The introduction of the Department Store in the 19th and early 20th century would change the experiences for middle-class citizens in cities around the world. The Department store played a major role in the characterisation of cities such as New York at this time. For the first time, a social space was created in which everything could be displayed and sold all ‘under one roof’.
Figure 1: Simpson Crawford Building, Department Store, New York. (1908) Item physical description : 1 print: 35.4 x 27.7 cm.
Crowds were once associated with great risk and chaos, however, in a department store space, chaos was managed. Department stores greatly enhanced the shopping experience. The idea was innovative and exciting.
Figure 2: Christmas shopping in Wanamaker’s Department Store Broadway at 9th Street, New York City (1937)
The Department store influenced the role that women had in society. Many women worked in Department stores and this inclusion in society gave women a sense of belonging and freedom in a modernizing society.
Figure 3: Closing hour in front of a New York department-store. (1910)
Item Physical Description: 1 print: black&white ; 20 x 14 cm. (7 3/4 x 5 1/4 in.)
Women could take part in this process of modernity through fashion, and the ‘mannequin’ which was displayed in the stores became a regulated public ‘body’.
Figure 4: Bonwit Teller store window, New York (1940’s) featuring Oklahoma!]
Item Physical Description: 1 photograph: back&white ; 26 x 21 cm.
Department stores gave women access to the city which they never had. Woman could not use the street at night alone without a man as they were labeled ‘prostitutes’, but the introduction of Department Stores gave women independent access to the city which they never had.
Figure 5: Shoppers in Front of H.C.F. Koch & Co. Department Store Window, West 125th Street, New York City. (1930-31)
Item physical description: Dimensions – 4 x 5 in.
References:
Lecture notes – Department Store. Historical Geographies of the City.(2012)
New York City Department of Records. (2012) Available at: http://nycma.lunaimaging.com/luna/servlet/detail/ Last accessed: 02/12/12 [online Image]
New York Public Library – Digital Gallery. (2012) Available at:http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm? Last accessed: 03/12/12 [Online Image]
New York Public Library – Digital Gallery. (2012) Available at: http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm? Last accessed: 03/12/12[Online Image]
The metropolitan Museum of Art – Collections (2012) Available at: http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm? Last accessed: 03/12/12 [Online Image]
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