This small child’s Nineteenth century jacket is made from a brown cloth that has small dots; it closes with a hook and eye. Though well worn, the garment serves as an example of cloth types of the Civil War period.
The child’s Nineteenth century bodice remnant combines mechanically produced lace and very detailed hand work.
The late nineteenth century lady’s over skirt was worn over a lady’s dress while working in the garden, gathering wood, or similar chores. It provided protection to the most valuable item of clothing a women owned, her dress. This over skirt is a cool season style; it is quilted, thick and heavy. The skirt has a string tie waist closure.
Mass-produced cloth for family clothes became increasingly difficult to obtain in the South during the Civil War, forcing women and children to patch and repair threadbare clothing and leading to the production of inferior quality “homespun” cloth.
Images Courtesy Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield; WICR 00626, 10135, & 11058
