A Gentleman's Pocketbook: Reconstructing an 18th Century Accessory

A Gentleman's Pocketbook

Re-creating an 18th century man's accessory from the collections of Salem Maritime. By Salem Maritime Park Historian Emily A. Murphy, Ph.D.

 

A Discovery, and an Introduction

Posted: December 03, 2011 | posted by: Emily Murphy!

In the museum storage facility at Salem Maritime, we have a number of textiles that are too fragile or damaged to put on permanent display.  While I was assisting our curatorial intern recently, we came across a wonderful example of early American needlework:

Pocketbook, 1775. National Park Service, SAMA 681.The exterior of the closed pocketbook shows signs of wear.

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A Short History of Pocketbooks I: Pocketbooks and Fashion

Posted: December 14, 2011 | posted by: Emily Murphy!

When I was beginning the research for this blog, I quickly discovered that among all the literature that has been published on 18th century clothing and accessories in the past few decades, very little has been written specifically on pocketbooks. A brief overview of the time period, and a helpful article, however, led me to the conclusion that there were two major factors that influenced the popularity of the pocketbook in the 18th century.The first was changing fashions in men's clothing, and the second was a change in the way that business was done.Both have their roots in the 17th century.

One of the few recent articles focusing on pocketbooks appeared in a 2007 Early American Life, written by Gregory Lefever.His article is based on interviews with Linda Baumgarten, the

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Irish Stitch, Flame Stitch, Florentine Stitch, Bargello

Posted: February 22, 2012 | posted by: Emily Murphy!

Lately lost in one of the Streets of BOSTON, or on the Long Wharf, an Irish Stitch Pocket-Book, with about Thirty Pounds in Bills of the old Tenor, and a great number of Papers and Accounts in it, of no Use to any Body but the Owner of the Book. If the Person who has its Possession, will return it to the Owner, with the Money and Papers, he or she shall be very well rewarded for their Trouble and Care. But if their Consciences will suffer them to keep the Money, yet they are desired to contrive some Way or other, that the Owner may have his Book and Papers again. N.B. They may throw it over the Wall into the Printer's Yard. 
       --Boston Evening Post, October 22, 1753.

According to Titi Hale, the owner of the respected antique

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