Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Suit, Bathing |
Catalog Number |
1987.051.33 |
Description |
Women's gray wool one piece swimsuit. There is a two button closure on the left shoulder. White horizontal stripes run across the bodice as well as the skirt. Shorts of the same material are sewn in the skirt. Label: Gantner & Mattern, San Francisco |
Year Range from |
1915 |
Year Range to |
1920 |
Provenance |
Possibly belonged to Helen Hale, donor's mother. Most of the items from her donations were from their family. |
Dimensions |
L-31 inches |
Length (in) |
31.000 |
People |
Hale, Helen |
Subjects |
"Things that Matter" Sports & Leisure Clothing & Accessories |
Search Terms |
"Things that Matter" |
Notes |
Featured in Things that Matter This modest lady's woolen swimsuit would have been considered quite modern, even daring, for the 1910s. Unlike heavy bathing costumes a decade or so earlier with puffed-sleeve dresses, bloomers, and long black stockings, it fit the body and allowed for actual swimming. In Victorian times, most women took dips in the water rather than swimming or diving. Ladies visiting the ocean jumped through waves while holding onto a rope attached to a buoy. But a growing trend towards athleticism in the early 20th century made less cumbersome swimwear for women necessary. Form-fitting swimsuits for women were initially controversial. In 1907 swimmer Annette Kellerman from Australia visited the United States as an "underwater ballerina", a version of synchronized swimming involving diving into glass tanks. She was arrested on a Boston beach for indecent exposure because her swimsuit showed her arms, legs, and neck. Kellerman adapted her suit with long sleeves, long legs, and a collar. It became known as "the Annette Kellerman", and, despite opposition from some groups, became quite popular. One-piece swimming tights became accepted swimsuit attire for women. Gradually the long sleeves and legs were shortened. By the 1912 Olympics, women were swimming competitively, wearing swimsuits with short sleeves and legs ending at mid-thigh. Twenty-seven women from eight countries (though none from the United States) participated in two events, the 100 meter freestyle and 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay. In the United States, the term "swim suit" was first coined in 1915 by Jantzen Knitting Mills, a former California sweater manufacturer. Wool was the preferred fabric since it was opaque in water. Although many women still wore long matching stockings with swimsuits, legs were no longer completely hidden. Stocking lengths varied from almost touching the swimsuit to knee high or less, depending on the discretion or daring of the individual. Jantzen also developed a popular unisex swimsuit similar to this one. This full-length charcoal grey swimsuit by Gantner & Mattern of San Francisco featured buttons at the shoulders, and ended in boy-leg drawers covered by a tunic. Sets of black, grey, and white stripes accentuated the chest and hem. The swimsuit was donated by the Quincy Hale family of La Crosse. Quincy Hale was a prominent La Crosse lawyer and community leader. Very likely his wife Helen once wore this suit, marking the progress of women while gracing a La Crosse beach with the latest in swimwear fashion. This article was originally published in the La Crosse Tribune. Title: 1910s Bathing Suit Author: Carole Mullen Publish Date: January 13, 2018 |