Social Settlements: United States. New York. New York City. St. Thomas Chapel House: St. Thomas House, New York City: Sewing Class - 1906. c. 1906

Curator: This is a photograph titled "Social Settlements: United States. New York. New York City. St. Thomas Chapel House: St. Thomas House, New York City: Sewing Class - 1906," taken by Percy C. Byron. Editor: It’s overwhelmingly…crowded. So many young faces packed into what looks like a church hall. The light from the windows is almost blinding. Curator: Indeed. Byron captured a sewing class at St. Thomas House, a settlement house in New York City. These houses were crucial institutions offering social services in immigrant communities. Editor: The sewing becomes symbolic, doesn’t it? Mending not just fabrics, but the social fabric itself. It’s about assimilation, teaching skills, and instilling a sense of order. Curator: Precisely. These institutions were often run by upper-class women, reflecting a complex dynamic of philanthropy and social control. Editor: There's a kind of quiet stoicism in their concentration that speaks volumes about the period. It's more than just a sewing class; it's a portrait of resilience. Curator: It provides a compelling visual record of urban reform efforts at the turn of the century. Editor: And reminds us of the weight of expectations these children carried.