Maine Memory Network

Detachable sleeve crinoline dress, ca. 1855

Contributed by: Maine Historical Society Date: circa 1855 Media: silk, cotton, baleen, wool

Plaid silk day dress, ca. 1850

Contributed by: Maine Historical Society Date: circa 1850 Media: Silk, cotton, brass, glass

Northern Threads: Two centuries of dress at Maine Historical

Organized by themed vignettes, Northern Threads shares stories about Maine people, while exploring how the clothing they wore reveals social, economic, and environmental histories. This re-examination of Maine Historical Society's permanent collection is an opportunity to consider the relevance of historic clothing in museums, the ebb and flow of fashion styles, and the complexities of diverse representation spanning 200 years of collecting.

Northern Threads: Colonial and 19th century fur trade

A vignette in "Northern Threads: Two centuries of dress at Maine Historical Society Part 1," this fur trade mini-exhibition discusses the environmental and economic impact of the fur trade in Maine through the 19th century.

Historic Clothing Collection - 1850-1870 - Page 1 of 4

"The collection’s 1850s dress of gold silk damask with an elongated leafy tree motif (quite distinct from imported European designs) is a reminder…"

Historic Clothing Collection - 1830-1850 - Page 3 of 3

"The frilled trimming may be a 1850s update. Damask dress, ca. 1848Maine Historical Society With its pointed waist and piped edge front closure…"