Kathleen Brown in conversation on Foul Bodies
When we look back at the conditions that early Americans tolerated every day (sewage streaming through the streets, animals sharing spaces with their keepers) it’s amazing that they ever achieved that near-godly state known as cleanliness.
In an enlightening discussion at the University of Pennsylvania, YUP author and UPenn historian Kathleen Brown unpacks the significance of cleanliness and its more common opposite in early America. Spanning analysis of class, race, and culture, it’s a fascinating look into dress, health, and sanitation in an earlier time.
Click here to view the video on the UPenn website.
