Albany's old soles
300 years of shoes worn or made in the Capital Region
This weekend we wandered over to the Albany Institute of History and Art to check out "The Shoe Show." While we loved the very cool and conceptual "shoe art" that's part of the traveling exhibition, the local history geek in us was really drawn to the Albany Institute's own collection of old shoes worn or made in the Capital Region.
We couldn't help but wonder about the people who wore and made these shoes. Where were they worn? And what did they say about the people who wore them.
The exhibit isn't huge, but there are some neat shoes and it does make you think a bit.
Here a peek...
Considering the weather and terrain in the Capital Region, some of these shoes must have been for indoor use only. Like these fancy dress slippers meant for a party or ball. Which got us thinking about fancy dress balls in Albany. Where were they? Who had them? Who went?
These were from the 40s, and they're not much more practical. But we can just picture the outfit they went with and the woman who wore them:
These may have been our favorite pair:
We found a few pair of guys shoes, like these 1950s alligator numbers:
And from the 70s, these "Annie Hall" womens flats inspired by the 1940s:
The Old Soles exhibit and the Perfect Fit show run through January 2.
Yep, the Albany Institute of History and Art advertises on AOA. We thought the shoes were interesting, and something you'd want to see.
Find It
Albany Institute of History and Art
125 Washington Ave
Albany, NY 12210
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Comments
Oh goodness how did I miss this! Ahhhh! I want to hug the ones from the 40s.
I know what I am doing tomorrow!!!!
... said kater on Nov 30, 2010 at 2:04 PM | link
The inmates of the Albany Penitentiary were employed extensively in the manufacture of shoes. A private manufacturer contracted with the penitentiary for the labor and produced large numbers of cheap shoes, as many as 2500 pairs per day, that were primarily sold into the southern market. They were known by a racially derogatory name.
There were a number of other shoe manufacturers through the decades, of various sizes and names. In 1876 the shoe manufacturers in Albany included Willard Bellows' four-story factory on Broadway; Woolverton & Company; Fearey Manufacturing Company; East New York Boot and Shoe Manufacturing Co.; M.W. Dodge; Shoemaker & Pabst; and Herrick & Freeman, which claimed the distinction of being the first company in America to use steam power in the making of shoes.
As for the balls, they were at the fabulous hotel ballrooms -- the Kenmore, Keeler's, the Delevan, the Ten Eyck. There wasn't a weekend for decades when there wasn't a band and dancing in any or all of the hotels in downtown Albany, or any other city in the state.
... said Carl on Nov 30, 2010 at 3:14 PM | link