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Peggy Fields in period dress In the early 1980s, Peggy Fields came up with a creative way to extend thBlair County Historical Society (Altoona, PA) into the community. She had been cultivating an interest in the history of women’s clothing since she volunteered at Hanna’s Town, a colonial fort and town near Greensburg, PA. When she re-located in Altoona, she volunteered at both the historical society and Fort Roberdeau, another Revolutionary War period site. She recruited several models and began researching and constructing historically accurate clothing from the late 18th through the 20th centuries. Over the decades, more than 75 costumes were recreated, including not only the main garment but all the underclothing and accessories.

Peggy and her models responded to invitations across Pennsylvania and other eastern states to present style shows. The program became a popular fund-raiser for the Society, Fort Roberdeau, and the Quaint Corner Children’s Museum and Discovery Center (Altoona, PA). The series grew to include many specialty shows, including weddings, sporting clothing, the American Revolution and Civil War periods, and the 1920s.

Welcome to Peggy's Closet!

Click photo for details about this outfit.  

These selected articles from Costume, the journal of the Costume Society of London, relate to outfits in Peggy's collection. (Click the titles to read.)

 

Bennett, H., 1980. Sir John Hynde Cotton's Highland suit. Costume, Volume 14, pp. 95-109.

Buck, A., 1968. The trap re-baited: mourning dress 1860-1890. Costume, Volume 2, pp. 32-37.

Buck, A., 1970. The costume of Jane Austen and her characters. Costume, Volume 4, pp. 36-45.

Buck, A. a. M. H., 1984. Pocket guides to fashion: ladies' pocket books published in England 1760-1830. Costume, Volume 18, pp. 35-58.

Buck, A. M., 1983. Clothes in fact and fiction. Costume, Volume 17, pp. 89-104.

Burman, B. and Leventon, M., 1987. The Men's Dress Reform Party 1929-37. Costume, Volume 21, pp. 75-87.

Evans, G., 2008. Marriage a la mode, an 18th-century wedding dress, hat and shoes set from the Olive Matthews Collection, Chertsey Museum. Costume, Volume 42, pp. 50-65.

Ginsburg, M., 1972. The tailoring and dressmaking trades, 1700-1850. Costume, Volume 6, pp. 64-71.

Ginsburg, M., 1980. Rags to riches: the second-hand clothes trade 1700-1978. Costume, Volume 14, pp. 121-135.

Hamer, L., 1984. The Cullercoats fishwife. Costume, Volume 18, pp. 66-73.

Harden, R., 2010. Margot Fonteyn and fashion designers in the 1940s. Costume, Volume 44, pp. 96-105.

Lambert, M., 2014. Death and memory: clothing bequests in English wills 1650-1830. Costume, 48(1), pp. 46-59.

Levey, S. M., 2010. The story of a shirt: a cautionary tale with an unexpected ending. Costume, Volume 44, pp. 28-36.

Linkman, A. E., 1991. The workshy camera: photography and the labouring classes in the 19th century. Costume, Volume 25, pp. 36-52.

Lister, J., 2003. Twenty-three samples of silk: silks worn by Queen Charlotte and the Princesses at royal birthday balls, 1791-1794. Costume, Volume 37, pp. 51-65.

Lloyd, C. F., 1976. Liberty's 1875-1975, Liberty's embroidery workrooms: Memories of working there during the years 1918-1924. Costume, Volume 10, pp. 86-90.

Milhous, J. a. H. R. T. C., 2001. The tailor's shop at the Pantheon Opera, 1790-1792. Costume, Volume 35, pp. 24-46.

Newton, S. M., 2005. London Haute Couture in the 1930s. Costume, Volume 39, pp. 4-27.

Nichols, M. J., 1996. Straw plaiting and the straw hat industry in Britain. Costume, Volume 30, pp. 112-124.

Ribeiro, A., 1994. Antiquarian attitudes - some early studies in the history of dress. Costume, Volume 28, pp. 60-70.

Rolley, K., 1995. The Lafayette Collection at the National Portrait Gallery Archive: a new resource for historians of 20th-c dress. Costume, Volume 29, pp. 101-108.

