Nelly Don: A Stitch in Time
Kansas City native, famous Irish-American, Nelly Don is the subject of a new book and a feature-length documentary by Terence O’Malley who is Nelly Don’s great-great-nephew, which given the size and make-up of Irish families is a lot closer than it sounds.
Nelly Don: A Stitch in Time shows this weekend at the Screenland in downtown Kansas City, and has had new screenings added. This would be a great treat for your Irish-American mother.
One of the first and most successful self-made women millionaires in American business, Nelly Don designed and sold more dresses in the 20th century than any other single person in the US, while challenging the idea that women were best suited for domesticity.
The story of Nelly Don has its roots in Ireland. Nell’s father, John Quinlan, emigrated to American shortly before the Civil War. He met his wife, Catherine Fitzgibbons, the daughter of Irish immigrants, and together John and Catherine had 13 children. Nell was the 12th child and the fifth daughter. She was christened Ellen Howard Quinlan but her older sisters quickly took to calling her Nell. She grew up in the small railroad town of Parsons, Kansas, where her father worked as a farmer and worked in the shop at the Katy Railroad.
Visit the movie’s official website for background and clips.
Showtimes
Due to demand, extra showings have been added every single weekend at the Screenland since Nelly Don: A Stitch in Time was first shown in Kansas City.
The movie is also regularly shown at benefit cultural events. Please check the Events Calendar to see the latest scheduled showings.
The Screenland Theatre is located at 1656 Washington St, KC
816.421.2900 or 816.421.9700
Related Links:
• Nelly Don Book by Terence O’Malley
• Clothes from The Donnelly Garment Company
• Nelly Don Collection at the Kansas City Public Library
• Review in Kansas City star of Nelly Don: A Stitch in Time
• Star Magazine Feature (with slide show)
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