Popular Music
(of mid-nineteenth-century America)

One way to look at Women's History is through the songs that portray women. Not only do they show women in different ways, they show how men viewed them, since most of these songs were written by men. Sometimes we found the text to be particularly instructive; sometimes the cover art of the songs was very interesting.

Compare these songs and fashions to those of today! How do they differ? Are there any similarities?

Songs with Romantic Portrayals of Women

• Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair (text and cover)
  
• Fairy Belle (text only)
  
• She Wore a Wreath of Roses (text and two covers)
  
• Alice Gray (text and cover)
  
• Bell Brandon (text and cover)

Songs that Comment on Fashions of Men and Women

Sheet Music Covers that Depict the Bloomer Costumes

The next few songs show wonderful art of the new Outfits of the Bloomer Girls, women who wore pants under their dresses as they raised the hemlines of their skirts. These were named in honor for Amelia Bloomer, who helped popularize the fashion.

This last song , for which we couldn't find the text, seems to have the last word:

We'll Show You When We Come to Vote!
Howard, F.
Chicago 1869