Learn what men, women, and children have worn—and why—in
American history, from the deprivations of the Civil War through
the prosperous 1890s. Shoes were so scarce during the Civil War
that people made them from just about anything they found at
hand, including luggage, leather trunks, upholstery, and animal
skins. In Clothing through American History: The Civil War
through the Gilded Age, 1861–1899, authors Anita Stamper and
Jill Condra provide information on fabrics, materials, and
manufacturing; a discussion of daily life and dress; and the
types of clothes worn by men, women, and children of all levels
of society. The volume features numerous illustrations, helpful
timelines, resource guides recommending Web sites, videos, and
print publications, and extensive glossaries. Among the many
topics discussed include: • The hours that middle class women of
the nineteenth century spent making clothes for themselves and
their families • The plain, rough clothes assigned to slaves to
ensure that they did not enha