Women’s Work on Route 66 – Virtual Presentation

We’ve all heard of Route 66, but how often do we pause to consider the women who helped shape life along its 2,448 miles? Women pumped gas, ran businesses, held public office, painted murals, joined the military, stepped into industrial jobs as wartime “Rosies,” and even designed everything from iconic fashions to excursion riverboats.

In this session, author Cheryl Eichar Jett draws from her forthcoming book Aprons Away: Women’s Work on Route 66 to explore the essential roles women played along the Mother Road. Her research brings forward the stories, labor, and creativity that enriched communities and helped define the history of America’s most storied highway.

Hosting Organization – Illinois State Museum

The Illinois State Museum system includes the headquarters museum and ISM-Research & Collections Center in Springfield, with branch sites in Lewistown and Lockport, as well as State Historic Sites across Illinois.

The Museum inspires exploration of Illinois’ past and present to inform and enrich everyday life and promote stewardship of cultural and natural resources for the future.

Session Host – Amanda Bryden, Registrar of History & Historic Sites