Cosmopolitan Consumption:

New England Shoe Stories, 1750-1850

In early New England, the significance of shoes extended beyond function alone. New
Englanders prized, celebrated, and displayed their shoes as markers of fashionable style
and genteel sensibility. They also refreshed, altered and revamped their footwear, making
repairs as long as the leather was still good.

The exhibition Cosmopolitan Consumption: New England Shoe Stories, held at
the Portsmouth Athenaeum, is a rich exploration of New Englanders and their shoes. We
will introduce viewers to lives of figures both prominent and middling, through both
stunning and well-worn examples of this significant American accessory. Viewers will
explore the process of how shoes were made, sold, and worn in New England.
Through the lives and letters of clever apprentices, skilled cordwainers, wealthy
merchants and elegant brides, Cosmopolitan Consumption will take us on a journey from
bustling London streets, to ship cargo holds, to New England shops and, ultimately, to the
feet of eager consumers throughout the region. The shoe stories recount a young bride
dancing with George Washington during his visit to Portsmouth or a lady attending a ball
for Marquis de Lafayette; they trace the fortunes and misfortunes of wearers as shoes
were altered to accommodate poor health and changing styles, and finally, they provide
glimpse into the shoemaking business of artisans like Sam Lane of Stratham, who sold
his shoes at Market Square in Portsmouth. This rich shoemaking heritage continues
today. We ask our viewers to consider how these fashionable shoes reveal the hopes and
dreams of New Englanders.

The shoe stories will be told via approximately 25-35 pairs of shoes, pumps,
and mules from numerous local, regional and private collections. Many of the shoes have
never before been on display, making this a destination exhibition.

An active program series is planned, including gallery talks, special lectures by
leaders in the field, a shoe shopping event and hands-on workshops. Funding is
currently being sought for a catalog and conference. The opportunity for community
outreach and engagement at all age groups is especially strong.

Held at the Portsmouth Athenaeum (www.PortsmouthAthenaeum.org),
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, the exhibition will open on Valentines Day, February
14th 2015 and be on view through late May 2015.


Curatorial Team:
Kimberly Alexander, Ph.D., University of New Hampshire, Co-Curator
ksalex10@aol.com
Sandra Rux, Curator, Portsmouth Historical Society, Co-Curator
sandra@comcast.net
Tom Hardiman, Keeper, Portsmouth Athenaeum
Elise Daniel, Graduate Student Intern, UNH
Meaghan Reddick, Research Associate

Image:
Galerie des Modes, 1778


KSAM/v.3
8/1/14