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Fashion History

Learning To Be A Leatherman: A Leather Business Memoir (Podcast)

November 4, 2022 by Bob Cudmore Leave a Comment

The Historians LogoThis week on The Historians podcast, Rod Correll discusses his memoir Learning to Be a Leatherman: A Rite of Passage (Troy Book Makers, 2022). Correll lived in the leather business for 50 years, from childhood up to when he left the business in the 1980s. [Read more…] about Learning To Be A Leatherman: A Leather Business Memoir (Podcast)

Filed Under: History, Mohawk Valley Tagged With: Fashion History, Fulton County, German-American History, Gloversville, Industrial History, Labor History, Podcasts

Elverhoj: The Arts and Crafts Colony at Milton-on-Hudson

October 3, 2022 by Guest Contributor 1 Comment

Elverhoj Summer School 1914 CoverAmong the trio of turn-of-the-century New York State Arts and Crafts communities, Elverhoj is the least-well-known. The recent publication of Elverhoj: The Arts and Crafts Colony at Milton-on-Hudson (Black Dome Press, 2022; distributed by RIT Press), written by William B. Rhoads and Leslie Melvin, resolves the oversight.

Roycroft, in East Aurora (Erie County), and Byrdcliffe, in Woodstock, both began earlier than Elverhoj. Previously, each was the subject of a definitive scholarly text.

Elverhoj was established by Anders Andersen and Johannes Morton on the picturesque west shore of the Hudson River in 1912. Its Danish name loosely translates to “hill of the fairies.” Persisting until the 1930s, well outside of the Arts and Crafts period, it fell victim to the Depression eventually filing for bankruptcy like so many enterprises. [Read more…] about Elverhoj: The Arts and Crafts Colony at Milton-on-Hudson

Filed Under: Arts, Books, History, Hudson Valley - Catskills Tagged With: Art History, Arts and Crafts Movement, Cultural History, Fashion History, Folk Art, Furniture, Material Culture, Ulster County, Vassar College

Millia Davenport & The Book of Costume

June 23, 2022 by Clare Sheridan Leave a Comment

crossroads of rockland historyOn the June 2022 episode of Crossroads of Rockland History, we turned our attention to the life and legacy of Millia Davenport (1895-1992).

David Bisaha, Assistant Professor of Theater at SUNY Binghamton joined host Clare Sheridan to discuss this remarkable and trailblazing woman who lived most of her life in Rockland County. Among her many contributions include writing the definitive book of theatrical costume history, The Book of Costume. Published in 1948, it remains the gold standard. In 1991 the Costume Society of America established the Millia Davenport Publication Award recognizing excellence in costume scholarship. [Read more…] about Millia Davenport & The Book of Costume

Filed Under: Arts, History, Hudson Valley - Catskills Tagged With: Fashion History, Historical Society of Rockland County, Podcasts, SUNY Binghamton, Theatre

Anna Ben-Yùsuf: The Bravery of a Migrant Mother

February 16, 2022 by Jaap Harskamp 1 Comment

Dorothea Lane, Migrant Mother, 1936From the early times of explorers and settlers to the present day, the United States has been a nation of immigrants. Diversity makes the nation tick.

In the history of migration the (often neglected) participation of women has been crucial. Tales of hardship and bravery are legion. The plight of women who have had to make painful sacrifices has been highlighted by artists and historians, though more easily forgotten by the general public.

Zaida Ben Yùsuf joined the American labor force in the 1890s. She was in the vanguard of women who became professionally involved in the production of periodicals, as magazines reached a mass readership and photographs supplanted illustrations. But it was her migrant mother who had blazed the trail. [Read more…] about Anna Ben-Yùsuf: The Bravery of a Migrant Mother

Filed Under: History, New York City Tagged With: Art History, Fashion History, Greenwich Village, Immigration, Labor History, Manhattan, Muslim-American History, New York City, Photography, Publishing, Theatre, womens history

Modernist Misogyny & Lady Penrose of Poughkeepsie

June 29, 2021 by Jaap Harskamp 3 Comments

Vogue cover March 15 1927Elizabeth “Lee” Miller started her career in the fashion industry. Having been model and assistant to surrealist artist and photographer Emmanuel Radnitzky, better known as Man Ray, she had the drive and talent to pursue her own professional ambition. During the Second World War, she was one of five accredited female photo-journalists accompanying American troops.

