Hats On to the Ladies

Women's Hat Program and Afternoon Tea April 5 at Vachel Lindsay Home

[March 24, 2008]  SPRINGFIELD -- At an April 5 historical program, exhibit and tea, guests are invited to recall a time when ladies always wore a hat and gloves to afternoon tea. "Topping It Off: 170 Years of Women's Hats in America" will be presented from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site, 603 S. Fifth St. in Springfield.

Reservations for this limited-seating event are $10 each and must be made by April 2 by calling 217-524-0901. The event is part of the "Stitches in Time" series of historical clothing special events scheduled in the Springfield area during the 2008 tourism season.

The afternoon will begin with a formal tea in the historic rooms of the Vachel Lindsay Home. Then, textile expert Nancy Torgerson of Forsyth will make a presentation about women's hat styles, using historic hats from her own collection. A historic hat collection assembled by Ednita Murdock of Springfield, including some with the original hatboxes, will be displayed throughout the Lindsay Home through the end of April and may be viewed that day.

The Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site, administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, is the birthplace and longtime residence Nicholas Vachel Lindsay, 1879-1931. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. for free public tours.

[Text from Illinois Historic Preservation Agency news release received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]