Comments and Tags
Be the first to comment on this item!
Clothing and Accessories
Children's Clothing ➔ Ensemble
Identifier:
2007.52.2a-bDescription:
This boy's two-piece cream cotton sailor style outfit consists of a pull-over top and shorts. The long sleeved pull-over top has a large sailor collar decorated with three rows of black braid. There is a small inset dickie in the center front opening also trimmed with the three rows of braid. The front yoke is shaped and topstitched. There is a patch of cream and black on the right arm. There were probably three buttons sewn to the front of the top and five sewn to the back to match the buttonholes in the waistband of the shorts. The cream-colored shorts have opening plackets on each side. There is a button closure at the top of the waistband. There is an interior waistband sewn into the pants that has three buttonholes in the front and five in the back. These would have accommodated the buttons that were sewn on the pull-over to keep the pants up. Stamped in black on the inside hem of the pull-over are the initials "RHD." These same initials are stamped into the waistband of the shorts.Date:
circa 1913 – 1920Materials:
CottonDimensions:
18" h 13.00 13" wCurrent Location Status:
In StorageCollection Tier:
Tier 2Source:
In Memory Of Jr. Dr. R. H. DenhamRelated Entities:
Mrs. Jeanne Denham (donor)Alternate names: Mrs. R.H. Denham A. May and Sons (sold by)
Alternate names: May's, Mays Of Michigan, The Giant
A. May & Son’s, also known as May’s of Michigan, was a men’s wear store based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The store was founded as the Giant Clothing Store by German merchant Abraham May in 1883 at Monroe and Lyon Streets, Grand Rapids and was nicknamed “the Giant”. After two years at the University of Michigan, Abraham's son Meyer May and other children in the family joined their father's business and the name of the store was changed to A. May & Son’s. It was the first store in the nation to display clothing on Batts hangers, an important first in the merchandizing of clothing. Meyer May became president of the company after his father's death in 1906. Meyer May and his wife Sophie Amberg were also known for their private residence designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Today the house is operating as a museum by Steelcase Inc. A. May & Son’s remained in the family until 1967, when it was purchased by Botany Industries. Norman Talmo, a former Botany executive purchased the store in 1972. The downtown store closed in 1986 and the building was demolished for parking in 1988.
Source: Michael Hauser and Marianne Weldon. Images of America, 20th Century Retailing in Downtown Grand Rapids. Arcadia Publishing: Charleston, 2014.
