The last quarter of the nineteenth century—a period often referred to as the Gilded Age—saw the rising popularity of activities like tennis, rowing, and, of course, sailing. Many of the wealthy industrialists of the day spent their leisure time on large and well-equipped yachts. For yacht club members and guests there were specific standards for appropriate attire. The owners and staff—from officers to deckhands—donned club uniforms for sanctioned cruises and races. While crew had little choice in the matter, guests made an effort to adhere to proper codes, in some cases consulting prescriptive literature for guidance. Join for an illustrated talk on the fashions and standards of dress worn on board some of the nineteenth century’s greatest yachts and steamships.

Alice Dickinson is a freelance curator and collections specialist with a focus in American decorative arts. In her previous post as Curator of Collections at the New York Yacht Club she produced exhibits on a variety of maritime subjects including 20th century power yachts, World War I Navy recruiting posters, and the spectator experience at early America’s Cup matches. She has lectured and written widely on the collections including authoring “Significant Trophies of the New York Yacht Club.” Prior roles included work at The Preservation Society of Newport County and the New Orleans Museum of Art. Alice has master’s degrees from the Winterthur Program in American Material Culture at the University of Delaware and from Tulane University. A native of Bristol, Alice lives with her family in Litchfield County, Connecticut.

Image Credit: Howard Place trade catalog, c. 1890. Courtesy, Winterthur Library: Printed Book & Periodical Collection