The Sewing Machine Gets its Patent

Lewton, Frederick L., The Servant in the House: A Brief History of the Sewing Machine, 1930. "Illustration of Singer Sewing Machine Published in 1853."

On this day in history—July 17th—the sewing machine received its patent in 1790. To celebrate this technological innovation, we have a variety of trade literature in our collection that touches upon the history of the sewing machine and how it changed the textile industry as we know it. The Servant in the House: A Brief History of the Sewing Machine gives a comprehensive overview of the origins of the sewing machine, profiling the major figures who helped make it happen. The Sewing Machine: Its Invention and Development provides a photographic guide to significant sewing machines and patent models in the collections of the National Museum of American History. Sewing Machines: Historical Trade Literature in Smithsonian Collections illustrates the range of materials published by and about sewing machine companies in the United States, starting in the 1840s. It is a vast collection to explore, indeed. Have fun!—Brett Lambert