Historical Museum

Elizabeth Stewart Reed Room

The recently renovated Reed Room holds an exhibit housing artifacts and information about Westfield through the ages. Stop by to learn about Westfield from its colonial beginnings to the late 1900s. The room contains historical books about Westfield, which are available for patrons to browse as they are in the space, as well as the current exhibit:

Victorian Fashion

The Victorian Era received its name from Queen Victoria, who ruled the British Empire from 1837 to 1901. In the United States Mark Twain called this period “the Gilded Age.” It was a period of tremendous growth economically, both in Europe and the United States, but it was also a period that experienced unprecedented levels of inequality. As late as 1900 the estimated percentage of people living in poverty in the U.S. was approximately 40%. But the growing wealth of American industrialists allowed their wives and daughters to buy a wide range of dresses and accessories, and allowed them to stay up on the latest fashion trends. Technology also played a key role. The introduction of sewing machines in the 1850s, mass production of clothing in factories, and the advent of synthetic dyes, brought about major changes in the look and characteristics of clothing. Along with new production methods, the growing popularity of fashion magazines, the new department stores, and advertising in the periodicals of the day, brought about the concept of changing styles and the need for fashion conscious women to stay up with new trends, even for those who weren’t wealthy.

Other social trends also contributed to changes in the clothing that people wore. Growing levels of inequality led to fashions that were associated with the different classes. Low necklines became common for women of the upper-middle and upper classes, while working class women usually wore designs that covered more of the shoulder. Corsets were worn in order to give women the appearance of having a small waist. These corsets were often tied as tight as possible, which could actually restrict breathing and could even cause health problems. The crinoline, a stiff petticoat designed to hold out a skirt, was also very popular through the 1860s, but began to go out of style in the 1870s. Gradually the crinoline was replaced by the bustle as women began to prefer a more streamlined appearance.

All in all, the Victorian era was a time of varied and highly original fashion. Although some of the styles, and some of the practices, seem strange to us today, it was the first truly modern period in fashion.

Edwin Smith Historical Museum

The Edwin Smith Museum recently underwent renovations and display renewals. It is open to the public for free on most Saturdays, 10am – 2pm. Please contact the library prior to your visit to verify museum hours.

For a visual and tactile journey through Westfield history, look no further than the Edwin Smith Historical Museum! The museum features a wide range of artifacts, some dating back to Westfield’s colonial settlement in the 1600s. It opened in 1928 and is named in honor of Edwin Smith, co-founder of the H.B. Smith Company, which was a major employer in Westfield making boilers and radiators. William T. Smith, Edwin’s son and a former Westfield Athenaeum director, provided the funds to create the museum space.

Some of the museum’s treasures include:

• A 1904 sewing machine
• Historical toys and dolls
• Photos of Civil War veterans from Westfield
• Technology through the ages
• Intricate ladies’ fans
• Re-creation of a typical kitchen in a colonial home
• A Victorian wreath made of human hair
• An original whip snap making machine
• A wedding dress from 1894