Shrimpton, J., 1995. The National Portrait Gallery Heinz Archive and Library, Orange Street, London WC2. Costume, Volume 29, pp. 95-100.

Strasdin, K., 2004. 'An easy day for a lady . . .': the dress of early women mountaineers. Costume, Volume 38, pp. 72-85.

Wilcox, D., 2014. A suit of silver: the underdress of a Knight of the Garter in the late 17th century. Costume, 48(1), pp. 21-45.

Windle, L.-C., 2007. 'Over what crinoline should these charming jupons be worn?': Thomson's survival strategy during the decline of crinoline. Costume, Volume 41, pp. 66-82.

Click the photo for details.

 

18th century

IMG 1480x62 IMG 1948x90    
Pet en l'air, 1765-75  Gentry girl, 1770    
Ref #62  Ref #90    
 
 IMG 1523x64  IMG 1436x57  IMG 1614x68  
Everyday dress, 1770s Jacket, 1770s Embroidered jacket, 1770s
 
Ref # 64a Ref # 57 Ref # 68
 
       
 IMG 1461x59  IMG 1592x67  IMG 2010x95  
German short gown, 1770s Bed gown, 1770s Rural girl, 1770s  
Ref # 59
Ref # 67
 Ref # 95
 
       
 IMG 1492x61  IMG 1709x75  IMG 1770x78  IMG 1511x63
Fancy dress, 1770s Polonaise, 1770s Sack back, 1770s Fancy gown, 1785-90
Ref # 61 Ref # 75 Ref # 78 Ref # 63
       
 IMG 1690x73  IMG 1548x64b    
Riding outfit, 1780s  Everyday dress, 1780s    
Ref # 73 Ref # 64b     
       
IMG 1163x37 IMG 0733x7 IMG 1276x45  IMG 1965x91
Chemise, 1795-1800 Riding habit, 1791 Open robe, 1795-1800  Evening gown, 1809
Ref # 37 Ref # 7 Ref # 45   Ref # 91
       

19th century

 IMG 1852x82  IMG 0774x10  IMG 0707x5  IMG 2022x96

Chemise dress, 1800-10

Riding habit, 1805

Morning dress, 1810s

Apron-front dress, 1805-10
Ref # 82 Ref # 10 Ref # 5  Ref # 96
       
IMG 1860x83 IMG 1874x84 IMG 1731x76 IMG 0806x12

Coat, 1810

Dress, 1818

Pelerine with evening dress, 1818

Walking dress with cape, 1820s

Ref # 83 Ref # 84 Ref # 76 Ref # 12
       
IMG 1173x38 IMG 1648x70    

Evening dress, 1825

Wedding, 1828

   
Ref #  38 Ref #  70abc    
       
IMG 0748x8 IMG 0759x9 IMG 1118x33 IMG 1570x66

Gown, 1830s

Gown, 1830s

Traveling outfit, 1830s

Dress, 1830

Ref # 8 Ref # 9 Ref # 33 Ref # 66
       
IMG 1010x26 IMG 1789x79 IMG 1027x27 IMG 1054x29

Day dress, 1840s

Girl's dress, 1840s

Day dress, 1840s-1850s

 Day dress, 1840s-1850s

Ref # 26 Ref # 79 Ref # 27 Ref # 29
       
 IMG 2048x97  IMG 1894x85  IMG 2121x101  IMG 2202x105

Wedding dress, 1840

Dress, 1856 Hoop, 1856 Hoop, 1856
Ref # 97  Ref # 85  Ref # 101  Ref # 105
       
IMG 2170x104 IMG 2228x106 IMG 2238x107  
Hoop, 1858 Winter gown, 1860-1863 Summer gown, 1860-1863  
Ref # 104 Ref # 106 Ref # 107  
       
