfield from 1804 to 1825. Her story depicts the challenges and struggles of women in the early 19th
century in this area. She worked at her family’s farm on South Street and contributed to the earliest
stages of a new and vibrant cottage industry in the town: rye straw braiding and making bonnets for the ladies of Boston and beyond.

Hannah left behind close to 150 letters, poems and other documents which were carefully compiled and annotated by Walter McClennen in his book Hannah Smith: A Medfield Girl. Learn more about Hannah Smith and her life in Medfield, as well as the early Medfield social setting in which she and her family lived.

The program is free and open to the public, but reservations are requested here.