Historic Rock Ford will host an 18th Century Historic Fashion Symposium consisting of three lectures, a self-guided tour of the General Hand Mansion with the opportunity to see Katharine Hand's dress, and a catered dinner by Gourmet Julie's Way (gluten-free and vegetarian options available). The lectures will be held in the Langmuir Education Room located on the first floor of the Rock Ford Barn. Presenters are as follows:
Christina M. Sherry presents "Katharine Hand: Discovering a Person through Clothing." We have relatively few personal records of Katharine Hand. We have her husband's letters to her but not those she sent to him. We do not even know what she looked like. However, we are incredibly fortunate to have her gown and some of her jewelry to study today. These items give us the most direct connection to Katharine. This presentation will discuss her dress and jewelry in detail and what these pieces tell us about her.
Angela Burnley presents "From Cottage to Factory: The Evolution of Textiles for Fashion in the Last Quarter of the 18th Century." The period of 1770’s to the turn of the new century brought significant advancements in industrial innovation and labor methods that fundamentally transformed the European textile industry. These developments, combined with increased availability, occurred alongside rapid shifts in fashion trends. Utilizing primary sources, we will examine the changes & diversity of the textile offerings being imported to our newly formed United States of America.
Brooke Welborn presents "Cutting to the Figure: The Evolution of Mantua-Making in the Last Quarter of the 18th Century." By the 1770s, many mantua-makers produced women's fitted garments by cutting a bodice lining on their customers figure, which could then be used to inform the shape of the desired gown. In the last quarter of the 18th century, mantua-makers adjusted their cutting and constructing methods to meet the demands of new styles. In this talk, mantua-maker Brooke Welborn will demonstrate the evolution of fashion from 1775-1800 and how it affected the cut and construction of women's clothing. This presentation includes a physical demonstration of the gowns as well as a selection of Burnley & Trowbridge items, including their newest reproduction prints and handkerchiefs, which will be available for purchase.
Proposed Schedule:
Christina McSherry, 2 PM - 3 PM
Angela Burnley, 3 PM - 4 PM
Self-Guided Tour of the Hand Mansion, 4 PM - 5 PM
Dinner, 5 PM - 6 PM
Brooke Welborn, 6 PM - 7 PM
This symposium is open to all levels of experience in historical dress. Both beginners and experienced will discover something interesting!
Presenter Biographies:
Christina McSherry is Executive Director of Historic Rock Ford and has a PhD in archaeology from the University of Nevada, Reno, and is Adjutant Professor of Anthropology at Franklin and Marshall College.
Angela Burnley holds a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from the University of Cincinnati. Prior to founding Burnley & Trowbridge in 1994, she owned a multi-discipline design firm in Oyster Bay, NY and taught as an adjunct in the discipline at the New York Institute of Technology. Her strong interest in historic textiles for interiors and her love of sewing naturally led her down the path of historic textile discovery within the fashion world. She has spearheaded the many offerings of B&T, from the well-researched products to the hands-on and online workshops--all while pursuing her personal research in 18th century textiles. She has lectured here and abroad and completed a fellowship at Winterthur Museum in 2021 that she plans to turn into a massive project for herself and others that will likely outlive her.
Brooke Welborn received a B.A. in Theatre from The College of William & Mary, with a focus on costume design & construction, and a minor in History. She apprenticed to the trades Millinery & Mantua-making in the Historic Trades Department of Colonial Williamsburg, receiving her journey-woman papers in 2007. Since then she has continued to study independently the cut, fit and construction of 18th and early 19th century women’s gowns and jackets in numerous museum collections, apply her knowledge in creating garments for customers and museums, and share the skills of 18th mantua-making with others as lead instructor and education coordinator for Burnley & Trowbridge.
