In the mid-twentieth century, the Lehigh Valley had a thriving needle trade and textile industry. As a collective, this industry was the largest employer of women in the area and many of the families were pillars of the local Jewish community. The stories of the owners, their families, and their businesses had not been told, prior to this project.
From 2011-2018, Gail Eisenberg and Susan Clemens (professors at Muhlenberg College) conducted interviews with about 40 people from 30 families. Eisenberg and Clemens spoke to the owners, the wives, and children who ran the businesses.
During Gail Eisenberg’s presentation on June 8, you will hear about this once thriving industry, as told by the people who lived it, in their own words with video clips from the interviews.