Ma'am, May I ask about your Underwear?

State officials canvassed thousands of women in 1892, asking one question in particular that probably earned them a hearty slap on the face.

Or two.

Or fifteen.

Yet they kept at it, published their data, and thus immortalized one of the stranger tidbits of Michigan history.

Superbowl Sunday Talk: New Scholarship on Underwear Factory

Hey folks, I'm giving a talk at the Ypsi Historical Society's quarterly meeting this coming Superbowl Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Museum, 300 N. Huron.

Talk with cool images (on the new Archives big-screen TV) on new scholarship, new discoveries, the role of women workers, and the cultural context regarding the usually hackneyed old topic of our underwear factory.

It's been done to death, no? I agree. But I've found new information that sheds a new, more nuanced light on the har-de-har nudge-nudge wink-wink aspect of the famous mural and of the underwear's role in its time. Learned a lot doing this project. Let me tell you about it.

Refreshments and museum tours to follow: all free! Free parking as well. Hope to see you!

The Ypsilanti Ladies of 1910

Hey! Wanna read about some unconventional jobs Ypsi women held in 1910? I had great fun combing the 1910 directory for printing-presswomen, foremen, (-women), machine operators, and other unconventional women's jobs. Thanks to the Citizen for printing it!

Dusty Diary Featured on "Absolute Michigan" Website!

Zowie! Dusty D was quietly poring through an old census record when this news shattered her reverie; Dusty D is featured on the front page of the Absolute Michigan website as today's featured blog! Dog my cats!

To any new kind readers from Absolute Michigan: Welcome to Ypsilanti! Past arrivals to Ypsi on the Michigan Central train used to be scandalized to see the famous Ypsi Underwear Lady painted on a big sign near the depot, so in homage to that, er, dubious hospitality here she is again, to greet you!

Make yourself comfortable and feel free to leave some comments. You can also follow me on Twitter if you like!

More on that census later, plus a Spot the Differences photo coming up this eve! Thank you, Absolute Michigan!

(dances a jig!)--(poorly!)