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 2 items.
Fire Helmet, "Citizen 3"
- 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 black leather helmet dates to the 19th century. The hat has eight combs and is painted black overall. A metal eagle’s head mounted to the crown of the helmet serves as a frontpiece holder. The black leather frontpiece reads “CITIZEN/3”. An ivy-vine scroll pattern is stamped around the brim of the helmet, with the initials “U.F.I.” painted in gold with red shading on the rear brim. The United Firemen’s Insurance Company was organized by thirty-two fire and hose brigades in Philadelphia in 1860.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1836
- maker
- Julstone
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0222
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0222
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Fire Helmet, "Cataract Hose 1 M.F.D."
- 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 early-style leather helmet dates to approximately 1838. A marking on the interior identifies that it likely belonged to a “Cataract Hose 1” Company of the “M.F.D” fire department. The leather helmet has four combs. While many later helmets had a metal eagle frontpiece holder, this helmet has an eagle made of leather which is part of the front comb.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1838
- maker
- unknown
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0141
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0141
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center