Fashion in the Times of Sylvia DeWolf Ostrander (1841-1925) - A Lecture with Rebecca Kelly

  • March 13, 2025 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
  • John Brown House Museum

    52 Power Street
    Providence, Rhode Island 02906
Ticket Price $5.72-$10.00 Register Now
Description

Twenty years ago, artist Stacy Morrison encountered a 19th century trunk discarded on a New York City street filled with sentimental keepsakes. She soon uncovered that the trunk had once belonged to Sylvia DeWolf Ostrander who lived from 1841 to 1925. Stacy’s aesthetic, and her research surrounding Sylvia Ostrander, is the subject of the Rhode Island Historical Society’s latest exhibit, The Girl of My Dreams, Sylvia: A 19th Century Life at the John Brown House. 

On Thursday March 13, 2025 at 5:30pm, the Rhode Island Historical Society will host fashion historian Rebecca Kelly for the illustrated lecture Fashion in the Times of Sylvia DeWolf Ostrander (1841-1925). Rebecca will address and discuss the radical changes in fashion that Sylvia would have witnessed during her long life. She’ll explore questions such as, “Was Sylvia a follower of fashion? Or did she use clothing as a means of self-expression?” 

Textile historian and artist Rebecca Kelly is the Executive Director and Curator of the South County Museum in Narragansett, RI. Her research interests include studying America's Gilded Age, particularly the work of under-recognized women fashion designers. Her current research explores the economies of New England resort cities and establishes legacies for women who made and retailed sportswear in towns such as Newport and Narragansett, RI. As an artisan, she studies the history and psychology of color and the meaning and symbolism of plants and flowers. She holds a Bachelor's degree in art history and a Master of Science in textile conservation from The University of Rhode Island, where she is a member of the part-time teaching faculty.

Admission to Fashion in the Times of Sylvia DeWolf Ostrander costs $10 per person, and $5 for RIHS members. Doors open to the public at 4:30pm for those who would like to explore the exhibit The Girl of My Dreams, Sylvia: A 19th Century Life, artist Stacy Morrison will lead an exhibit tour that starts at 4:45pm and is included with admission. A complimentary reception will also be offered. Advance tickets are recommended as space is limited to 30 attendees. The John Brown House Museum is located at 52 Power Street in Providence, parking is available off Charlesfield Street.

Date & Time

Thu, Mar 13, 2025 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Venue Details

John Brown House Museum

52 Power Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02906 John Brown House Museum
Rhode Island Historical Society

The Rhode Island Historical Society, the state's oldest and only statewide historical organization, is dedicated to honoring, interpreting and sharing Rhode Island's past to enrich the present and inspire the future. Founded in 1822, the RIHS is an advocate for history as a means to develop empathy and 21st  -century skills, using its historical materials and knowledge to explore topics of timeless relevance and public interest. As a Smithsonian Affiliate, it is dedicated to providing high-quality, accessible public programming and educational opportunities for all Rhode Islanders through its four sites: the John Brown House Museum, the Museum of Work & Culture, the Mary Elizabeth Robinson Research Center and the Aldrich House.


Find more Rhode Island Historical Society Events and Community & Culture events in Providence