Clothing & Accessories - Overview
Work, play, fashion, economic class, religious faith, even politics—all these aspects of American life and more are woven into clothing. The Museum cares for one of the nation's foremost collections of men's, women's, and children's garments and accessories—from wedding gowns and military uniforms to Halloween costumes and bathing suits.
The collections include work uniforms, academic gowns, clothing of presidents and first ladies, T-shirts bearing protest slogans, and a clean-room "bunny suit" from a manufacturer of computer microchips. Beyond garments, the collections encompass jewelry, handbags, hair dryers, dress forms, hatboxes, suitcases, salesmen's samples, and thousands of fashion prints, photographs, and original illustrations. The more than 30,000 artifacts here represent the changing appearance of Americans from the 1700s to the present day.
"Clothing & Accessories - Overview" showing 6 items.
Fire Helmet, "Hancock"
- Description
- The traditional American leather firefighter’s helmet with its distinctive long rear brim, frontpiece, and crest adornment was first developed around 1821-1836 in New York City. Henry T. Gratacap, a New York City luggage maker by trade, is often credited as the developer of this style of fire helmet. Gratacap created a specially treated leather helmet with a segmented “comb” design that led to unparalleled durability and strength. The elongated rear brim (also known as a duckbill or beavertail) and frontpiece were 19th century innovations that remain the most identifiable feature of firefighter’s helmets. The body of the helmet was primarily designed to deflect falling debris, the rear brim prevented water from running down firefighters’ backs, and their sturdy crowns could aid, if necessary, in breaking windows.
- This leather fire helmet was manufactured by Anderson & Jones of New York, New York during the 19th century. The eight comb helmet is painted black overall, with a metal eagle’s head frontpiece holder mounted onto the crown of the helmet. The helmet’s black leather frontpiece reads “1st /Assistant/Hancock/1/TRH.”
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 19th century
- maker
- Anderson & Jones
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0213
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0213
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Fire Helmet, "U.F.I."
- Description
- The traditional American leather firefighter’s helmet with its distinctive long rear brim, frontpiece, and crest adornment was first developed around 1821-1836 in New York City. Henry T. Gratacap, a New York City luggage maker by trade, is often credited as the developer of this style of fire helmet. Gratacap created a specially treated leather helmet with a segmented “comb” design that led to unparalleled durability and strength. The elongated rear brim (also known as a duckbill or beavertail) and frontpiece were 19th century innovations that remain the most identifiable feature of firefighter’s helmets. The body of the helmet was primarily designed to deflect falling debris, the rear brim prevented water from running down firefighters’ backs, and their sturdy crowns could aid, if necessary, in breaking windows.
- This leather fire helmet was made by Anderson & Jones of New York, New York in the 19th century. The helmet has four prominent combs and an ivy-vine scrolling pattern is stamped into the brim of the helmet. A metal eagle’s head is mounted onto the top of the helmet to serve as a frontpiece holder. The rear brim bears the initials “U.F.I.” in painted gold letters with red shading. The initials “UFI” likely refers to United Fireman’s Insurance. United Fireman’s Insurance acted as a mutual aid society that was composed of several fire companies who collected dues and managed a fund to aid wounded and disabled fire fighters.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 19th century
- maker
- Anderson & Jones
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0216
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0216
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Helmet Frontpiece, "Hope Steam Fire Co."
- Description (Brief)
- The frontpiece (also known as shield or badge) of firefighting helmets has been a distinctive part of the American firefighter’s helmet since it was developed by Henry Gratacap in the early 19th century. These frontpieces displayed a variety of information. The fire company's name and number appeared, often alongside the city or town where it was based. The frontpiece could also include the owner's initials and rank. Most fire helmets had leather frontpieces, but frontpieces could also be made of metal, especially on presentation helmets or those worn in parades.
