Shoes

PeriodCirca 1840 -1860

Place MadeNew York or New Jersey, U.S.A.

MediumCotton sateen, leather, linen, woven cotton tape

Dimensions9.88 in. (25.1 cm)

ClassificationsCostume, Women's

Credit LineGift of Miss Eleanor P. Rue, 1932

Object number1312

DescriptionA pair of woman's ankle boots, constructed of deep blue twill woven cotton sateen, with black patent leather toes and heels. The boots lace up on the inside of each boot with eight hand-sewn eyelets threaded with dark blue metal-tipped flat cotton laces. The inside of the boots are lined with natural woven linen. The shoes include dark brown leather soles and light brown leather insoles.
Curatorial RemarksFrancinschy Forman Rue's vivid blue and black patent leather ankle boots date to around 1845 or so. When they were donated by Francinschy's daughter in 1932, she described them as her mother's "dancing shoes."NotesThese vivid blue sateen ankle boots were worn by Fransinchy Forman Rue (1831 - 1924). Born in Perrineville on August 1, Fransinchy was the daughter of William P. Forman and Evelina Baird. In 1851 she married farmer James Cook Rue (1827 - 1912), and the couple had one daughter, Eleanor Perrine Rue. Fransinchy was deeply interested in her family history and was a member of the Baird and Wyckoff Association, regularly attending reunions of familiy members. According to her obituary in the April 24, 1924, Monmouth Democrat, Fransinchy "was a member of the Democratic political party and took pleasure in exercising her right of suffrage, which she did at last Fall's election."

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