Fashionable Folks: Bonnets and Hats 1840-1900

Maureen A. Taylor, expert in historical photography, and author of Preserving Your Family Photographs: How to Care for Your Family Photographs—from Daguerreotypes to Digital Imaging, Fashionable Folks: Hairstyles 1840–1900, and More Dating Old Photographs 1840–1929, has turned her “Fashionable Folks” attention to headwear in Fashionable Folks: Bonnets and Hats 1840-1900. Throughout history, hats have been a prevalent part of life. Sometimes they served a very practical function and sometimes had only a fashionable purpose. Between 1840 and 1900 hats were worn by nearly everyone on a daily basis. Examining the hats, bonnets, and other toppers in pictures of one’s ancestors can surprising information about the individual. Taylor helps unlock these fashionable mysteries through the information provided in this guide.

According to Taylor, “by analyzing the styles in each decade, you can determine more about the lives of your relatives.” Such details may provide insight to their financial standing, the season of year it was when they took the photograph, and whether they followed the latest trends or kept old favorites around for years.

Traditionally, men’s hats were more utilitarian in nature. Women were more like to seek the latest fashions. Hats and bonnets matched outfits and activities. Some would change the hat they wore many times per day, depending of the anticipated activity. This book teaches how to evaluate photo and compare what is seen with facts and details provided about hat and their use in history. Chapters and sections provide historical background and relative fashionable facts. The majority of the pages, however, educate by example. Most pages are a picture and a description. These individual examples provide a world of knowledge and practice which can be used in investigating and comparing one’s own family photo collection with the knowledge base provided by Taylor.

 

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Fun Facts about Hats

1840-1850

1850-1860

1860-1870

1870-1880

1880-1890

1890-1900

Glossary

Bibliography

Credits

Endnotes

 

Fashionable Folks: Bonnets and Hats 1840-1900 is available from Family Roots Publishing; Item #: MT03, Price: $19.59.

 

 

 

One Reply to “Fashionable Folks: Bonnets and Hats 1840-1900”

  1. Thanks for featuring this book. As a person interested in the miniscule and fancy hats of the contemporary times, I am interested with this book. I would like to cite your post in my page: childrens rashies with due credit. I hope this book features hats for children.

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