Shoes from the Nineteenth Century
Subject
Accessories
Title
Shoes from the Nineteenth Century
Date
ca. 1820 - 1900
Description
The Historic Textile and Costume Collection has over 150 pairs of men's and women's shoes, boots and slippers that date back to 1768. This doesn't include the 70 pairs of children's shoes, some of which are discussed in a separate collection on this site. High heels, no heels, tied shoes, shoes with buckles, or slip-ons.... Shoes made from silk satin, leather, suede and rubber.... The array of styles and materials tells us something about those who wore the shoes and the occassions in which they were worn. Some have manufacturer labels and patent information.
This research has been done by students of TMD 441, History of Western Dress in the Fall 2021 semester. The class was taught by Linda Welters, Ph.D.
This research has been done by students of TMD 441, History of Western Dress in the Fall 2021 semester. The class was taught by Linda Welters, Ph.D.
Collection Items
Woman's Side Lace Shoes
These are a pair of black kid leather boots. Kid leather, or kidskin, is a type of soft, thin leather typically made from goat skin. These boots open down the side and are fastened with shoe lacings. The laces are black, although faded, and there are…
Woman's Red Satin Shoes
The shoes are stamped on the bottom “Patented March 11, 1884” which helps us date their design and manufacture. They are lined in white kid leather and labeled “W. H. Moore” on the interior sole, giving a brand identification.The shoes have been…
Woman's Pink Leather Shoes
These adult shoes date to 1870. They measure 9 ¼ inches in length and 2 ½ inches in width. The height of this slipper is 3 inches in total including the height of the heel which is 1 ½ inch. The decoration placed on the top of the slipper is a shoe…
Man's Riding Boots
These riding boots belonged to Robert Gardner (1841-1907), who was a lawyer and land surveyor. Robert's father, Zebulon, traveled to California in 1850. At the age of 17, Robert followed his father, probably purchasing the boots on his arrival on his…
Woman's Suede Shoes
These white suede wedding shoes were worn at a Rhode Island wedding in 1893. They were donated with the bride’s dress, garter, a photograph from the wedding, and the groom’s gloves and suspenders. Wedding shoes from the 1890s complemented wedding…
Woman's Laced Boots
These high laced women's boots close with twenty sets of lace holes on each side of the shoe, each lace having an aglet at the end. They have a seam separating the vamp from the quarter, and the bottom of the heel is shaped like a crescent moon. They…
Woman's White Leather Shoes
This pair of white kid slippers are dated to the 1860s. They have decorative leather rosettes at one time hand sewn to the vamp, but which have since been removed. The rosette began to appear on evening slippers in the 1850s, growing larger until the…
Woman's Tie Boots
This pair of white leather, laced boots is dated circa 1890. They are double lined and made of kid leather. Inside the shoe is the label T.F. Pierce & Son, Providence. These shoemakers were in business during the mid-late 19th century and into…
Woman's Purple Satin Shoes
During the 1870s and 1880s, slippers were a prominent style of women’s shoes. Nancy Rexford, author of Women’s Shoes in America: 1795-1930, states, “White and light colors continued in use, of course, but shoes made to match the richly colored silks…
Man's Needlepoint Slippers
These red needlepoint slippers with large flowers belonged to the donor's great grandfather, David C. Moulton. David C. Moulton was from an old New England family, and he became involved in businesses in Providence, Rhode Island. Born in New…