Q. I am undertaking some visual research about 1930's woman's work clothing in glass factories. What type of apron did they use? What type of fabric was it made of?

Hello! Thank you for your question. I haven't been able to find what types of fabric the aprons would have been made of, but I did find some pictures of women working in a cutting and beveling glass shop from 1928. We have many photographs of women and children in glass factories, but there are so many different kinds of factories and factory jobs (women enamelers, glass packers, finishers, even designers, etc.).  Generally, women were not gaffers or part of the hot glass work. In one picture, it looks like the women are wearing wool.

For more information on women working in glass and to view additional images, see this article in All About Glass on the Museum website: Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Women Working in Glass.

Please do not hesitate to contact us in the future with your glass-related questions!