Chris Enss Contributions COWGIRL LIFE Wild Women Of The West: Mildred Douglas When twenty-four-year-old Mildred Douglas rode a steer in the Garden City, Kansas, rodeo in 1919, it was a big deal. Never before had a woman ever ridden a steer in competition, but Douglas was no ordinary woman. Born in Philadelphia on August 21, 1895, Mildred knew at the age of seven what she wanted to... COWGIRL LIFE Wild Women Of The West: Catherine Norton Sinclair Shakespearean actor Edwin Forrest rifled through the desk drawer in the sitting room of the New York home he shared with his wife, socialite turned actress and theatre manager Catherine Norton Sinclair. The contents of the drawer belonged to Catherine, but Edwin wasn’t interested in maintaining her privacy. In his frantic search, he uncovered a... COWGIRL LIFE Wild Women Of The West: Laura Keene More than 150 years have passed since President Abraham Lincoln was shot and killed at Ford’s Theatre. Tragedy ensued for many people with Lincoln that night in April 1865. For example, Lincoln’s guest Major Henry Rathbone was cut savagely with the knife John Wilkes Booth unsheathed after emptying his Derringer at Lincoln. Laura Keene, the... COWGIRL LIFE Wild Women Of The West: Lillian Russell The green, silk robe shimmered in the light of the dressing room. Adjusting the neckline, Lillian Russell glanced into the mirror and considered the interviewer’s question about beauties never appreciating their good looks. “I think they do,” she countered. “They are glad to have it, as they are grateful for any other gift. I am... COWGIRL LIFE Wild Women Of The West: Sarah Bernhardt The pliant figure leaned over the ship’s rail, expressive eyes intent on the blue-green waters of the harbor. A mass of wavy, light brown hair with tints of gold lifted and curled with every breeze, its arrangement a matter of complete indifference to the angler. Suddenly the slender form froze, breath held, and then, with... COWGIRL LIFE How The West Was Worn: Clothing For The Homesteader And Emigrant The pilgrimage West was an arduous undertaking. Emigrants hurriedly loaded their wagon trains with as many personal belongings as they could, and if they were unable to make what little they had fit, it was left behind. Limited space forced many to wear all the clothing they owned on their backs. The basic outfit for... COWGIRL LIFE How The West Was Worn: Corsets On August 24, 1863, San Francisco’s elite flocked to Maguire’s Opera House. Ladies wearing diamonds and furs rode up in handsome carriages; gentlemen in opera capes and silk hats were also in attendance. It was an opening night such as the city had never before seen. All 1,000 seats in the theater were filled with... COWGIRL LIFE How The West Was Worn: Hats In the 1850s, outfits for women and men were topped off with a hat. Most children and all adults wore some kind of head covering in public. The bonnet was the most common hat worn by women. Made from a wide range of material from calico and straw to velvet and silk taffeta, the brim... COWGIRL LIFE How The West Was Worn: Bloomers Maneuvering through the dusty streets and rough terrain of the Wild West proved women’s complicated wardrobe of hoop skirts, elaborate jewelry, and long gowns impractical. A lady’s traditional floor-length garments hampered her ability to move freely, and in some instances were health hazards. Many women were disfigured or killed because of burns suffered when their... << 1 … 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 … 63 >>