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Stockings once worn by Philly’s wealthiest man show the value of women’s mending in early America

  • Written by Emily J. Whitted, Ph.D. Candidate in Early American History, UMass Amherst

At the time of his death in 1831, Stephen Girard – a Philadelphia merchant, banker and philanthropist – was the wealthiest man in the United States. In his will, he left the city of Philadelphia an extraordinary gift of roughly US$6 million, which is almost $227 million today.

Girard also left instructions to use a portion of this gift...

Read more: Stockings once worn by Philly’s wealthiest man show the value of women’s mending in early America

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