Tag Archive: 1700s

Quaker Homespun, Part Four – New Technology

This is part four of my “book report” on Quaker Homespun, a biography of Thomas Fox, a wool cloth manufacturer who lived through the Industrial Revolution.  We won’t go into any specific machines… Continue reading →

Quaker Homespun, Part Three — Thomas Fox and Global Trade

This is part of a “book report” on the 1958 book, Quaker Homespun.  The whole book is available online and I read it in just a few sittings, to help satisfy my curiosity… Continue reading →

Quaker Homespun, Part Two — America and “Pernicious Consequences”

In my previous post, we began to follow Thomas Fox, who ran an English serge-making business in the late 1700s.  Throughout his career, he had to deal with many challenges, including ones caused… Continue reading →

Quaker Homespun Supplement: Manufacturing Serge in 1728

This post is a supplement to my series on Thomas Fox, a Quaker who ran a family serge-making business in the late 1700s and early 1800s. The description of serge is from a… Continue reading →

Quaker Homespun, Part One

When we look at the Industrial Revolution, it’s easy to find the dates of important inventions — 1764, spinning jenny; 1785, power loom — but it is harder to find out about how… Continue reading →

Celebrating Public Domain Day

Every year at this time, I am eager to explore the works that are entering the public domain each year. For a list of 75 highlights of this year’s works, you can read… Continue reading →

Locked Down in History — Unraveling “The Queen’s Embroiderer”

I came across a book excerpt that described a French embroiderer in the court of Louis XIV – his techniques, materials, and customers¹.  I quickly bought the book, The Queen’s Embroiderer by Joan… Continue reading →

Locked Down in History — Venetian Convents

We’re all tired of the new restrictions on our lives, but of course, it could be worse!  Lately I have read three books about people experiencing lock-ups they were powerless to escape, and… Continue reading →