Stockings once worn by Philly’s wealthiest man show the value of women’s mending in early America

Stephen Girard’s silk stockings were repaired by multiple women in his household who made his enormous wealth possible.

By: Emily J. Whitted, UMass Amherst, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: April 29, 2026

Words: 839

Last Updated: 3 months ago

By Emily J. Whitted, UMass Amherst

At the time of his death in 1831, Stephen Girard – a Philadelphia merchant, banker and philanthropist – was the wealthiest man in the United States. In his will, he left the city of Philadelphia an extraordinary gift of roughly US$6 million, which is almost $227 million today.

Girard also left instructions to use a portion of this gift to found a boarding school for poor, …

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