- This leather frontpiece was manufactured by Anderson & Jones of New York, New York around 1871. The tan frontpiece originally read “HOPE/17/STEAMFIRE CO/JWA” but several of the letters are now missing. The letters are white leather on a red background.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1871
- maker
- Anderson & Jones
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.1434
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.1434
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Helmet Frontpiece, "Empire 1"
- Description (Brief)
- The frontpiece (also known as shield or badge) of firefighting helmets has been a distinctive part of the American firefighter’s helmet since it was developed by Henry Gratacap in the early 19th century. These frontpieces displayed a variety of information. The fire company's name and number appeared, often alongside the city or town where it was based. The frontpiece could also include the owner's initials and rank. Most fire helmets had leather frontpieces, but frontpieces could also be made of metal, especially on presentation helmets or those worn in parades.
- This leather frontpiece was manufactured by Anderson & Jones of New York, New York around 1875. The frontpiece has the image of an eagle painted at the top, with the word “EMPIRE” painted in white below the eagle. A large white leather number “1” is in the center, with a crossed hook and ladder behind it, also in leather. A cartouche at the bottom of the frontpiece originally bore raised leather initials (possibly “CMM”), but those are now missing.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1875
- maker
- Anderson & Jones
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.1446
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.1446
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Fire Helmet, "N.Y. Volunteer Association"
- Description
- The traditional American leather firefighter’s helmet with its distinctive long rear brim, frontpiece, and crest adornment was first developed around 1821-1836 in New York City. Henry T. Gratacap, a New York City luggage maker by trade, is often credited as the developer of this style of fire helmet. Gratacap created a specially treated leather helmet with a segmented “comb” design that led to unparalleled durability and strength. The elongated rear brim (also known as a duckbill or beavertail) and frontpiece were 19th century innovations that remain the most identifiable feature of firefighter’s helmets. The body of the helmet was primarily designed to deflect falling debris, the rear brim prevented water from running down firefighters’ backs, and their sturdy crowns could aid, if necessary, in breaking windows.
- This leather fire helmet was made by Anderson & Jones of New York, New York around 1845. The black helmet has an embossed ivy-vine design around the helmet’s brim. The helmet has 32 combs and a metal eagle frontpiece holder attached to its crown. The black leather frontpiece has a central image of a speaking trumpet topped by a fire helmet, with a variety of firefighting paraphernalia including hoses, hooks, and axes behind it. The frontpiece reads “N.Y./VOLUNTEER/ASSOCIATION/HKW” around the central image. On the rear underbrim is an inset that bears the text “Presented to/H.K. Woodruff by/ G.J.D. M.S.D.V./M.L. J.E.M./P.S.D.V.” This hat was presented to H.K. Woodruff, a volunteer firefight formerly of the Independent Hose Company No. 3, upon the organization of the New York Volunteer Firemen’s Association. The Firemen’s Association was organized in February of 1884 and was filled with ex-volunteer firemen who wished to keep the memory of volunteer firefighting alive after the creation of the paid fire department in New York.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1845
- maker
- Anderson & Jones
- Anderson & Jones
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0160
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0160
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Fire Helmet, "1st Asst. Engineer J.J.R."
- Description
- The traditional American leather firefighter’s helmet with its distinctive long rear brim, frontpiece, and crest adornment was first developed around 1821-1836 in New York City. Henry T. Gratacap, a New York City luggage maker by trade, is often credited as the developer of this style of fire helmet. Gratacap created a specially treated leather helmet with a segmented “comb” design that led to unparalleled durability and strength. The elongated rear brim (also known as a duckbill or beavertail) and frontpiece were 19th century innovations that remain the most identifiable feature of firefighter’s helmets. The body of the helmet was primarily designed to deflect falling debris, the rear brim prevented water from running down firefighters’ backs, and their sturdy crowns could aid, if necessary, in breaking windows.
- This leather fire helmet was made by Anderson & Jones of New York, New York around 1886. This helmet was likely presented to J.J. Rowe of Ossining, New York to commemorate his position as first assistant engineer in 1886. The leather helmet is painted white and has sixteen combs with a metal eagle frontpiece holder mounted on the crown. The hat’s brim has a stamped scrolled border, with two hydrants flanking a frontpiece shaped brass plate in the rear that bears the engraving “To J.J. Rowe, by Ossining Hose Company, 1886.” The leather frontpiece bears the text “1st ASS’T /ENGINEER/J.J.R.” and a painted image of spider-type hose reel in the center.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 19th century
- producer
- Anderson & Jones
- maker
- Anderson & Jones
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0167
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0167
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center