Helen Allingham, acclaimed Victorian commercial artist and watercolorist

By | November 8th, 2017|Categories: Victorian Era, Women's History|Tags: , , , , , |

Have you heard of Helen Allingham? You may recognize some of her stunning artwork. Either way, we love highlighting female artists here at Recollections and hope you will love learning about this woman who deserves to be remembered! Early artist Helen Allingham was born Helen Mary Elizabeth Paterson on September 26, 1848, in Derbyshire, England. [...]

Victorian Women as Michigan’s Lighthouse Keepers

By | May 16th, 2017|Categories: Edwardian Era, Uncategorized, Victorian Era, Women's History|Tags: , , , , |

Accidental research can lead to unexpected places. We know you love history and the clothing women wore during the last two hundred years or so. Inspired by a photo of our models at the 40 Mile Point Lighthouse, the curiosity light bulb lit up with the question “how many women served as lighthouse keepers during [...]

Inez Milholland Boissevain – Champion of Suffrage

By | March 22nd, 2017|Categories: Edwardian Era, Fashion, Uncategorized, Women's History|Tags: , , , , , |

Inez Milholland was born on August 6, 1886, and died less than four months following her 30th birthday.  Her life was short but she packed a lot of living into it. Although she didn't live to see her native New York approve suffrage in 1917 or ratification of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, [...]

The Colors of Women’s Suffrage

By | March 20th, 2017|Categories: Edwardian Era, Edwardian Fashion, Fashion, Women's History|Tags: , , , , , , , |

Updated June 17, 2019 and August 8, 2021 No detail of the Votes for Women movement was overlooked! Women’s suffrage colors were selected to represent the values and goals of their hard work. The two most well-known suffrage movements, that of the United States and that of England were united in many ways but adopted [...]

Women’s Suffrage – the Edwardian Experience

By | March 17th, 2017|Categories: Edwardian Era, Uncategorized, Women's History|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

10 Suffrage Celebrations 2017 The Edwardian era officially lasted from 1901-1910, encompassing the rule of British King Edward VII. The blurry line that melds one era into another reaches back into the last decade of the 1800s and moves forward perhaps, until the end of World War 1. There is much to explore about this [...]

Madam C.J. Walker – entrepreneur, self-made-millionaire, philanthropist, activist

By | February 22nd, 2017|Categories: Edwardian Era, Fashion, Victorian Era, Women's History|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

We’re always looking for interesting stories about the women and fashions of the historic eras that inspire our designs. Today we look at the life of Madam C.J. Walker, a female entrepreneur and someone whose name lives on in hair care to this day. Oh, and she was among the first women in the United [...]

11 Interesting Facts about Annette Kellerman, Edwardian Swimming Star

By | January 26th, 2017|Categories: Edwardian Era, Victorian Era, Women's History|Tags: , , , , , , , |

Annette Kellerman was an international star in her lifetime. She dared to publicly do many things that few women had ever done before, and certainly not with the same shock and amazement that she caused. And as bold and risque as her actions were, she did it all for her commitment to women’s physical health. [...]

Jane Peterson, American Impressionist

By | January 14th, 2017|Categories: Edwardian Era, Uncategorized, Victorian Era, Women's History|Tags: , , , , |

Jane Peterson was a centennial baby. She was born on November 28, 1876, in Elgin, Illinois. Her parents were an Elgin Watch Company employee and a homemaker. They named her Jennie Christine. Little did they know that their baby would grow up to be considered one of the most prolific and brilliant impressionist painters of [...]

Queen Anne and the American Victorian Home

By | January 12th, 2017|Categories: History of the home, Victorian culture, Victorian Era, Women's History|Tags: , , , , |

The Industrial Revolution in the UK and America was the catalyst for change in architecture. By the time Queen Victoria ascended the throne, architects were embracing new materials and technologies that sparked the imagination. Mass production and mass transit (rail) allowed architects to explore a plethora of possibilities. There are many styles of home and [...]