Kent State University Museum: Centuries of Childhood

Exhibition

Centuries of Childhood
Alumni Gallery, September 27, 2000 to September 31, 2001
Anne Bissonnette, Curator

Children's garments from 1850 to 1869

Girl in White
Moses Billings, American (1809-1884)
Oil on canvas, 60 x 48, c.1850s to early 1860s.
Collection of The Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio.
Museum purchase, 1977.

Young boy's red cotton dress
United States of America, style consistent with the 1850s although it is said to have been worn by the donor's father in the 1880s
Young boy's (younger than 5) red cotton dress lined in ivory cotton at bodice, waistband and hem and trimmed with narrow white cotton braid. Bateau neckline, full gathered skirt and double sleeves.
Kent State University Museum, Gift of Mrs. Hallock F. Raup, KSUM 1985.10.1

Until the introduction of the "skeleton" suit around 1770, boys were kept comfortably "in petticoats" for as long as possible. The new suit, with relaxed full-seated trousers that buttoned onto the high waistline of the bodice, made it practical to "breech" boys at the earlier age of 2 to 4 instead of 5 or 6. By the 1830s, fashions changed again, and many boys were put back into dresses for the longer time period.

Girl's royal blue ensemble trimmed in white
Possibly from the United States of America, c.1860-69
Silk taffeta long-sleeved bodice, full skirt and sash trimmed in white ribbon and braid.
Probably worn with a short crinoline.
Kent State University Museum, Silverman-Rodgers Collection, KSUM 1983.1.140a-c

Child's white piqué dress
Possibly from the United States of America, c.1860-69
Princess style white cotton piqué dress trimmed in eyelet embroidery.
Kent State University Museum, Silverman-Rodgers Collection, KSUM 1983.1.146

Child's red wool dress trimmed with black braid
United State of America, mid1860s
Wool long-sleeved dress with princess lines, lined in beige, white and brown printed cotton.
Soutache black braid appliqué decoration.
Kent State University Museum, Gift of Mrs. Robert Johnston, KSUM 1986.67.1

Boy's velvet skeleton suit
United States of America, c.1850s
Boy's black cotton velvet skeleton suit with floral embroidery lined in ivory cotton chintz. Flared sleeves, bodice that closes with brass buttons at front and to the short breeches. Opening at the lower part of the front crotch. Belonged to the donor's Uncle Ira.
Kent State University Museum, Gift of Mrs. Richard Silver in memory of
Constance R. Andrus and Laura Gladys Roosevelt, KSUM 1994.48.51ab