Archival Cyclist - Tillie Anderson

From the Spoke Sniffer archives, here are some terrific snaps of female cycling champion of the world, Tillie Anderson (aka "the terrible Swede").

 

  

Archival Athletes

From the Musee McCord Museum Archives, here are some terrific photographs of individual and team sports from the turn of the (past) century.  I love reprinting images of historical athletes as evidence of a time when athletic prowess was conflated with a snappy, well tailored presentation for the camera.  Here, in the McCord image set, both male and female athletes wear sporting garb that could easily double as street clothing.  I long for the days when heraldic emblems, plus fours, bowler hats, wool knits and striped tunics were de rigeur elements of the the amateur sporting uniform.

 

 John Lowe, 1931

  

 Frank Barnwell, 1891

Louis Rubenstein, 1893

  

 Rowing Crew, 1871

 

Fencers, 1925

  

 "Bonnie Lassies" group, 1891

Hurdle race on snowshoes, 1892

 

Trafagler Basketball Institute, 1928

 
 YWCA Water Polo Team, 1925

Bank of Montreal Hockey Team, 1895

 

 Kahnawake Lacrosse, 1867

Wesleyan Thelogical Basketball Team, 1916

Physical Education Hockey Group, 1925

Archival Snow Sports

 

Long before Warren Miller, Dwight Watson, amateur photographer and mountaineer, documented snow sport culture in the pacific northwest.  I've been browsing Watson's 1940s era images on the UW Digital Collections site.  As a non-skier, I'm drawn to Watson's more casual scenes showing sportsmen and women at rest - at the lodge, in ensemble poses.  As always, I endorse how outdoor clothing from the past resembles everyday garb.  There is very little evidence of performance fabrics or ski specific clothing in these images. I love the visual flourish of the Cross County skiers wearing neckties to finish their outfits.  Style in the face of a chill!

Browse through the Watson collection as inspiration for staging your own heritage snow sports day ala the great tweed run.

 

Vintage Sportswomen

Suede jacket ("a dozen uses in its warmth and lightness")

Safari in sneakers

At the Duchess County show

Golf and Yachting

Watching the trotters

Upland shooting attire

Carrots to her horse

Archival Pageant

Campwear ("following a code and creed of dress")

Sweater, shorts and loafers

Holland and Holland

Here is Marion Taylor's report on some 1920 shopping options for the sportwoman looking for country clothing and attractive accessories (apologies for the June in January focus of her article).

Aside from Filson, Barbour and Beretta (and for a privileged demographic, Holland & Holland), who is minding the store for the current generation of archival sportswomen?

In the area of footwear, I'm happy to report that British Sporting Ltd still carries a scotchgrain boot for women by Crockett and Jones. Full country clothing selection, including Crockett and Jones, and Barbour, available here.

Crockett and Jones Barnwell boot