Children’s Shoes

In the 19th century, much like now, infants wore stockings or soft booties to keep their feet warm. When they were ready to stand or walk, they were given soft-soled versions of adult shoes. These shoes, unlike modern children’s shoes, have no arch support. Many of them close with buttons which require special tools called buttonhooks.

Blue Kid Shoes

These turquoise slippers are edged in small white rickrack. They have a white silk ribbon rosette on the vamps. They were worn by Florence Ruby Parker, born in Woodstock. Collection of the Woodstock History Center.

Chamois Moccasins c1892

These white chamois moccasins are stitched together with red blanket stitch and may have been made from a kit. They were worn by Roger Boyce Spaulding. Collection of the Woodstock History Center.

THREE-STRAP SHOES 1870

These shoes of black kid have three straps with velvet bows and decorative buckles. The built-up heels are similar to an adult’s. Collection of the Woodstock History Center.

MARY JANES 1862

Black kid ankle strap Mary Janes were a style worn from age 2 or 3 starting in the 1840s. These belonged to William Bullock Clark. Collection of the Woodstock History Center.

RUBBER OVERSHOES 1865-1900

These rubber overshoes made by Woonsocket Rubber Co. Rhode Island”. The company was in Woonsocket from 1865 to 1910. This style has a ½-inch heel and shaped arch. Collection of the Woodstock History Center.

TWO-TONE HIGH BUTTON BOOTS

These two-tone leather baby boots close with white half-ball buttons. Collection of the Woodstock History Center.

MARY JANES 1902-1912

These camel-colored leather Mary Janes have one ankle strap with a domed button. The vamp has a decorative leather bow with a silver buckle. These shoes were worn by Laurens A. Williams. Collection of the Woodstock History Center.

ADELAIDE BOOTS c1840

Gender Neutral

In early childhood, boys and girls were dressed identically. Somewhere between the ages of 4 and 8 a boy would get his first pair of pants and his first haircut. Very young children, like babies, were dressed in white, which could be bleached and boiled. Small patterns became popular in the mid-century for both boys and girls. Until the twentieth century, colors were not assigned to one gender or the other.

DRESS WITH RUCHED PANELS 1854

This baby’s dress was worn by Dr. Albert M. Cram of Woodstock and was also worn by his father, Monroe Franklin Cram, before him. We are told it was made on one of the first sewing machines. Collection of the Woodstock History Center.

DRESS WITH RUCHED BODICE 1860

This white dress was worn by William Bullock Clark. The very full bodice and skirt are both cartridge-pleated into the waistband. Collection of the Woodstock History Center.

FLORAL PATTERNED DRESS c1863

This cotton dress was worn by William Bullock Clark. The fabric of this dress has a small sprigged pattern typical of 1840s and 1850s dresses. Collection of the Woodstock History Center.

CASHMERE DRESS 1830

Cashmere was used for children’s winter clothes as it was warm, lightweight, and soft. Even in winter, young girls wore dresses with open necklines and very short sleeves. Collection of the Woodstock History Center.

DRESS WITH DRAWN THREAD WORK

This child’s dress is made of handkerchief linen, a thin, soft linen. The squared- off yoke is shoulder-wide and it has insertions of French valenciennes lace. Collection of the Woodstock History Center.

Children as Small Adults

There were many reasons to dress children as small adults. A poor child dressed like an adult was more likely to be accepted to work in a factory to help support the family. A wealthy child in restrictive adult-style clothing was more likely to be well-behaved and manageable. It wasn’t until the 20th century that childhood was embraced as a separate and special time of life.

CHILDREN’S GLOVES

Red wool felt children’s gloves with herringbone stitching in white. We would think these were an adult woman’s if they were larger. Collection of the Woodstock History Center.

ERMINE TIPPET AND MUFF 1918

Often a girl’s first fur or first set of pearls would be a gift from her father, as was the case here. Collection of the Woodstock History Center.

CHILD’S WORK BOOTS c.1873

The toes of the boots are tipped with iron and the soles are studded with nails to preserve their life. The boots are like a grown man’s and this boy probably did a man’s work. Collection of the Woodstock History Center.

SMALL FEATHER FAN 1910-1925

Fans were given to children as gifts, by indulgent relatives or by the fan merchants who rewarded special customers with fans for their children. Collection of the Woodstock History Center.

BLUE WOOLEN DRESS 1880s

This royal blue wool dress has dropped shoulders and two-piece shaped sleeves similar to adult women’s dresses of the period. The blue satin bow tied at the back mimics an adult’s bustle. Collection of the Woodstock History Center.

BODICE FROM MOURNING DRESS 1872

This black silk taffeta bodice belonged to Rowena Atwood Jones. Children as young as four years old were expected to wear black after the death of a family member. Collection of the Woodstock History Center.

SHAKER VEST

This Shaker vest was worn by a boy who was taken into the Shaker community in Enfield, New Hampshire. The Shakers, who were celibate, welcomed children to their community and taught them farming and carpentry. Collection of the Woodstock History Center.

Baby’s First Clothes

Before a baby was born, it was important to gather together the clothes and accessories the baby would need in its first months. Often the expectant mother would make these items – caps, gowns, bibs, diapers, blankets. Sometimes friends would help as well. Charities had layette boxes that they would lend to poor families, recognizing that all infants need to be kept warm and dry.

PULLOVER BABY SHIRT 1851

This pullover linen undershirt was sewn from one piece of fabric. The short yoke has a center seam allowing the body to be gathered onto the narrower yoke. There is rickrack trim at the deep neckline and sleeve edges. This shirt was worn by William S. Dana. Collection of the Woodstock History Center.

NET CAP

This beige net baby bonnet has 4 pink ribbon bows and a net ruffle at its face. The body of the cap is formed of two identical pieces joined at the center back seam with floral embroidery. Collection of the Woodstock History Center.

BABY SHIRT WITH SAWTOOTH LACE 1860

This baby undershirt has tiny armhole gussets and miniscule drawn thread work between pieces. It was worn by William Bullock Clark. Collection of the Woodstock History Center.

LONG BABY SHIRT 1830

This baby shirt has a body all cut in one piece. It is labeled in ink, “G. Windest No.1”, probably one of many identical shirts made in anticipation of the baby’s birth. Collection of the Woodstock History Center.

QUILTED BIB 19th c

White linen baby bib is quilted in a diamond pattern. The bib closes with one button. The embroidery is worked by hand. Collection of the Woodstock History Center.

CHILD’S DRAWERS

This pair of child’s drawers is made of plain white cotton. The legs are short and widely splayed. The back is much longer than the front to accommodate a diaper and a crawling baby. Collection of the Woodstock History Center.

INITIALED BABY SHIRT c1800

Child’s white linen undershirt has an “E” cross-stitched in brown thread. The shirt was made by Elizabeth Cobb Atwood. The shirt has drawn threadwork at all seams and the shirt is made entirely by hand. Collection of the Woodstock History Center.

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Children’s Clothing

Children’s Shoes

Gender Neutral

Children as Small Adults

Baby’s First Clothes

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