Mother's Little Helper

Up to the 1960s, the apron served as a potent symbol of American womanhood. These lovingly adorned little swatches of cloth represented comfort and security and perfectly browned pot roasts. Then the women’s
movement came along and the frills fell away. Since then, aprons have mostly been utilitarian and unisex, of the
“Kiss the Cook” variety. That’s what makes this collection
of oldies so impressive and so fascinating. Pulled together by Dorothy Sauber, a women’s studies professor at
Anoka-Ramsey Community College, it includes more
than one hundred specimens, on display at the
Hennepin History Museum through December 31.