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Course Description

Deadly Beauty uncovers the hidden hazards behind 19th-century fashion. Elite women’s gowns, ribbons, cosmetics, and feathered hats were created with dangerous substances including arsenic, mercury, lead, chromium salts, and coal-tar dyes. Through vivid historical examples, the presentation reveals how toxic chemicals were used to process feathers, color fabrics, and create cosmetics, endangering both workers and fashionable women. The talk also explores the global plume trade, which contributed to the deaths of more than a billion birds. Finally, Deadly Beauty traces how these dangers helped spark early conservation efforts, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and modern protections for species such as the Canada goose.

Landmark Centre Building
25700 Science Park Drive, Beachwood

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Section Title
DEADLY BEAUTY: FASHION, TOXICITY, AND THEPLUME TRADE, 1800–1900 (IN-PERSON)
Type
In Person
Days
Th
Time (Eastern Time Zone)
10:00AM to 11:30AM
Dates
Jan 28, 2027
Schedule and Location
View Details
Contact Hours
1.5
Location
Delivery Options
In-Person  
Course Fee(s)
Course Fee non-credit $10.00
Potential Discount(s)
Drop Request Deadline
Jan 21, 2027
Transfer Request Deadline
Jan 21, 2027
Instructors
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