Primary Sources Resource List – Jessamyn's Crinoline-Era Companion

This list is certainly not complete—that’s impossible!—but it should provide you with starting points and ideas to launch your research.

In-person sources

Books, magazines, fashion plates, extant examples

To view:

Major museums (see on-line sources for suggestions)
Local museum exhibits
Local museum collections (contact and request to view)
Historical societies (ditto)
Conferences
University libraries
Local libraries using inter-library loan (ask your librarian!)

To purchase:

Ebay
Etsy
Facebook groups (see on-line sources for suggestions)
Private dealers
Major auction houses (see on-line sources for suggestions)
Local auction houses
Antique stores, antique malls
Used bookstores
Estate sales, flea markets (you never know what you’ll find!)

On-line sources

Period books and magazines

Compiled links to extant examples

All the Pretty Dresses blog of images and info on extant clothing in private collections
Démodé’s link list of museums with digital collections of extant clothing
Anna Worden Bauersmith’s Pinterest pages, primarily focused on mid-century millinery
Jessamyn’s Pinterest pages, primarily focused on Civil War-era clothing and accessories

In-person sources

Books, magazines, fashion plates, extant examples

To view:

To purchase:

On-line sources

Period books and magazines

Free:

Subscription:

Compilations of links to period books and magazines

Fashion plates, drawings, paintings, and photographs

Extant examples

Museums with significant costume collections:

Facebook groups that share/sell unique extants and images:

Compiled links to extant examples