Cloth Fragment

Object Name:

Cloth Fragment

Object ID:

1961.032.02

Creator:

Amoskeag Mills, Manchester, NH

Place of Origin:

Manchester, NH

Date:

1890-1920

Description:

Swatches, Amoskeag calico, 13 lots:
a. gingham, utility dress
b. gingham, utility dress
c. gingham, utility dress
d. gingham, utility dress
e. gingham, utility dress
f. gingham, utility dress
g. gingham, AFC dress
h. gingham, AFC dress
i. gingham, AFC dress
j. gingham, staple
k. gingham, range shirting
l. gingham
m. gingham, miscellaneous small pieces
also: photograph of interior of mill machinery and child with quote by Sarah N. Cleghorn; with two swatches of gingham attached to cardboard


Large collection of swatches of cotton fabrics, woven plaids, ginghams, chambrays, and stripes, used for shirtings and work dresses; the collection is bundled into plastic bags, each containing approximately 200 swatches. Manufactured by the Amoskeag Mills of Manchester. The collection includes:
.2 a cardstock display piece mounted with a black and white print of a little girl working in the mill, with the looms behind her as she looks out the window. Beneath is the passage: "'The golf links lie so near the mill / That nearly every day / The laboring children can look out / And see the men at play.' Sarah N. Cleghorn (1887-1959)" Beneath this are mounted by tacking stitches two swatches of Amoskeag fabric, one a black and white plaid, and the other a blue and white windowpane check. There are directions for dismounting the piece written in ink on the back. 14 x 8 inches overall measurement
.a: "Utility dress gingham": 183 triangular swatches (approx. 4 x 4 inches) of woven cotton plaids in mostly pastel colors and white, but also black and white combinations.
.b: "Utility dress gingham": 212 triangular swatches (approx. 4 x 4 inches) of woven cotton plaids in mostly pastel colors and white; many of the plaids, as in the .a group, feature weaves with heavier threads or satin stripes to accent the plaid design.
.c: "Utility dress gingham": 185 triangular swatches (approx. 4 x 4 inches) of woven cotton plaids in mostly pastel colors and white; many of the plaids, as in the .a group, feature weaves with heavier threads or satin stripes to accent the plaid design.
.d: "Utility dress ginghams": 188 triangular swatches (approx. 4 x 4 inches) of woven cotton plaids in mostly pastel colors and white; many of the plaids, as in the .a group, feature weaves with heavier threads or satin stripes to accent the plaid design.
.e: "Utility dress ginghams": 207 swatches, as above.
.f: "Utility dress ginghams": as above.
.g: "AFC dress gingham": 167 woven cotton plaids in various pastel shades with more white in the pattern than in the plaids described in .a - .f.
.h: "AFC dress gingham": 201 more ginghams like .g
.i: "AFC dress gingham": approx, 200 swatches, as above.
.j: "Staple ginghams": approx. 200 swatches of simpler patterned plaids and ginghams, all incorporating white into the pattern.
.k: "Gingham range shirting": approx. 200 swatches of plaids and ginghams, all with some white but fewer pastel colors than in groups described above; also includes a few stripes and windowpane checks.
.l: "Gingham / (no raised threads)": Approx. 160 swatches of various plaids; fewer pastels used, and more colors within one pattern.
.m: "Gingham, small miscellaneous pieces of various shapes": Many bias-cut rectangles and randomly shaped pieces of plaids and checks (at least one stripe) in various colorways. Some patches have paper labels with hand-written inked numbers.

Material:

Textile
Cotton
Paper

Credit Line:

Gift of Mr. Mrs. Gardner L. King

People:

King, Gardner L. (1893-1963), King, Constance J. (1893-1984)