Women's History


Virtual Tour: Contraceptives and Controversies

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Enjoy a past special virtual program – first aired in November of 2020 – discussing the history of birth control from the 1870s into the 1930s. During these 60 years, contraceptives fluctuated from being legal, accessible, and innovative, to being sold in underground markets leading to dangerous choices for those looking to limit their fertility.

Adapted from our highly popular Tenement Bedrooms specialized tour, we trace the history of contraceptives through the lives of two women who lived in 97 Orchard: Caroline Schneider—a German immigrant who ran a Lager Bier saloon with her husband in the building, and Rosaria Baldizzi—an Italian immigrant who raised two children with her husband during the Great Depression. Through their lives, we consider the choices available to them, and discuss the influential people who impacted their reproductive choices.