Name/Title
cuff, shirtEntry/Object ID
2005.006.072Description
Asa Hepner Shirt Cuff FabricContext
During the 19th century, men frequently wore separable collars and cuffs with their shirts, particularly if they held "white collar" jobs in an office or store. Because laundering clothing was incredibly labor-intensive and expensive, these detachable accessories allowed middle-class men to maintain a crisp, formal appearance without having to wash their entire shirt after a single use. While most early cuffs were made of heavily starched linen, later versions were manufactured from celluloid—an early commercial plastic that perfectly mimicked the look of cloth but never required laundering or pressing.Acquisition
Accession
2005.006Source or Donor
Ruby, Robert W.Acquisition Method
GiftExhibition
Main Street at Work: Merchants and Medicine in Carroll County