Abstract:
Fashion in early Tennessee has previously been over-simplified by historians as being, dominated by homespun and hunting shirts and virtually detached from the fashionable trends and selections of the East Coast. However, this thesis examines the costumes of early Tennessee in a new light. In the first chapter the author evidences that, not only was there a variety of clothing choices, but that fashion and textiles were central in the economics and society of early Tennessee. In the second chapter, a material culture study of four dresses in the collection at Travellers Rest Historic Plantation and Museum illustrates how extant costumes are valuable sources of interpretation. These garments are versatile in their ability to both exemplify the fashion of early Tennessee, and they highlight the context of the lives of the women that wore, made, and maintained the gowns. The final chapter describes proper storage and display techniques for Tennessee house museums that hold costumes like these in their collection. House museums are often faced with limited budgets, but a few simple strategies can be applied to ensure a safer environment for the preservation of costumes while also making clothing accessible to the public for learning and enjoyment.
