When fashion and textile historian Angela Lassig was researching for a proposed book on a comprehensive history of clothing in 19th century New Zealand, she came across gold in the Alexander Turnbull Library. She found the vellum "day" books of a mid 19th-century clothier and draper in Lambton Quay Wellington. The books contained the handwritten records of 20 years of every purchase made in the draper store of William Clark. It's a fascinating insight into the shopping habits of women in particular in the 1850s. On Tuesday 16 October at 5.30pm, Angela will give a talk entitled “Two yards of Serge for Mrs Pharazyn: Wellington women go shopping in the 1850s” at the National Library in Wellington.
Dress and textile historian Angela Lassig. Photo: Supplied
Inside the 1854 'Day' book of William Clark draper and clothier, Lambton Quay, Wellington. Photo: Collection of the Alexander Turnbull Library
