Sphagnum Moss Menstruation Napkin

This sphagnum moss sanitary napkin dates from 1919-1920 and is part of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History Collection. Commercial menstruation products first became prevalent after innovations in surgical dressings during World War 1.

Sfag-Na-Kins were a feminine hygiene product made from sphagnum moss, a type of moss that can absorb over 20 times its dry weight in liquids and has natural antibacterial properties. The moss was cultivated in the Pacific Northwest region, and a company called Sphagnum Moss Products Company based in Portland processed and packaged the moss wrapped in gauze. 

The packaging featured an image of a woman wearing an American Red Cross cap, nicknamed the "Sphagnum Moss Girl," alluding to the product's origins as a surgical dressing material. Despite marketing claims that Sfag-Na-Kins were more absorbent and antibacterial than cotton, the product does not appear to have been successful in the feminine hygiene market. 

This item is a collection object of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History

https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/nmah_729448