Grace Rogers Cooper

Grace Rogers Cooper
Grace Rogers Cooper was an American historian and author known for her expertise in textile arts, particularly handweaving. She worked as a curator at the Smithsonian Institution, contributing significantly to the study and preservation of historical fabrics and textile machinery. One of her notable works is "The Invention of the Sewing Machine," which explores the technological innovations in sewing throughout history. Her research and publications have made her a key figure in documenting and understanding the evolution of textile arts in America.

Author's Books:


Preface It had no instrument panel with push-button controls. It was not operated electronically or jet-propelled. But to many 19th-century people the sewing machine was probably as awe-inspiring as a space capsule is to their 20th-century descendants. It was expensive, but, considering the work it could do and the time it could save, the cost was more than justified. The sewing machine became the... more...

First to appear among the inventions that sparked the industrial revolution in textile making was the flying shuttle, then various devices to spin thread and yarn, and lastly machines to card the raw fibers so they could be spun and woven. Carding is thus the important first step. For processing short-length wool fibers its mechanization proved most difficult to achieve. To the United States in 1793... more...