In a turbulent life traumatic events in her youth and maturity took their toll and may have hampered the appreciation of her contribution. Full recognition of the artistic value of her work is long overdue. [Read more…] about Modernist Misogyny & Lady Penrose of Poughkeepsie

Filed Under: History, Hudson Valley - Catskills, New York City Tagged With: art, Art History, Cultural History, Fashion History, Manhattan, modernism, New York City, Photography, Poughkeepsie, womens history, World War Two

Meet The Lumbersexual

March 15, 2021 by John Warren 3 Comments

Paul Bunyan at Enchanted Forest in Old ForgeIt’s fitting that I just finished bringing in a load of firewood and had plopped into my old wooden chair when I learned I was well attired for the latest fashion craze.

Apparently, according to Gear Junkie, your standard Adirondack men’s wear – work pants, a flannel, an unkept beard – is a thing. Like a cool thing. With fashionistas and all. [Read more…] about Meet The Lumbersexual

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Capital-Saratoga, Hudson Valley - Catskills, Mohawk Valley, New York City, Western NY Tagged With: Adirondacks, Fashion History

Mary Booth: Writer, Translator, and Founding Editor of Harper’s Bazzar

December 9, 2020 by Chris Kretz Leave a Comment

long island history project logoIt’s never been easy to make your way as an independent, career-minded woman in New York City. Mary L. Booth did it in the 19th century, forging a career and establishing a reputation as a writer, translator, and the founding editor of Harper’s Bazzar.

Learn more about this Long Island native as we talk to Tricia Foley, author of Mary L. Booth: The Story of an Extraordinary 19th-Century Woman, on the lastest episode of the Long Island History Project. [Read more…] about Mary Booth: Writer, Translator, and Founding Editor of Harper’s Bazzar

Filed Under: History, New York City Tagged With: Books, Cultural History, Fashion History, Long Island, Podcasts, Publishing, Writing

Featured Collection: Merchant’s House Costumes

December 9, 2019 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Tredwell Costume CollectionThe Tredwell Costume Collection at Merchant’s House Museum comprises more than 400 articles of clothing, including a remarkable 39 dresses documented to have been owned and worn by the women of the family. Many are outstanding examples of the 19th century dressmaker’s art, composed of fine and delicate fabrics and ornamentation. [Read more…] about Featured Collection: Merchant’s House Costumes

Filed Under: History, New York City Tagged With: Fashion History, Featured Collections, Fiber Arts - Textiles, New York City

Hamilton Descendant Lends Objects to Schuyler Sisters Exhibition

November 3, 2019 by Editorial Staff 3 Comments

Exhibition curator Diane Shewchuk Albany Institute Executive Director Tammis Groft and Hamilton descendant Douglas Hamilton unpack Elizabeth Schuyler Hamiltons embroidered handkerchiefDouglas Hamilton, a fifth great-grandson of Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, has lent objects to be shown in The Schuyler Sisters & Their Circle exhibition at the Albany Institute of History & Art.

The objects, recently on view at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia as part of their “Year of Hamilton” display, include a Society of the Cincinnati Eagle insignia owned by Alexander Hamilton and a gold mourning ring belonging to Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton. [Read more…] about Hamilton Descendant Lends Objects to Schuyler Sisters Exhibition

Filed Under: History, New Exhibits Tagged With: Albany, Albany Institute For History and Art, Alexander Hamilton, American Revolution, AmRev, Cultural History, Fashion History, Philip Schuyler, Political History, Van Rensselaers

Shoe Stories from Early America

July 3, 2019 by Liz Covart Leave a Comment

ben_franklins_worldThere’s an old saying that tells us we should walk a mile in someone else’s shoes. It’s a reminder that we should practice empathy and try to understand people before we cast judgement.

As it happens, this expression is right on the mark because it seems when we use shoes as historical objects, we can learn a LOT about people and their everyday lives and actions.

In this episode of Ben Franklin’s World, Kimberly Alexander, museum specialist, lecturer at the University of New Hampshire, and author of Treasures Afoot: Shoe Stories from the Georgian Era (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2018), joins us to help us better understand shoes and what they can tell us about the everyday lives of early Americans. [Read more…] about Shoe Stories from Early America

Filed Under: Books, History Tagged With: Clothing, Early America, Early American History, Economic History, Fashion History, Podcasts, Political History, Shoes

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