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On September 22, 1998, and again on April 20,1999, the Ottawa Valley Historical Society presented “Victorian Fashion Show: 100 Years of Fashion from 1840-1940,” drawing on the collection of the Champlain Trail Museum. The shows were put on at Wesley United Church and Calvin United Church, both in Pembroke, Ontario. They were the work of a large group of very dedicated volunteers, mostly members of the Historical Society.
Both shows were very well attended and well-received. In fact, public response to the first one led to the mounting of the second show to meet demand.
This exhibit is a record of those fashion shows. It includes the original commentary from the shows, written by Mrs. Eileen Sexsmith. The commentary has been augmented with photographs detailing some of the fashions that were presented.
As well, some social and historical material has been added to provide the viewer with context in which to place these period fashions. It will be obvious that these fashions belonged to members of the wealthy class, and photographs and quotations present some of that social milieu.
One storyline traces the making of the fashion shows, giving credit to the numerous volunteers without whom these presentations would not have been possible.
