Adult Lecture Series: Laying their Hands to the Spindle: Women’s Spinning Protests, 1768-1770

Women, Spinning, and Resistance: Stacey Fraser In the years leading up to the American Revolution, New England women played an important role in resisting British policies through their everyday lives and work. On August 31, 1769, forty-five women in Lexington, Massachusetts, gathered for a spinning protest—one of more than sixty such demonstrations held throughout New England between 1768 and 1770. By spinning wool and linen yarn together, these women demonstrated their ability to produce the textiles needed by their families while rejecting reliance on imported British goods. Join Stacey Fraser for a fascinating look at how women used their social roles, domestic skills, and community networks to participate in the growing resistance to British rule. Discover how these seemingly everyday acts of spinning and boycotting became powerful forms of protest in the years leading up to the American Revolutionary War. About the Speaker: Stacey Fraser is Assistant Curator at the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library in Lexington, Massachusetts. She recently curated an exhibition exploring Lexington’s role in the American Revolution and chaired the museum’s 50th anniversary committee. Stacey also serves on the advisory board of LexSeeHer, a Lexington nonprofit dedicated to making women visible in history. Previously, she served as Curator and Outreach Manager at Lexington History Museums and as Co-Director and Educator at the Ipswich Museum, among other New England institutions. Entry Included with Museum Admission| September 18th | 12:00 PM | Adult Event