Beanie with pin-back buttons

ca. 1955

Wool felt; metal, paper, plastic; fiber

Overall: 7 × 7 1/4 × 3 1/2 in. (17.8 × 18.4 × 8.9 cm)

Purchase

2016.6

Most of the schools represented by the buttons pinned to the beanie appear to have been located in the Bronx, and most no longer exist. A handful represent vocational/ technical schools, including Samuel Gompers Career and Technical Education High School (established in 1930 as Samuel Gompers Industrial High School for Boys) which closed its doors in 2012. The four Central High School of Needle Trades buttons were also originally attached to the beanie. The Central High School of Needle Trades had its origins in a garment loft on West 26th Street in 1926. Its original purpose was to provide a trained work force for the many trades in the garment industry. Most of its students were immigrants or the children of immigrants. As part of a WPA project, construction on a new building began in 1938. Now known as the High School of Fashion Industries, the school continues to occupy this building in Chelsea, renowned for its dramatic murals documenting the history of the garment industry in New York City by Ernest Fiene.

DescriptionDark brown wool felt beanie; end folded-over 1 3/8 inches with pinked edge; 10 pin-back buttons and 4 pink and yellow tassels attached with metal pins throughout; green oval mark stamped on underside: "[illegible] / [illegible] / 100% WOOL / NEW [illegible]"; with four loose pin-backs buttons and one silver-colored anchor pin.

Loose pins:

1.) Round pin-back button with yellow ground and blue lettering: “CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL OF NEEDLE TRADES / GOING PLACES / SENIOR”; image of a student wearing a cap and gown holding a rolled-up piece of paper in center; marked on back: “REED & CO. / 373 4TH AVE / NY 16 NY”; diam: 2 1/8 inches.

2.) Round pin-back button with yellow ground and blue lettering: “CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL NEEDLE TRADES”; 8 small blue stars surrounding larger white star with blue border; “GO / MEMBER” in center; diam: 1 ¾ inches.

3.) Round pin-back button with white and yellow striped ground and blue lettering; “CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL NEEDLE TRADES” along bottom edge; thin double blue ring with “GO MEMBER” in white and blue letters in 3D-effect in center; marked on back: “REED & CO. / 373 4TH AVE / NY 16 NY”; diam: 1 ¾ inches.

4.) Round pin-back button with blue and yellow ground, cluster of thimble, scissors, and square; “CENTRAL / HIGH SCHOOL / NEEDLE TRADES” in blue letters on white and yellow ribbon; marked on back: “REED & CO. / 373 4TH AVE / NY 16 NY”; diam: 1 ½ inches.

5.) Metal silver-colored pin in shape of anchor with rope; multi-faceted decoration throughout; bar pin on back; overall: 1 ¾ x 2 ½ inches.

Pins attached to hat:

6.) Round pin-back button with cream-colored ground and black lettering: “‘CITY OF GOMPERS’ / PANTHERS” along outer edge; “SPRING/ 1955” in center with seated growling panther in middle; diam: 2 inches.

7.) Round pin-back button with blue ground and white lettering: “ALWAYS” at top, “Miles Ahead” in cursive in center; diam: 1 ¼ inches.

8.) Round pin-back button, green and yellow; “METRO/ G.O.” at top and bottom, flame torches on either side; yellow triangle flanked by laurel branches in center, surrounded by yellow ring, school logo with “M”, “V”, “H”, “S” in middle; oval union label stamped on back; diam: 1 ¾ inches.

9.) Round pin-back button with yellow ground and green lettering: “G.O.” “SPRING TERM” at top and bottom; two horizontal green bands across center, “BRONX VOC. / HIGH SCHOOL” in middle; diam: 1 ¼ inches.

10.) Round pin-back button, blue and orange; large “G.O.” in background; orange horizontal band across center, “WADE JR. H.S. / 1951-1952” in middle; diam: 7/8 inches.

11.) Round pin-back button with orange ground and blue lettering; “PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION / MEMBER – 1951” across top and bottom; “WADE / JR.H.S.” inside blue ring in center; diam: 7/8 inches.

12.) Round pin-back button with yellow ground and blue lettering: “EAGLE J. H.S. / THE BRONX” across top and bottom, “GO” in circle in center with blue ground and yellow lettering; diam: 1 ¼ inches.

13.) Round pin-back button with orange ground and blue lettering; large “G.O.” in background; orange horizontal band across center, “WADE JR. H.S. / 1952” in middle; diam: 7/8 inches.

14.) Round pin-back button with blue ground and white lettering: “FELLOWSHIP / HOUSE”; diam: 7/8 inches.

ClassificationsCLOTHING AND FASHION