Maine Memory Network

Historic Clothing Collection - The Maine Historical Society Historic Dress Collection - Page 2 of 2

"This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, MA-30-18-0288-18."

Historic Clothing Collection - The Maine Historical Society Historic Dress Collection - Page 1 of 2

"Plain ordinary dress and working clothes worn by the financially less well to do, scarcely survive. Well used, repaired, passed on or repurposed…"

Historic Clothing Collection - Northern Threads: Two centuries of dress at Maine Historical Society - Page 2 of 3

"With few exceptions, prior to the mid-20th century, clothing was not collected or considered museum worthy."

Historic Clothing Collection - Mourning Clothing

"… social propriety had consolidated mourning dress and customs, prescribing when, and for how long, dull blacks were proper, and when glossy silk…"

Historic Clothing Collection - Northern Threads: Two centuries of dress at Maine Historical Society - Page 1 of 3

"… Society’s historic clothing, costume, and dress collection, referred to as the “clothing collection” is a signature aspect of MHS’ museum holdings…"

Historic Clothing Collection - Northern Threads: Two centuries of dress at Maine Historical Society - Page 3 of 3

"Adams (1855-1935) reportedly embroidered the dress herself, supported by evidence the embroidery was applied after the dress’ construction."

Historic Clothing Collection - Wrappers, Teagowns & At Home Dresses

"Wrappers, Teagowns & At Home Dresses View the Wrappers, Tea Gowns & At Home Dresses Slide Show Wrapper is the traditional term used for the…"

Historic Clothing Collection - Lace and fringe trimmed walking dress, ca. 1865 - Page 1 of 4

"Lace and fringe trimmed walking dress, ca. 1865 Contributed by Maine Historical Society Description After the Civil War…"

Historic Clothing Collection - Organdy summer dress, ca. 1863 - Page 1 of 4

"The dress dates between 1860 and 1865, a representation of Civil War-era style. View additional information about this item on the Maine Memory…"

Historic Clothing Collection - Gauze evening dress with silk sash, ca. 1865 - Page 1 of 4

"The gauze or cotton organdy dress is constructed of four pieces - bodice, overskirt, petticoat and sash."

Historic Clothing Collection - White cotton dress with gigot sleeves, Portland, ca. 1828 - Page 1 of 2

"This dress includes an earlier example of the enlarged sleeve style, known as a Gigot or "leg of mutton" sleeve."

Historic Clothing Collection - Arcy Cary Bradford's gigot sleeve wedding dress, ca. 1829 - Page 1 of 2

"The beige silk dress features the fashionable gigot sleeve, which are lined with a glazed brown linen. There is a frill net at the cuff."

Historic Clothing Collection - Children's Wear

"… baby and children’s white undergarments and clothing and select examples of everyday or more formal wear."

Historic Clothing Collection - Mid Twentieth Century

"Factions formed, iconic styles took hold, and silhouettes continuously changed throughout the mid twentieth century."

Historic Clothing Collection - Eighteenth Century - Page 3 of 3

"Even in such far flung places as Maine (then thinly inhabited), the financially comfortable genteel members of its small and scattered communities…"

Historic Clothing Collection - 1950-1960 - Page 1 of 4

"Printed circle skirt, ca. 1955Maine Historical Society Perhaps the collection’s nearest to a teen bobby sockster’s dress is a white collared blue…"

Historic Clothing Collection - 1940-1950 - Page 2 of 3

"In the post war era, draped details, outsize bows, bunches, and swags were prominent design elements in evening and cocktail wear."

Historic Clothing Collection - 1920-1930 - Page 2 of 3

"For the same reason - room to move - but in this case to work, the straight skirt on a plain khaki cotton household maid’s dress features side seam…"

Historic Clothing Collection - 1940-1950 - Page 1 of 3

"Cloth for civilian clothing was limited because production was prioritized for military purposes. Bates Mill in Lewiston produced vast quantities of…"

Historic Clothing Collection - 1960-1970 - Page 1 of 3

"Crimplene became synonymous with 1960s and 1970s fashions. Two Crimplene examples in the collection were likely conservative special occasion dresses."

Historic Clothing Collection - 1950-1960 - Page 2 of 4

"… Lane's speckled navy and pale blue dolman sleeve dress, with a long back zip and black belt, is mid-calf length with a fully flared skirt stiffened…"

Historic Clothing Collection - Mid to Late Nineteenth Century

"Patented respectively in 1846 and 1851, chain stitch and lock stitch sewing machines were initially confined to commercial use, making items such as…"

Historic Clothing Collection - 1940-1950 - Page 3 of 3

"Red and green check suit, ca. 1950Maine Historical Society Dior introduced his famous "New Look" in 1947, two looks in fact, one flared skirted, and…"

Historic Clothing Collection - Site Overview

"However, all garments photographed through Institute of Museum and Library Services project may be searched through the MHS' online collections…"