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.
Environmental Button
- Description
- The universal symbol for recycling is shown on this button. The symbol, a mobius loop formed by three arrows, was designed as part of a contest in 1970 by University of Southern California student Gary Anderson.
- maker
- Badge-A-Minit
- ID Number
- 2003.0014.0273
- accession number
- 2003.0014
- catalog number
- 2003.0014.0273
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Environmental Button
- Description
- On March 24, 1989 the oil tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground in Prince William Sound, off the coast of Alaska. Almost 11 million gallons of crude oil spilled into the sea, the largest oil spill in United States history. The resulting oil slick contaminated 1,300 miles of coastline and killed over 200,000 sea birds and sea mammals such as otters, seals, and killer whales. The clean-up cost over 2.2 billion dollars.
- Environmental disasters are often used to galvanize public support for reform; the Exxon Valdez accident is a perfect example. This button was produced to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the event.
- maker
- Badge-A-Minit
- ID Number
- 2003.0014.0831
- accession number
- 2003.0014
- catalog number
- 2003.0014.0831
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Environmental Button
- Description
- The California condor decreased in population steadily throughout the 20th century. In 1985 there were believed to be less than two dozen birds left in the wild. That year, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service embarked upon a controversial program to collect the remaining California condors and breed them in captivity. Due to the success of the program, the condor population now reaches over 240 birds, with over 100 released into areas of California, Arizona and Baja, Mexico.
- maker
- Badge-A-Minit
- ID Number
- 2003.0014.0910
- accession number
- 2003.0014
- catalog number
- 2003.0014.0910
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Environmental Button
- Description
- This button was likely produced in reaction to an oil embargo that occurred in 1973-1974. The embargo caused gas shortages, leading to higher prices and gas rationing, and resulted in long lines at the gas pumps. This button suggests one possible response to the embargo.
- maker
- Badge-A-Minit
- ID Number
- 2003.0014.0013
- accession number
- 2003.0014
- catalog number
- 2003.0014.0013
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Environmental Button
- Description
- Growing food organically is seen as “earth friendly” as it eschews the use of pesticides and antibiotics and employs water conserving agricultural methods.
- maker
- Badge-A-Minit
- ID Number
- 2003.0014.1133
- accession number
- 2003.0014
- catalog number
- 2003.0014.1133
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center