Sprigged & Spotted

Category: Resources

  • Women’s Work Aprons of the 1840s and 1850s shown in photos. A Reference.

    Women’s Work Aprons of the 1840s and 1850s shown in photos. A Reference.

    Early Photographic Images of American Women Wearing Aprons

    Curious to understand how aprons were constructed and worn by American women in the mid-1800s, I have collected some example photographs and references. The second quarter of the 19th century – roughly 1830 to 1855 – interests me the most.

    Following the earlier Regency fashions and preceding the hoop skirts and bustles later in the century, this pioneering era at the leading edge of the industrial revolution seems to be underappreciated by modern students of fashion history. In the mid-19th century, the aprons worn by working women were often of the “half-apron” style with the strings made long enough to wrap around and tie in the front. Smocks and over-shirts were worn over clothing as well, especially by men and boys. Pinafore type aprons also can be seen in use in this era.

    Women’s Aprons of the Mid-19th Century, Photographed
    Collage of four photos of 19th century American women and girls wearing aprons in various shades and styles.

    Women’s Aprons of the Mid-19th Century

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  • Dress Fabrics of the 1830’s, 1840’s and 1850’s: A Reference.

    Dress Fabrics of the 1830’s, 1840’s and 1850’s: A Reference.

    I enjoy sifting through museum collections online. It feels a bit like a treasure hunt and is way healthier than doom scrolling on social media. I’m grateful to the institutions who have made so much of their holdings available to members of the public like us. And, I want to share the gems and show them in context of other related items. In this case, I hope if you are trying to get an idea of textile trends in mid-19th century America, you will find this resource useful.

    Historic Women’s Dress Fabrics of the Mid-19th Century

    Historic Women’s Dress Fabrics of the Mid-19th Century.

    Explore more 19th Century Clothing through Photography

    Though 19th century photographs could not document the vibrant colors of people’s clothing, we can learn a lot from the display of patterns, textures, and styles of construction as they were worn by real individuals. Browse my Pinterest board for interesting images of 19th century people.

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  • Vintage Book Review: A Woman’s Story of Pioneer Illinois by Christiana Tillson [A Vibrant Retrospective]

    Vintage Book Review: A Woman’s Story of Pioneer Illinois by Christiana Tillson [A Vibrant Retrospective]

    A first-person account of log cabin living as a young wife and mother.

    Most of us can name at least one or two historically significant memoirs, such as Elie Wiesel’s Night or the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. Such first-person accounts of history add richness and personality to the dry study of dates, places, and politicians which usually dominate history lessons. While getting a bird’s eye view of historical events is important, well-crafted memoirs written by those who survived the trials of past events provide us with the “story” part of history. This year, I had the pleasure of encountering an unusual and underappreciated historical memoir of this kind, A Woman’s Story of Pioneer Illinois by Christiana Holmes Tillson.

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