Roots of Mask Making

          Mask making has been used to prevent the spread of infectious diseases as far back as the Middle Ages in the time of the Black Plague, yet most recently during the early 1900s with the rise of Influenza. Nurses, seamstresses, and high school home economic students all volunteered or were tasked with making protective masks for their communities as the sickness steadily spread. Those who did not don masks were dubbed 'slackers', the same name given to individuals not complying with sanctions and relief efforts during the first World War. In some states, slackers were jailed, fined, or publicly shamed by their community for refusing to do their part in eradicating Influenza. 

          Masks were a way to signal that you cared about yourself, others, and the general health and well-being of those around you. They could be made from thick cotton material, double-woven fabrics, and even newspapers in dire circumstances. Some people took the opportunity to decorate their masks, much like we are seeing today. In the gallery below are images of news outlets updating people about masks mandates, warnings to slackers, and sharing uplifting efforts being made by people who took it upon themselves to ensure everyone had access to personal protective gear. Not only is wearing a mask a statement, but the crafting of these masks was also something that brought people together in uncertain and trying times while following safety protocols.