Clothing & Accessories

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.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1745 - 1769
ID Number
CS.006611
catalog number
006611
accession number
28810
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1770 - 1795
ID Number
CS.006627
catalog number
006627
accession number
28810
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1769
ID Number
CS.006584A
catalog number
006584A
accession number
28810
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1820 - 1824
ID Number
CS.006746
catalog number
006746
accession number
28840
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1815 - 1825
ID Number
CS.006630
catalog number
006630
accession number
28810
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1780 - 1800
ID Number
CS.006641
catalog number
006641
accession number
28810
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1765 - 1775
ID Number
CS.006613
catalog number
006613
accession number
28810
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1769
ID Number
CS.006584
catalog number
006584
accession number
28810
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1775 - 1799
ID Number
CS.006616
catalog number
006616
accession number
28810
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1830 - 1840
1830-1840
ID Number
CS.006614
catalog number
006614
accession number
28810
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1790 - 1800
1790-1800
ID Number
CS.006619
catalog number
006619
accession number
28810
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1828 - 1835
ID Number
CS.006725
catalog number
006725
accession number
28810
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1810 - 1820
ID Number
CS.006610D
catalog number
006610D
accession number
28810
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1800 - 1830
ID Number
CS.006660A
catalog number
006660A
accession number
28810
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1764 - 1774
ID Number
CS.006730
catalog number
006730
accession number
28810
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1790 - 1810
ID Number
CS.006700B
catalog number
006700B
accession number
28810
This is a pair of early 1800s, men’s white leather gloves. Gloves were an integral part of men’s dress during the 1800s. Men could wear colored gloves during the day, but white gloves were the only color acceptable to wear with evening attire.
Description
This is a pair of early 1800s, men’s white leather gloves. Gloves were an integral part of men’s dress during the 1800s. Men could wear colored gloves during the day, but white gloves were the only color acceptable to wear with evening attire.
date made
1769
ID Number
CS.006740
catalog number
006740
accession number
28810
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1770 - 1820
ID Number
CS.006525
catalog number
006525
accession number
28810
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1775 - 1799
ID Number
CS.006608A
catalog number
006608A
accession number
28810
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1770 - 1830
ID Number
CS.006687B
catalog number
006687B
accession number
28810
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1780 - 1800
ID Number
CS.006608
catalog number
006608
accession number
28810
Sentimental genre prints documented the social image of Victorian virtue through domestic scenes of courtship, family, home life, and images of the “genteel female.” Children are depicted studying nature or caring for their obedient pets as they learn their place in the greater w
Description
Sentimental genre prints documented the social image of Victorian virtue through domestic scenes of courtship, family, home life, and images of the “genteel female.” Children are depicted studying nature or caring for their obedient pets as they learn their place in the greater world. Romantic scenes picture devoted husbands with their contented, dutiful wives. In these prints, young women educated in reading, music, needlework, the arts, the language of flowers, basic math and science are subjugated to their family’s needs.
These prints became popular as lithography was introduced to 19th Century Americans. As a new art form, it was affordable for the masses and provided a means to share visual information by crossing the barriers of race, class and language. Sentimental prints encouraged the artistic endeavors of schoolgirls and promoted the ambitions of amateur artists, while serving as both moral instruction and home or business decoration. They are a pictorial record of our romanticized past.
This half length hand colored portrait print depicts a young woman wearing a velvet hat accented with an ostrich feather. Her dark red dress is accented with a high white collar. Around her waist is a belt with a gold buckle. She wears a long necklace around her neck and gold drop earrings.
This print was produced by the lithographic firm of D.W. Kellogg & Co. Daniel Wright Kellogg (1807-1874) founded the company in 1830 Hartford, Connecticut. Before the opening of its first retail store in 1834, D.W. Kellogg & Co. lithography firm was well established and popular in United States, particularly in the South and the Southwest. As the founding member of the family company, Daniel Wright Kellogg established the initial growth and popularity of the firm. After he left the company it continued to flourish for decades under his younger brothers and other family members.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1833-1842
maker
D.W. Kellogg and Company
ID Number
DL.60.2510
catalog number
60.2510
accession number
228146
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1785 - 1795
ID Number
CS.006550A
catalog number
006550A
accession number
28810
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1770 - 1830
ID Number
CS.006687
catalog number
006687
accession number
28810

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