Browse Items (14 total)

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…

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…

This pair of young girls’ red leather shoes dates back to 1888 and were worn by Mary Amanda Harris. Mary is a descendant of the Gorham Silver family that founded Gorham Manufacturing Company.Children’s clothing and footwear was an indicator of one’s…

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…

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…

These shoes are dated to the 1820s and classified as evening slippers. The shoes have a 1 inch wooden stacked heel; the leather sole is 3 inches wide at the widest part and just 1 inch at the slimmest. Sixteen-inch long ribbons are used to tie the…

This pair of side-lacing boots is dated circa 1835-45. Side-lacing boots normally featured a center front seam; however, this pair features a gusset at the top instead of a seam. Made of white kid, they are without a heel, which is a feature seen in…

These are Wellington style rubber boots. The boots are very small in size indicating they were worn by a child. The length from the top of the vamp to the welt is only 2.25 inches, and the welt to the back strap is only about 6.25 inches. Of note is…

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…

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…