Clothing & Identity

Dressed for the Part examined the clothing worn by female patients at Whittingham Asylum during the 1900s – 1920s. Drawing also on the Asylum ledgers and individuals’ reception orders, as well as from literary sources, we explored the vocabulary around women and mental illness at this time.

The pieces in this exhibition highlighted the value of the Archive in the conservation of the human record. In the absence of any actual items of clothing, the photographic portraits of the female patients have been a compelling resource. The images provide valuable evidence of what women actually wore. They are an historical record; a ‘snapshot’ of this community’s lived experience.

The project was a collaborative investigation lead by Dr Carole Hunt and involving, Alex Hurst and Amy Ashcroft. All three are members of the Cloth, Clothing and Culture research group at the University of Central Lancashire. For further information please contact [email protected].