Norwich Castle Study Centre
Costume & Textiles Archive
The dedicated follower of fashion will find the Costume and Textile archive – part of the Norwich Castle Study Centre – located centrally in the fine City of Norwich, England; one not to miss. In using the Study Centre, you will be able to focus on specific collections and select the objects and areas you wish to see in support of your area of interest.
Situated in the old Shirehall and attached to the old law court, this excellent, relaxed and comprehensive facility containing over 27,000 items reflects changing fashions, styles and technology in the varied clothing, accessories and textiles of all sexes and ages across the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries. From the vast range of material available, of particular interest is the largest collection of Norwich Shawls in the country. For those with a particular interest in Edwardian hat fashions, one may journey back in time and view many examples of fashion and women’s magazines, craft magazines and journals, trade and exhibition catalogues and specialist costume and textile society publications together with fashion plates and photographs dating back to the mid-nineteenth century.
You may examine your chosen items of interest in the peace and tranquility of one of the dedicated study rooms. Here, objects and material from the collections are brought to you by friendly and well-informed staff who are pleased to assist visitors with their specialist knowledge.
Open to the public by pre-booked appointment only.
To discuss your requirements in advance,
Email : museums@norfolk.gov.uk
The Hat Museum
Portland, Oregon, USA
The Hat Museum (also known as The National Hat Museum) is an exhibit of over 1,300 hats – carefully chosen from among the most characteristic styles of past eras, providing a wide-ranging historical perspective on what has always been THE essential accessory. This is a full spectrum museum that exhibits men’s and women’s hats together with children’s, military, novelty, hats worn in Hollywood movies and features international hats from over fifty countries.
The women’s hats date back to 1837 and the men’s to 1850. Featured are Victorian hats, Edwardian, flapper cloche hats and examples from all decades up to the present day. Men’s examples include tricorn, top, Homburg, bowler, fedora, trilby, fez, cowboy and many military examples. It also houses twenty-three brand name designer hats in the collection. Period accessories such as purses, gloves, parasols and eyeglasses are also incorporated into the hat displays.
The Hat Museum, regularly featured in the media, has offered tours since 1990, is listed on the National Historic Registry and is housed in the historic Ladd-Reingold House just a few minutes by car from downtown Portland, Oregon.
One point to remember is that the museum is not open to the general public. Tours (by reservation only) are offered to costumiers, fashion and history academics and millinery students. Those interested in visiting should check directly with the museum in advance. The Hat Museum also offers vintage hats for sale.
As far as North America is concerned and for visitors from around the globe, this attraction is certainly well worth a visit.
The American Hatpin Society
The American Hatpin Society is an international club of collectors of vintage hatpins and holders (1890-1920). Members enjoy a colourful and informative newsletter and quarterly luncheon-meetings featuring various speakers, hatpins and holders.
Founded in May 1989 by a group of enthusiastic hatpin and hatpin holder collectors, the purpose of the society is to provide information about the history and value of hatpins and hatpin holders.
The Society accepts membership from all over the world and has special arrangements for members in the USA.
Contact: American Hatpin Society President – Jodi Lenocker
P.O.Box 2672 Lake Arrowhead, CA 92352
The CP Nel Museum – Oudtshoorn
Western Cape Province, South Africa
For anyone with even a passing interest in Edwardian fashion and, by association, the feather industry of that period, a visit to the town of Oudtshoorn in South Africa, for over one hundred years the worldwide centre of the ostrich feather industry, is a must. Similarly, whilst there, a trip to the C.P. Nel Museum will tell you all you need to know about the subject and, coupled with the beautiful surrounding Western Cape Province countryside, will make any visit well worthwhile.
The Museum, which was declared a National Monument in 1981, has a whole section devoted to the ostrich feather industry and owes its origins to the private collection of the late Colonel Charles Paul Nel – a successful businessman and collector who entrusted his collection to the Museum’s Board of Trustees shortly before he died in 1951. He must surely be remembered with gratitude for having the foresight to put together what is certainly a unique record of the industry.
Ostrich feather farming brought unparalleled prosperity to the Klein Karoo during the late nineteenth century and a legacy from this economic boom is the distinctive sandstone architecture, which includes a number of the so-called ‘Ostrich Feather Palaces’. Today two of these impressive buildings form part of the C.P. Nel Museum complex in Baron van Reede Street. www.cpnelmuseum.co.za
Linley Sambourne House
18 Stafford Terrace
London, England
As may be seen on page ? Edward Linley Sambourne was the celebrated Punch cartoonist, illustrator and photographer. Many of his ‘secret’ photographic fashion images featuring lovely young Edwardian ladies from the early years of the twentieth century in their super-sized hats, (a selection of which are featured in this book) may be viewed, by appointment, at 18 Stafford Terrace (Linley Sambourne House) in Kensington in London. If fashion holds an interest for you, particularly from the reign of Edward VII then why not make time to visit this superb photographic archive of Sambourne’s images, which really should not be missed!