Abstract:
This thesis examines how white middle-class women in the North and South shaped the
wartime experiences of their families during the American Civil War through the material
objects they created. By taking feminine material production as its focus, the wartime
experience of each member of the family—men, children, and women—is explored
through objects made for them, such as quilts, clothing, letters, and costumes. These
artifacts illuminate how women influenced their families’ experiences of war, and
ultimately helped to maintain their families throughout the conflict.
