Mme. Demorest was a publisher of fashion periodicals. She began her career as the owner of a millinery shop in Saratoga Springs, NY, at the age of 18. At 34 she married William Jennings Demorest, a dry-goods purveyor, and the couple founded their fashion business with a shop on Broadway in 1860, "Madame Demorest's Emporium of Fashions." The couple expanded to publishing in the same decade, with titles such as Mme. Demorest's Mirror of Fashions, Demorest's Young America, and Demorest's Illustrated Monthly. In addition to fashion plates advertising the fashions of figures such as Empress Eugenie, the magazines were the first to feature paper dressmaking patterns for at-home use, an innovation of Mme. Demorest. The Demorests were champions of women's rights, featuring the writing of Louisa May Alcott and Julia Ward Howe in their publications. Jennie June, a.k.a. Jane Cunningham Croly, was a longtime editor of Demorest's Illustrated Monthly, and went on to found the Sorosis (later the New York Newswomen's Club) with the help of Mme. Demorest.
Scope and ContentsFrom the box:
This box includes 7 daguerrotypes and 2 photographs. Daguerrotype formerly identified as RFC 0117: "Will J Demorest; 3x3.5; adorned cover with clasp. Cover unattached." Daguerrotype formerly identified as RFC 0118: "(Mme. Demorest, center) and 2 women; 3.5x4.5 adorned case with clasps. Inscribed on face: Olmed & zynawmn [sic]; cover unattached; on inside: 'Anson, 589 Broadway, N.Y.'." Daguerrotype formerly identified as RFC 0120: "William Jennings Demorest; 3x3.25, without cover; gold...
Scope and ContentsFrom the box:
This box includes 7 daguerrotypes and 2 photographs. Daguerrotype formerly identified as RFC 0117: "Will J Demorest; 3x3.5; adorned cover with clasp. Cover unattached." Daguerrotype formerly identified as RFC 0118: "(Mme. Demorest, center) and 2 women; 3.5x4.5 adorned case with clasps. Inscribed on face: Olmed & zynawmn [sic]; cover unattached; on inside: 'Anson, 589 Broadway, N.Y.'." Daguerrotype formerly identified as RFC 0120: "William Jennings Demorest; 3x3.25, without cover; gold...
Scope and ContentsFrom the folder:
This folder contains 16 photographs, 1 etching, 1 tintype, and 1 painting of Demorest family members. Etching, no ID #: William Jennings Demorest. Photograph, no ID #: Vienna Demorest. Photograph formerly identified as RFC 0014: "Demorests, Jan. 1878; on reverse: Foreground: Grandf. Demorest - Ed. & Publisher, EDR, Grandmother - 'Madame Demorest'; Background: Vienna Demorest, William Curtis D., Harry D.?; sepia 4.25x6.5 card." Photograph formerly identified as RFC 0015: "Marie Antoinette...
Cunningham was an editor of Demorest's Monthly Magazine. Cunningham went on to found the Sorosis (later the Newswomen's Club of New York) with assistance from Mme. Demorest.
