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 42 items.
Page 1 of 5
The Botanists
- Description (Brief)
- 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 is a black and white print of a young woman seated on a bench with a young boy beside her and a toddler at her feet. She has a basket of flowers on her lap and another beside her. The title of the print indicates the interest in botany and the natural world.
- The print was produced by the lithographic firm of D. W. Kellogg & Co. of Hartford, Connecticut. Daniel Wright Kellogg, established this family business that would flourish for decades under his younger brothers and other family members.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1830-1840
- maker
- D. W. Kellogg and Company
- ID Number
- DL*60.2222
- catalog number
- 60.2222
- accession number
- 228146
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Father's Pride
- Description (Brief)
- 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 is a black and white print; full length frontal view of a young boy seated outdoors with one leg folded under him, dressed in velvet and lace. The companion print is "Mother's Joy" (60.2224)
- The drawing was produced by Napoleon Sarony and lithographed and published by his firm of Sarony & Major. Sarony and his partner Henry B. Major were former employees of Nathaniel Currier prior to establishing their firm in New York City in 1846.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1850
- artist
- Sarony, Napoleon
- maker
- Sarony & Major
- ID Number
- DL*60.2223
- catalog number
- 60.2223
- accession number
- 228146
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
The Sisters
- 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 hand colored print is a full length portrait of two young girls, one with short hair, one with long hair, standing outdoors in an affectionate pose. Both are wearing fancy costume which includes fringe sash, bloomers, lace, embroidered apron and brocade dress.
- This print was produced by the lithographic firm of D.W. Kellogg & Co. Daniel Wright Kellogg (1807-1874) founded the company in Hartford, Connecticut in 1830. Before the opening of its first retail store in 1834, the 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*60.2231
- catalog number
- 60.2231
- accession number
- 228146
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
The Playful Pets
- 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 hand colored print is an interior scene of a young girl seated with a dog and three puppies. The girl is wearing a pink dress that includes lace, bows, a sash and short stockings. The background includes roses hanging over the young girl.
- This print was produced by the lithographic firm E.B. & E.C. Kellogg. Edmund Burke Kellogg and Elijah Chapman Kellogg were brothers of the founder of the Kellogg lithography firm, Daniel Wright Kellogg. After D.W. Kellogg moved west, his two brothers took over the family lithography firm in 1840 and changed the name to E.B. & E.C. Kellogg. The youngest of the four Kellogg brothers, these two were responsible for the continued success of the family firm. These two brothers were also involved in the eventual partnerships between the company and Horace Thayer in 1845 or 1846, John Chenevard Comstock in 1848 and William Henry Bulkeley in 1867.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1845
- distributor
- Needham, D.
- maker
- E.B. and E.C. Kellogg
- ID Number
- DL*60.2234
- catalog number
- 60.2234
- accession number
- 228146
- maker number
- 303
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
My Dear, I Love the Gold, But Oh! How Much, I Love You Better
- 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 colored print is of a man standing by a table with a woman who is seated opposite him in a chair. A draped window.is in the background. A box of gold coins and piles of coins are on the table. Other furnishings depicted include an upholstered chair and patterned carpet. Outside the window is a fountain and small building.
- The print was produced by a J Belan or according to Peters possibly a J. Belony from New York City.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1860s
- maker
- Belan, J.
- ID Number
- DL*60.2249
- catalog number
- 60.2249
- accession number
- 228146
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Don't Say Nay
- 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 hand colored print is a full length portrait of a man and woman standing arm in arm outdoors. A church with a tall steeple is in the left background. The man is wearing a formal, long, fitted coat, double-breasted, velvet collar, vest, bow tie and striped trousers. The woman is wearing a long pink dress with lace collar and cuffs. The man is carrying a book, and the woman is carrying a lace handkerchief.
- This print was produced by the lithographic firm E.B. & E.C. Kellogg. Edmund Burke Kellogg and Elijah Chapman Kellogg were brothers of the founder of the Kellogg lithography firm, Daniel Wright Kellogg. After D.W. Kellogg moved west, his two brothers took over the family lithography firm in 1840 and changed the name to E.B. & E.C. Kellogg. The youngest of the four Kellogg brothers, these two were responsible for the continued success of the family firm. These two brothers were also involved in the eventual partnerships between the company and Horace Thayer in 1845 or 1846, John Chenevard Comstock in 1848 and William Henry Bulkeley in 1867.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1852-1860
- maker
- E.B. and E.C. Kellogg
- ID Number
- DL*60.2256
- catalog number
- 60.2256
- accession number
- 228146
- maker number
- 208
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Brother & Sister
- 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 full length hand colored portrait print is of a little boy and girl standing outdoors while holding hands. There is grape arbor in the background that is supporting vines that surround the pair. There are roses in the background. Both the boy and the girl are in simple clothing: the girl is wearing a red and white dress while the boy is wearing a blue shirt with white pants; both their outfits have a bow on the chest.
