"Joseph Long's Slops: Ready-Made Clothing in Early America," in Winterthur Portfolio

I'm very happy to note that an article I wrote appears in the current issue of Winterthur Portfolio. Based in part on my master's thesis research, it examines the history of "slops" in early America. These ready-made garments clothed sailors and laborers in port cities. The production and marketing tactics of slops-sellers laid the groundwork for the birth and growth of the ready-made clothing industry in the mid-nineteenth century. You can download a copy of my article here. For some material I had to leave out, including the probate inventories of two Philadelphia slops-sellers and data on clothing production in use in the Philadelphia almshouse, you can read my thesis here.

Among the figures in my article is this image, one of only two known firsthand depictions of early American slop shops. It shows the shop of slops-seller Jacob Abrahams in New York City, circa 1813. Its publication in my article is the first time the shop owner and purpose have been identified

Among the figures in my article is this image, one of only two known firsthand depictions of early American slop shops. It shows the shop of slops-seller Jacob Abrahams in New York City, circa 1813. Its publication in my article is the first time the shop owner and purpose have been identified.

William P. Chappel, The Dog Killer, mid- to late nineteenth century. Oil on slate paper; H. 6 1⁄8", W. 9 1⁄4". (Bequest of Edward W. C. Arnold, 1954, Edward W. C. Arnold Collection of New York Prints, Maps, and Pictures, © Metropolitan Museum of Art; source, Art Resource, NY). Online here.