IMG 1185x39 IMG 1913x86 IMG 0679x3 IMG 1039x28

Afternoon dress, 1863

Bloomer outfit, 1863-65

Bathing costume, 1860s

Afternoon dress, 1868

Ref # 39 Ref # 86 Ref # 3 Ref # 28
       
IMG 1232x42 IMG 1699x74 IMG 0982x24 IMG 1103x32

Visiting dress, 1870s

Bathing suit, 1873

Visiting gown, 1873

Carriage dress, 1873

 Ref # 42 Ref #  74 Ref # 24 Ref # 32
       
IMG 2083x99 IMG 0671x2    

Wedding dress, 1876

 Tennis outfit, 1878    
 Ref # 99
 Ref # 2    
       
IMG 0824x13 IMG 0957x22    

 Suit, 1880s

Suit, 1880s

   
 Ref # 13 Ref #  22    
       
IMG 0790x11 IMG 1152x36 IMG 1209x40  

 Mourning outfit, 1890s

Mourning outfit, 1890s

Walking dress, 1890s

 
 Ref # 11 Ref #  36 Ref #  40  
       
IMG 1143x35 IMG 1844x81 IMG 1682x72 IMG 1920x87

Fencing outfit, 1890s

Gymnasium outfit, 1890s

Bathing suit, 1893

Bicycling outfit, 1893-97

 Ref # 35 Ref #  81 Ref #  72 Ref #  87
       
IMG 1357x52 IMG 1379x53 IMG 1089x31 IMG 1134x34

Evening dress, 1890s

Evening dress, 1895

Working girl, 1893

Working girl, 1890s

 Ref # 52 Ref #  53 Ref #  31 Ref #  34
       
IMG 0904x19 IMG 2072x98    

Tea gown, 1893

Wedding gown, 1893

 

 

 Ref # 19 Ref #  98
 
 
       
IMG 0998x25 IMG 0965x23 IMG 0691x4 IMG 1985x93
Canoeing outfit, 1893-95 Dress with cape, 1893-97 House dress, 1880-1890 Graduation dress, 1897
Ref # 25 Ref # 23 Ref # 4 Ref # 93
       
IMG 0863x16 IMG 1451x58 IMG 0716x6 IMG 1070x30

Walking suit, 1893-1896

School girl's dress, 1896

Walking dress, 1897

Afternoon tea gown, 1898

 Ref # 16 Ref #  58 Ref #  6 Ref #  30
       
       

20th century

IMG 1834x80 IMG 1267x44 IMG 1283x46  

Wedding dress, 1901

One-piece dress, 1905

Working girl, 1905

 
 Ref # 80 Ref #  44 Ref #  46  
       
IMG 0840x14 IMG 0851x15 IMG 0931x20 IMG 0877x17

Gown, 1905

Walking suit, 1905

Jumper and blouse, 1905

Dressing gown (kimono), 1906

 Ref # 14 Ref #  15 Ref #  20 Ref #  17
       
IMG 0894x18 IMG 0945x21 IMG 2105x100  

Afternoon dress, 1906

Afternoon dress/tea gown, 1906

Wedding dress, 1910  
 Ref # 18 Ref #  21 Ref # 100  
       
IMG 1472x60      

Dress, 1918

     
 Ref # 60      
       
IMG 1335x50 IMG 1326x49 IMG 1629x69 IMG 1301x47

Day dress, 1920s

Party dress, 1920s

Party dress, 1920s

Evening dress, 1925

 Ref # 50 Ref #  49 Ref #  69 Ref # 47
       
IMG 1403x54 IMG 1259x43 IMG 1308x48 IMG 1348x51

Day dress, 1928

Day dress, 1925-30

Day dress, 1925-30

Suit, 1925-30

 Ref # 54 Ref #  43 Ref #  48 Ref #  51
       
IMG 1559x65 IMG 1225x41  IMG 1975x92  

Dress, 1938

Evening gown, 1930s-1940s

Suit  
 Ref # 65 Ref #  41  Ref # 92  
       
IMG 1427x56 IMG 1667x71 IMG 1753x77 IMG 1412x55

Butte knit suit, 1958-60

Suit, 1960s

Suit, 1960s

Dress, 1966

 Ref # 56 Ref #  71 Ref #  77 Ref # 55
       
IMG 1932x88 IMG 1940x89    

Dress, 1960s

Dress, 1960s    
Ref # 88 Ref # 89    
       
IMG 1999x94      
Pant suits, 1970s      
Ref # 94      
       

Subcategories

Wedding clothes and traditions.