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Finds and Interests
Some of you may know that I collect vintage photographs and negatives. I have built
such an extensive collection that I created a website called History in Photographs
(HIP) to showcase and sell the photos. These aren’t just simple snapshots; they give us
a glimpse into history and leave us with questions.
I am excited to begin sharing my collection by selecting a few of the most intriguing
photographs and inviting different experts to help us piece together the hidden
narratives. Every picture tells a story, and it’s up to us to uncover it. Our first expert
is Meghan Boehmer, a historical interpreter, reenactor, and writer who has traveled
thousands of miles to learn about historical locations, records, and figures. She has
agreed to share her expertise in period clothing with me, hoping to enhance our
understanding of the subjects in the photos.
First, the timing is important to know. Meghan notes:
“This photograph was likely taken in the late 1880s. The woman depicted is wearing a
bustle gown that pads out her backside, as was the fashion in the 1880s. Later in the
decade, this fashion would evolve into a wire frame undergarment similar to a hoop
skirt, emphasizing only the rear end. The fashion began to develop in the late 1870s
and became more exaggerated over time before going out of fashion in the 1890s.”
She also points out the different societal movements around that time, and that some of
the outfit shown reflected trends from various years, indicating the woman did not have
the means or need to keep her clothing on trend by replacing it every season:
The silhouette of her outfit is mid-sized, and the hem has no train, so the gown was
likely purchased in the middle of the decade. The coat she wears is covered in a floral
trim that is indicative of the arts and crafts movement. This era of design was an English
and American offshoot of the art nouveau movement, taking inspiration from the beauty
and imperfection of nature and meshing the concepts of aesthetics and utility. The true
oddity in this image is how hodgepodge her outfit is, as her bonnet had been out of style
for two decades.
Women’s hats shrank in size significantly between the 1860s and the 1880s. That
indicates to me that this woman was more middle-class, wearing clothes until they wore
out, rather than changing her wardrobe with the fashions. Since the arts and crafts
movement only started in the 1880s and continued well into the 20th century, this
photograph was likely taken in the 1880s, before the silhouette changed completely.
A picture offers so much more than just the still capture of a moment, so getting to know
the history behind an image can bring that moment to life.