Overview

A well-illustrated cultural history of the apparel worn by American Catholics, Sally Dwyer-McNulty's Common Threads reveals the transnational origins and homegrown significance of clothing in developing identity, unity, and a sense of respectability for a major religious group that had long struggled for its footing in a Protestant-dominated society often openly hostile to Catholics. Focusing on those who wore the most visually distinct clothes-priests, women religious, and school children-the story begins in the 1830s, when most American priests were foreign born and wore a variety of clerical styles. Dwyer-McNulty tracks and analyzes changes in Catholic clothing all the way through the twentieth century and into the present, which finds the new Pope Francis choosing to wear plain black shoes rather than ornate red ones. Drawing on insights from the study of material culture and of lived religion, Dwyer-McNulty demonstrates how the visual lexicon of clothing in Catholicism can indicate gender ideology, age, and class. Indeed, clothing itself has become a kind of Catholic language, whether expressing shared devotional experiences or entwined with debates about education, authority, and the place of religion in American society.

Full Product Details

9781469642239

Table of Contents

Reviews

A compelling analysis of how the members of a subculture within American society have utilized appearance to negotiate their status.--Journal of American Culture Recommended. All levels/libraries.--Choice Catholic and American cultural studies at its best.--Magistra: Journal of Women's Spirituality In History [Dwyer-McNulty] has broken open a wealth of significance behind a highly visible aspect of the lived experience of U.S. Catholics.--American Historical Review Dwyer-McNulty traces how religious dress evolved in America.--Boston Globe Contributes not just to U.S. Catholic history but also to the cultural history of clothing more broadly.--Journal of American History

Dwyer-McNulty traces how religious dress evolved in America. -- Boston Globe Catholic and American cultural studies at its best. -- Magistra: Journal of Women's Spirituality In History Recommended. All levels/libraries. -- Choice Recommended. All levels/libraries.-- Choice A compelling analysis of how the members of a subculture within American society have utilized appearance to negotiate their status.--Journal of American Culture Catholic and American cultural studies at its best.--Magistra: Journal of Women's Spirituality In History Dwyer-McNulty traces how religious dress evolved in America.--Boston Globe Recommended. All levels/libraries.--Choice [Dwyer-McNulty] has broken open a wealth of significance behind a highly visible aspect of the lived experience of U.S. Catholics.--American Historical Review Contributes not just to U.S. Catholic history but also to the cultural history of clothing more broadly.--Journal of American History Contributes not just to U.S. Catholic history but also to the cultural history of clothing more broadly.-- Journal of American History [Dwyer-McNulty] has broken open a wealth of significance behind a highly visible aspect of the lived experience of U.S. Catholics.-- American Historical Review Recommended. All levels/libraries.-- Choice Totally unique in its assemblage of important information on the role of Catholic clothing in American religious history, this book will serve as the starting point for any research on this very significant topic. Readers will appreciate the depth of the religious history accomplished by the author. --Colleen McDannell, University of Utah The book examines a robust range of clothing cultures among nineteenth- and twentieth-century American Catholics. Dwyer-McNulty deftly weaves popular practice, ecclesiology, theology, genders, daily life, and ritual life into a single, compelling account. Her prose is very readable and her research is authoritative. In all, a splendid piece of scholarship and a fine read. --David Morgan, Duke University

Dwyer-McNulty traces how religious dress evolved in America. -- Boston Globe Catholic and American cultural studies at its best. -- Magistra: Journal of Women's Spirituality In History Recommended. All levels/libraries. -- Choice Recommended. All levels/libraries.-- Choice A compelling analysis of how the members of a subculture within American society have utilized appearance to negotiate their status.--Journal of American Culture Recommended. All levels/libraries.--Choice Catholic and American cultural studies at its best.--Magistra: Journal of Women's Spirituality In History [Dwyer-McNulty] has broken open a wealth of significance behind a highly visible aspect of the lived experience of U.S. Catholics.--American Historical Review Dwyer-McNulty traces how religious dress evolved in America.--Boston Globe Contributes not just to U.S. Catholic history but also to the cultural history of clothing more broadly.--Journal of American History Contributes not just to U.S. Catholic history but also to the cultural history of clothing more broadly.-- Journal of American History [Dwyer-McNulty] has broken open a wealth of significance behind a highly visible aspect of the lived experience of U.S. Catholics.-- American Historical Review Recommended. All levels/libraries.-- Choice Totally unique in its assemblage of important information on the role of Catholic clothing in American religious history, this book will serve as the starting point for any research on this very significant topic. Readers will appreciate the depth of the religious history accomplished by the author. --Colleen McDannell, University of Utah The book examines a robust range of clothing cultures among nineteenth- and twentieth-century American Catholics. Dwyer-McNulty deftly weaves popular practice, ecclesiology, theology, genders, daily life, and ritual life into a single, compelling account. Her prose is very readable and her research is authoritative. In all, a splendid piece of scholarship and a fine read. --David Morgan, Duke University

Author Information

Sally Dwyer-McNulty is professor of history at Marist College.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available