Vigo County Historical Society
Historical Treasure Article
Historic Treasure of the Week -
July 24, 1983
By Susie Dewey
Vigo County Historical Society
Don’t go in the water
“And don’t go near the water” was advice not heeded by bathing beauties in 1909.
They evidently didn’t go very far into the water, however, judging from the bathing suit from that year on display in the museum.
The suit, a voluminous, very modest black wool costume, was worn by Bess Cunningham and donated to the museum by her daughter, Jane Hazledine.
The bathing dress, for that’s what it is, consists of two parts: black wool bloomers with elastic below the knees and a long over-tunic with elbow length sleeves. A discreet red piping outlines the neck and sleeves. The buttons on the tunic are modestly hidden in a long placket. The 23-inch waist band is closed with hooks and eyes. As ladies daintily dabbled at the water’s edge, they also wore long black stockings and a cap that framed their faces as well as protected their long hair.
The 100 percent woolen fabric did not reveal the figure when wet and was thought to prevent chilling. Some bathing costumes had inner cotton linings so that delicate skin would not be irritated by scratchy fabrics. A woman’s vanity dictated whether she wore a waist-clincher under her suit. The short sleeves must have been one of the first blows for the liberation of women’s bodies for the swimming costumes of the 1890s all had waist-length sleeves.
As museum visitors inspect the bathing suit of the early 20th century, they have to agree, “you’ve come a long way, baby!”
The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.