Child's Congress Gaiters, ca. 1870

Child’s Congress Gaiters, 1865-1875

These boots are made of brown cotton serge with elastic side inserts called “goring.” The elasticized gore originated in England, but did not appear in the US until 1848. This style mimicked adult women’s shoes known as congress boots or gaiters, which were side-closing boots. This pair closely resembles a woman’s boot illustrated in Nancy Rexford’s Women’s Shoes in America, 1795-1930 (Figure 284 on p. 208).

This pair features leather toe caps that prevented abrasion to the fabric. As was the custom at the time, there was no differentiation between the right and left foot. Cloth twill tape loops facilitated putting the shoe on the foot.  They have stacked wooden heels, which indicates a later date.

The printed label reads D. B. King and Co. No. 727 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. The green paper with black ink label is glued onto the inside sole of each shoe.

References

Rexford, Nancy E. Women’s Shoes in America, 1795–1930. Kent, OH: Kent State University Press, 2000.