With the release of the Ford Model T in 1908, more Americans than ever had access to cars, and driving became both a sport and leisurely activity enjoyed by many. However, it could easily lead to soiled clothes and ruined hair. So, women started wearing special coats called dusters and other protective wear, such as goggles and hats. At times, these were matching sets, such as this duster and dress.

Source

K-State Historic Costume & Textile Museum, Gift of Nancy Veale Galloway, 1985.16.23ab

Photograph of the girls' basketball team in 1912 from Bushton, Kansas.

Subject

Women in Sports

Source

kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, Copy and Reuse Restrictions Apply

Collection

Women in Action

Photograph of female workers at the Smith Automobile Company in Topeka, Kansas.

Subject

Women in the Workplace

Source

kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, Copy and Reuse Restrictions Apply

Collection

Women in Action

Photograph of Kansas suffragettes continuing to support the national women's suffrage movement in 1916 after Kansas passed the state's Equal Suffrage amendment in 1912. A popular choice of dress for marching suffragettes was military-style suits with blouses, which became popular after the start of the First World War.

Subject

Women for Reform

Source

kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, Copy and Reuse Restrictions Apply

Photograph of suffragettes in front of the Capitol. Another trend in suffragette fashion was the lingerie dress, which was popular daywear throughout the 1910s, as well as the previous decades. Lingerie dresses were characterized by a typically white lightweight fabric with laces, ribbons, and ruffles as decorative elements.

Subject

Women for Reform

Creator

Harris & Ewing

Photograph of high school tennis club from Galena, Kansas, comprised of both young men and women.

Subject

Women in Sports

Source

kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, Copy and Reuse Restrictions Apply

Collection

Women in Action

Machine-made clothing became increasingly more common throughout the first two decades of the 20th century. This demand resulted in the rise of department stores and mail order catalogs, which delivered finished garments right to the hands of consumers. Take a look at these pages from popular mail order catalogs and see how Americans could order various goods through the mail!