We Were Hanging by a Thread: Kansas City Garment District Pieces the Past Together

This is a black-and-white interior edition. A full-color edition is available, separately. This book is about fashion history. Specifically, it highlights Kansas City, Missouri's once world-renowned textile and garment manufacturing industry. It focuses on individuals that designer Ann Brownfield has had acquaintance or first-hand business connections with in her career, and in retirement as co-founder and director of the Historic Kansas City Garment District Museum. This book honors a diverse workforce from native Kansas Citians and minority first- and second-generation Americans—from all backgrounds and countries around the globe—who came to Kansas City for their livelihood. Anyone living, working, or visiting downtown Kansas City, the "Heart of America," might find this book of interest. Architectural historians should discover the built environment of the Garment District notable. Even barbeque enthusiasts will savor knowing that Henry Perry, "the father of Kansas City-style barbecue," got his start in 1908 from a stand in an alley in this historic neighborhood. Prepare yourself to gain an appreciation for an art form and way of life that is no more.

David W. Jackson is director, archivist of The Orderly Pack Rat, an historical research and consulting service he founded in 1996. He has more than 40 years of experience in personal manuscript collection. His childhood hobby of genealogy initiated at age 11 became the catalyst and inspiration for his career as a professional archivist. He was graduated magna cum laude with a BS in Historic Preservation--Archives Studies--from Southeast Missouri State University in 1993, and is author and publisher of several books.