Head Majorette High School Varsity Jacket

Images(2)

Head Majorette High School Varsity Jacket

Period1954-1955

Place MadeNew York, New York, USA

MediumWool, glazed cotton, brass zipper

Dimensions30 in. (76.2 cm)

SignedMakers tag of embroidered cotton sewn to inside back neck reads "EMPIRE/THE EMBLEM OF SATISFACTION/N.Y.C."

ClassificationsCostume, Women's

Credit LineGift of Carl Beams, 2022

Object number2022.6.4

DescriptionYoung woman's varsity jacket of navy blue heavy wool with a zip front closure, fold down collar, long sleeves, and two front slash pockets. The arms are trimmed with vertical bands of yellow wool and the slahs pockets are edged with yellow wool. The name "Jan" is machine embroidered on the proper left breast. On the jacket back in bright yellow wool felt with navy blue machine embroidery is "F.R.H.S. / HEAD / MAJORETTE". Between FRHS and HEAD is an emblem of majorette marching boots and a pair of crossed parade batons.
NotesJanet Matthews, daughter of Isabelle Moreau (1905-1997) and Kenneth K. Matthews (died 1957), was born in May of 1938. She had a brother named Kenneth J Matthews (died 1994) who became the reverend at the First Presbyterian Church of Freehold. Her father died when she was about 19 years old. Janet was a part of many extracirculars including Girl Scouts and 4-H Club. She joined the Junior Varsity cheer team at Freehold High School in November 1952. A description of the uniforms for both the varsity and J.V. teams at the time are very different from this uniform. In December 1953, Janet offically became a majorette and advanced quickly. Along with Pat Tuveson, Janet was a head majorette by her junior year of high school in 1954. By 1955, she was the only head majorette and was creating all of the new team routines herself. It was announced in June of 1956 that Janet was to marry Paul H. Ekdahl and that she was set to attend the Wilfred Academy of Hair and Beauty Culture in Newark. Ekdahl worked for the Moreau Plant Company. Janet's mother had been remarried to Frank J. Moreau (died 1967). Janet and Paul were officially married in July of 1957.

Collections