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 5 items.
Fire Helmet, "Moyamensing 1"
- 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 helmet was made by Cairns & Brother of New York, New York in 1837, and has been paired with a leather frontpiece manufactured by John M. Migeod & Son. The helmet has a metal ring on its rear brim as well as a metal reinforcement band inside its crown. The frontpiece from “Moyamensing 1” bears a crossed hook and ladder and may belong to Chester, Pennsylvania’s Moyamensing Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, instituted in April of 1868 and incorporated in February of 1870. The word “JOKER” is painted at the bottom of the frontpiece.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- mid 19th century
- producer
- Migeod Company
- maker
- Cairns & Brother
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0173
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0173
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Fire Helmet, "Empire Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1"
- 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 John H. Migeod of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the late 19th century. The helmet has eight combs and is painted white, which has yellowed and is flaking in several areas. A metal sea horse figure serves as a frontpiece holder. The leather frontpiece is painted tan, with a red “1” and crossed hook and ladder in the center and the words “EMPIRE” on a banner at the top of the frontpiece. A paper name tag inside of the helmet reads “J. Byrned.”
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- late 19th century
- maker
- Migeod Company
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0210
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0210
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Fire Helmet, "Assistance 8 F.M.K."
- 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 William H. Wilson of New York, New York in the mid-to-late 19th century. The frontpiece on this helmet was made by the Migeod Company. The black helmet has four combs painted gold and a metal eagle frontpiece holder mounted to the helmet’s crown. The frontpiece reads “Assistance/8/FMK.” The raised initials "F.M.K." likely identified the owner of the helmet.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 19th century
- retailer
- John M. Migoed & Son
- manufacturer
- Wilson, William H.
- maker
- Migeod Company
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0139
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0139
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Fire Helmet, "Columbia 5 A.H."
- 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 Cairns & Brother of New York, New York in the 19th century. The leather frontpiece was made by John M. Migeod & Son of Philadelphia and added to the helmet at a later date. The red helmet has eight combs with the date “1830” painted in gold on the rear brim. The frontpiece is white with the text “COLUMBIA/5/AH” in raised letters on the front. The initials “AH” likely were the initials of the helmet’s owner. This helmet is one of the few red hats within the CIGNA collection. While helmet color could identify a firefighter's company rank and apparatus assignment, it was also an outcome of personal preference or the fire department's financial ability and willingness to buy more expensive helmets.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 19th century
- maker
- John M. Migoed & Son
- Cairns & Brother
- Migeod Company
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0142
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0142
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Fire Helmet, "Harmony 6 Fire Co."
- 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 John M. Migeod and Son of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the 19th century. The black helmet has eight combs with a stamped ivy-vine design around the helmet’s brim. The rear brim of the helmet has the initials “FA” painted in gold flanking an image of a fire hydrant with protruding hose. This was the logo of the Fire Association of Philadelphia, an insurance company founded by a group of eleven volunteer engine companies and five volunteer hose companies in 1817. A metal frontpiece holder in the shape of a fox is mounted onto the crown of the helmet. The frontpiece is painted white, with a large black “6” in the center and the words “HARMONY/FIRE Co” on red banners arching around the top and bottom of the frontpiece. The Harmony Fire Company was founded in Philadelphia in 1784 by a group of Quakers.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 19th century
- maker
- Migeod Company
- John M. Migoed & Son
- Migeod Company
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0161
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0161
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center