Clothing & Accessories

Women's Gown (cheong sam) ca. 1930

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.

Mary Lincoln's Purse

Mary Lincoln's gold evening purse, 1863. Her name and the year were engraved inside the ring.Gift of Lincoln Isham, great-grandson of Abraham Lincoln, 1958
Description
Mary Lincoln's gold evening purse, 1863. Her name and the year were engraved inside the ring.
Gift of Lincoln Isham, great-grandson of Abraham Lincoln, 1958
date made
1863
associated date
1863
associated person
Lincoln, Mary Todd
ID Number
PL.278039.02
catalog number
278039.02
accession number
278039

Tad Lincoln's Watch

Tad Lincoln's Swiss gold watch from Tiffany and Sons of New York, mid-1860s.Gift of Lincoln Isham, great-grandson of Abraham Lincoln, 1958
Description
Tad Lincoln's Swiss gold watch from Tiffany and Sons of New York, mid-1860s.
Gift of Lincoln Isham, great-grandson of Abraham Lincoln, 1958
user; wearer
Lincoln, Thomas
maker
Tiffany and Company
ID Number
PL.219098.02
catalog number
219098.02
accession number
219098

banyan

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1745 - 1769
ID Number
CS.006611
catalog number
006611
accession number
28810

cloak

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1770 - 1795
ID Number
CS.006627
catalog number
006627
accession number
28810

fashion plate

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1861
bequest of
James, Catalina Juliana Mason Myers
ID Number
CS.033675.027
catalog number
033675.027
accession number
70138

fashion plate

ID Number
CS.228001.1600
catalog number
228001.1600

fashion plate

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1860
bequest of
James, Catalina Juliana Mason Myers
ID Number
CS.033675.014
catalog number
033675.014
accession number
70138

Riding Dress

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
CS.244128.098
catalog number
244128.098

fashion plate

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1860
bequest of
James, Catalina Juliana Mason Myers
ID Number
CS.033675.022
catalog number
033675.022
accession number
70138

fashion plate

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1861
bequest of
James, Catalina Juliana Mason Myers
ID Number
CS.033675.043
catalog number
033675.043
accession number
70138

Modes de Long-Champs

ID Number
CS.228001.1598
catalog number
228001.1598

Head Dresses

ID Number
CS.228001.1607
catalog number
228001.1607

Black Beaver Hat

This stovepipe hat was worn around 1850 and is made of black beaver fur. Inside the hat bears a personal note, “Hat made for Uncle Abe.”Currently not on view
Description
This stovepipe hat was worn around 1850 and is made of black beaver fur. Inside the hat bears a personal note, “Hat made for Uncle Abe.”
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1837-1847
maker
Mugnier
ID Number
CS.015678
catalog number
015678
accession number
58845

fabric

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1769
ID Number
CS.006584A
catalog number
006584A
accession number
28810

fashion plate

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1861
bequest of
James, Catalina Juliana Mason Myers
ID Number
CS.033675.040
catalog number
033675.040
accession number
70138

fashion plate

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1860
bequest of
James, Catalina Juliana Mason Myers
ID Number
CS.033675.009
catalog number
033675.009
accession number
70138

fashion plate

bequest of
James, Catalina Juliana Mason Myers
ID Number
CS.033675.171
catalog number
033675.171
accession number
70138

comb

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1820 - 1824
ID Number
CS.006746
catalog number
006746
accession number
28840

London Dresses for October

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
????-10
ID Number
CS.244128.095
catalog number
244128.095

fashion plate

ID Number
CS.228001.1597
catalog number
228001.1597

apron

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1815 - 1825
ID Number
CS.006630
catalog number
006630
accession number
28810

fashion plate

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1860
bequest of
James, Catalina Juliana Mason Myers
ID Number
CS.033675.006
catalog number
033675.006
accession number
70138

fashion plate

Date made
1866-09
bequest of
James, Catalina Juliana Mason Myers
ID Number
CS.033675.189
catalog number
033675.189
accession number
70138

Army Signal Corps Female Telephone Operator Uniform

U.S. Army Signal Corps Female Telephone Operator "Hello Girl" uniform, World War I. The uniform consists of a coat, skirt, and overseas cap, each made of navy blue wool.
Description
U.S. Army Signal Corps Female Telephone Operator "Hello Girl" uniform, World War I. The uniform consists of a coat, skirt, and overseas cap, each made of navy blue wool. The coat has several patches and insignia, including the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) General Headquarters patch on left sleeve and the Chief Operator rank insignia on the right sleeve. There are two overseas service chevrons on the lower left sleeve, denoting 6 months of service each. On the left breast is the World War I Victory Ribbon with silver citation star. This uniform was worn by Helen Cook and donated by her through The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America.
The Signal Corps Female Telephone Operators unit was formed in late 1917 following an urgent request from General Pershing. The AEF was in desperate need of bilingual switchboard operators to improve vital communications at the front. By the end of the war, over 400 women had been trained by the Army as "Hello Girls" and over 200 had served overseas, with many receiving Distinguished Service medals.
Upon returning home after the war, "Hello Girls," unlike women who had served in the Navy, were denied veteran benefits as Army regulations at the time defined soldiers as male. It wasn't until over 60 years later, in 1979, that the Signal Corps Female Telephone Operators were finally given their veteran status and benefits.
ID Number
1998.0165.35.01
accession number
1998.0165
catalog number
1998.0165.35.01

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