Fashion on the Ohio Frontier, 1790–1840: An Exhibition at Kent State University Museum, Kent, Ohio, July 26, 2003, to January 18, 2004. Curated by Anne Bissonnette

Review Essay Fashion on the Ohio Frontier,1790-1840." An Exhibition at Kent State University Museuni, Kent,Obio,July 26,2003,to January 18,2004. Curated by Anne Bissonnette. ention of the Ohio frontier usually summons up images of hilly terrain and remote cabins, of men chopping down trees and plowing fields, and of women churning butter and making homespun. Wellknown woodcuts and lithographs of the period reinforce this impression. But Anne Bissonnette, curator of the Kent State University Museum, has put together an exhibit that provides us with a very different view of life in frontier Ohio. In " Fashion on the Ohio Frontier,17901840 ," she encourages us to put aside our ideas about early Ohio as an isolated 4 - t.. place cut off from the larger world. While readily acknowledging that not everyone in Ohio could acquire for themselves the goods on display here, she nevertheless challenges uS to understand ways in which the pioneers who could afford to be fashionable attempted to maintain their connections to eastern culture. In short, life on the Ohio frontier may have been hard, but clearly the settlers were unwilling tc,relinquish the comfort and joy and marks of distinction that bright colors and soft fabrics could provide. They wanted to be as up to date as the residents of eastern cities. ind merchants in frontier Ohio did their best to supply them with what they Lvinted. When visitors enter the exhibit, they see almost immediately a grouping of ladies and gentlemen dressed in rich, colorful fabrics. The ladies appear in open robestyle dresses made of blue and taupe silk damasks that allowed petticoats to peek through the outer garment. These fabrics originally had been used to make stylish dresses in the 17504 but thirty years later these dresses were cut down and altered to suit the taste of postrevolutionary Americans. The blue wool coat and brown velveteen knee breeches that adorn a man' s figure also Left to right: Gold silk gc, lun witb pointed attached collar,Ii, tknown maker and place of origill, ca.1 83 6 1838, possibly woril (} 11 tbe Coiinecticut Western Reserve, Obio. Collection of tbe Western Reserve Historical Society. Right: Ivory silk organza gotun witb geometric print,unknown niaker and place of (, rigin,ca.18321835 , possibly worit in Ross County,Ohio. Collection of tbe Ross County Historical Society. Taupe silk daniask open robe ( robe 8 l' Anglaise)and matching petticoat,unknown maker, Connecticut, originally made in tbe 17505 and altered ca.1 780s early 1790s.made of Spitalfields silk damask,London, England.mid 1750s.used as a wedding gown,possibly worn in the Northwest Territory. Collection of tbe Obio Historical Society. Right: Blue silk damask open robe ( robe & l'Anglaise)unknown maker,gown from Connecticut,originally made in or before 1756 and altered ca. 1780searly 1790s,made of Spitalfields silk damask,London,England,mid 17505,worn by Susannah Smith at ber niarriage to Brigadier General Job, i Douglas in 1756,possibly worn in tbe Northwest Territory within tbe Connecticut Western Reserve. Collection of tbe Western Reserve Historical Society. SPRING 2004 I 61 REVIEW ESSAY I.. eft to right: White linen shirt.unknown maker and b place of origin,ca. 18001825 ,possibly luorn in Obio. 1 / 08 Collection oftbe Objo Historical Society. White and i.. 5 blue vertically striped cotton Cossack trousers,unknown 5. 1 ,' » maker and place of origin,ca. 181418205 ,worn in tbe ll /1 '.. Connecticut Western Reserve,Obic). Collection of tbe I. . .: j _ j f »» Western Reserve Historical Society. Right: Beige morning + coat in cotton mixed witb tuool,ivory linen man' s shirtfro, it and neck stock, black wool Cossack trousers, ' * red tuoo! sasb,unknorun maker and place of origin, I. 4 1826,possibly made in New jersey,worn by Benjamin I .. . k .:. 43 Titus Blackwell during military training in New Jersey, possibly worn in tbe Connecticut Western Reserve,Obio. Collection of the Western Reserve Historical Society. appear to have been carefully tailored and meant Blue cotton plaid morning coat,Linknown maker and to convey an impression of cultural sophistication. place of origin.ca. 18201825 , possibly from tbe United Elsewhere in the exhibit,visitors will find examples States of America. Collection of Bruce and Susan...