- This print was produced by James S Baillie, was active in New York from 1838 to 1855. James Baillie started as a framer in 1838, and then became an artist and lithographer in 1843 or 1844. He discovered how to color lithographs while working as an independent contractor for Currier & Ives in the mid 1840’s. A prolific lithographer and colorist for Currier & Ives; his prints were extremely popular with a wide distribution. J. Baillie spent his later years concentrating on painting instead of lithography.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1846
- maker
- Baillie, James S.
- ID Number
- DL*60.2262
- catalog number
- 60.2262
- accession number
- 228146
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
The Bud and the Blossom
- 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 hand colored print is a three-quarter length portrait of two girls, the older girl with her arm around the shoulder of the younger girl. They wear simple dress; one pink and the other blue. Rose bushes and a balustrade are in the background. The younger girls hold some flowers in one hand.
- This print was produced by the lithographic firm E.B. & E.C. Kellogg. Edmund Burke Kellogg and Elijah Chapman Kellogg were brothers of the founder of the Kellogg lithography firm, Daniel Wright Kellogg. After D.W. Kellogg moved west, his two brothers took over the family lithography firm in 1840 and changed the name to E.B. & E.C. Kellogg. The youngest of the four Kellogg brothers, these two were responsible for the continued success of the family firm. These two brothers were also involved in the eventual partnerships between the company and Horace Thayer in 1845 or 1846, John Chenevard Comstock in 1848 and William Henry Bulkeley in 1867.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1846
- distributor
- Needham, D.
- maker
- E.B. and E.C. Kellogg
- ID Number
- DL*60.2265
- catalog number
- 60.2265
- accession number
- 228146
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Charles
- 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 colored print is a full length 3/4 pose of young man standing in parlor. He is in formal dress:a long fitted coat, embroidered vest and shirt, bow tie, high silk hat in hand. The background includes an ornate sofa,a fireplace with painted seascape on the a firescreen, a framed picture of six masted sailing ship on the wall, a fringed throw rug and a patterned carpet. A vase with portrait image, bust length of a young woman contains a floral arrangement and sits on the mantle.
- The print was produced by Sarony & Major. Napoleon Sarony (1821–1896) was born in Quebec and trained under several lithography firms including Currier & Ives and H.R. Robinson. Sarony was also known for his successful experiments in early photography, eventually developing a cabinet-sized camera. In 1846, Sarony partnered with another former apprentice of Nathaniel Currier, Henry B. Major and created Sarony & Major Lithography firm. Joseph F. Knapp joined the firm in 1857. Sarony, Major & Knapp earned a solid reputation for lithography and the company was especially known for its fine art chromolithography. Unfortunately, by the 1870s, the firm shifted focus to the more profitable area of advertising. It also expanded to become the conglomerate known as the American Lithographic Company, successfully producing calendars, advertising cards and posters. In 1930 they were bought out by Consolidated Graphics.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1848
- distributors
- Sowle & Shaw
- maker
- Sarony & Major
- ID Number
- DL*60.2275
- catalog number
- 60.2275
- accession number
- 228146
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
The First Appearance
- 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 hand colored print is of three ladies in an outdoor setting. One is full front in the foreground, while the other two are looking and smelling the roses in the background. All of the women are wearing wide straw hats with ribbons, tight fitting bodices and sleeves, short full skirts, bloomers stopping at ankles and high button shoes. There are two columns on the left that are home to more roses. The floor is patterned.
- This print was produced by the lithographic firm E.B. & E.C. Kellogg. Edmund Burke Kellogg and Elijah Chapman Kellogg were brothers of the founder of the Kellogg lithography firm, Daniel Wright Kellogg. After D.W. Kellogg moved west, his two brothers took over the family lithography firm in 1840 and changed the name to E.B. & E.C. Kellogg. The youngest of the four Kellogg brothers, these two were responsible for the continued success of the family firm. These two brothers were also involved in the eventual partnerships between the company and Horace Thayer in 1845 or 1846, John Chenevard Comstock in 1848 and William Henry Bulkeley in 1867.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1852
- distributors
- Ensign, Thayer and Company
- maker
- E.B. and E.C. Kellogg
- ID Number
- DL*60.2276
- catalog number
- 60.2276
- accession number
- 228146
- maker number
- 431
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
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