Corset Collection

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 003-04-03

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection includes advertising material for corsets and related items during the late 19th to early 20th centuries. Items include advertising trade cards, magazine advertisements, novelty items, business cards and corsets from the period.

Dates

Majority of material found within 1880s-1900s

Creator

Providence Public Library (R.I.). Special Collections (Collector, Organization)

Biographical / Historical

Corsets, or upper-body undergarments which are tightened to shape the torso, have been fashion garments for hundreds of years. During the 19th century, the corset was a fabric undergarment stiffened with boning (often made with baleen harvested from whales) and tightened with laces in order to give the female wearer an hourglass figure. By the 20th century, baleen was replaced by light steel or plastic boning.

Extent

1.8 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

Arranged in four series and alphabetically by product brand within each series. Materials acquired after the initial 2017 accession are added at the end of each series.

Series I. Magazine Advertisements (one folder) Series II. Trade Cards (one folder) Series III. Sales & Promotional Materials (six folders) Series IV. Business Cards (one folder) Series V: Advertising Periodicals (one folder) Series VI: Corset Artifacts (boxed)