Portrait of Fred S. Crosby
Subject
Photograph
Title
Portrait of Fred S. Crosby
Date
1893-1894
Description
This photograph is of Fred S. Crosby (1890 - 1901) wearing a suit inspired by the publication of Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel Little Lord Fauntleroy, published in 1885/6. The dark wool suit includes a short jacket cut to show off the eyelet collar and cuffs of the shirt, and a pair of short trousers with buckles at the knee. Fred wears the suit with black stockings and shoes that button up the ankles.
The Fauntleroy suit sparked a change in upper-class children's fashions. Earlier in the century, children's clothing included unisex dresses for both boys and girls under three or four years old. During the later 1800's, wealthy families began to display wealth and status through their children's, particularly the sons', clothing. The Fauntleroy suit, an elaborate departure from the traditional unisex dresses of the time, was one way for a mother to display her wealth to society. Wealthy families separated themselves from others by sporting the newest fashions.
The donation included the shirt seen in this photograph: URI 1956.13.08c. The shirt was paired with a similar suit made from a wool plaid fabric, with a pleated skirt rather than the short trousers seen here.
albumen on cardboard
The Fauntleroy suit sparked a change in upper-class children's fashions. Earlier in the century, children's clothing included unisex dresses for both boys and girls under three or four years old. During the later 1800's, wealthy families began to display wealth and status through their children's, particularly the sons', clothing. The Fauntleroy suit, an elaborate departure from the traditional unisex dresses of the time, was one way for a mother to display her wealth to society. Wealthy families separated themselves from others by sporting the newest fashions.
The donation included the shirt seen in this photograph: URI 1956.13.08c. The shirt was paired with a similar suit made from a wool plaid fabric, with a pleated skirt rather than the short trousers seen here.
albumen on cardboard
Source
Donor: Mary Crosby, Clara Crosby
Identifier
URI 1956.13.12
Contributor
Safiatu Dallas
Creator
L.M. Jackson, Providence, R.I. [and] Pawtucket, R.I.
Medium
albumen on cardboard
Collection
Citation
L.M. Jackson, Providence, R.I. [and] Pawtucket, R.I., “Portrait of Fred S. Crosby,” Historic Textile and Costume Collection, accessed May 3, 2024, https://uritextilecollection.omeka.net/items/show/268.