Welcome to the Village of Bartlett Museums; the Bartlett History Museum and the Bartlett Depot Museum. Both museums are operated and funded by the Village of Bartlett, Illinois and are committed to the exhibition and education of our community's rich history. We invite you to visit our museums and participate in the many events each offers. Please click on the links to learn more about each.

Picture of the Week

The 1950s brought changes to women's hat styles. First, flowers were replacing plumage for use in decoration.

In this 1951 image, Estella Krumfuss dons a floral decorated hat, which is the perfect accent to her geometric print summer dress. Note the smaller brim style.

In this decade the pill box hat began to emerge as a style that later became popular when it was worn by Jackie Kennedy. In the late 1950s, milliners began seeing a decline in hat sales. Women were having their hair professionally done in beehive hair styles and didn't want their hair crushed under a hat!

The late Estella Feuerhaken Krumfuss enjoyed writing poetry reflecting on the life and times of rural Bartlett, where she lived. Much of her writing was published in local newspapers. The Bartlett History Museum has many examples of her work in its collection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Artifact of the Month

A June 1903 article in the New York Times stated, "One adjunct to her wardrobe that every other woman gets nowadays before she goes into the country is a sunbonnet. These convenient head coverings, which may be pretty or otherwise, have become a staple in women's wearing apparel and are to be found where other parts of her wardrobe are sold, ready made, in all the shops."

Caroline Harmening, left, wearing her sunbonnet while canning and doing laundry with her neighbor Mrs. Schultz. Image circa 1910.

The sunbonnet provided country women with the perfect protection from the sun on their face and neck while doing outdoor chores. This sunbonnet belonged to Caroline Harmening (1861 -1934) and was donated to the museum by her granddaughter Ruth Giles. It is crafted from lightweight cotton fabric, which was cool to wear. The deep brim is lined with a stiffened material, which was designed to hold its deeply curved shape around the face. The bonnet ties under the chin. Note the fading on this sunbonnet due to it being worn in the sun.

The sunbonnet inspired the quilt block pattern "Sunbonnet Sue" and the "Sunbonnet Babies" featured in a children's primer series.

 

 

 

 

Museum Donations

Ever wonder how the Bartlett History Museum acquires all of the artifacts, images, textiles and more for its collection? These items come from past and present residents, family descendants, and generous individuals who donate them. The Museum is always seeking objects and photos that capture a moment in Bartlett's rich past. The archives contains hundreds of items, ranging in size from a button off the first Bartlett Girl Scout uniform to a six-foot nail bin from the old Schultz Hardware. Do you have Bartlett items you would like to donate to the Museum's archives? Please contact Pam Rohleder, Director, at 630-837-0800.

The museums are members of the Association of State and Local History, Illinois Association of Museums, and the Kane-DuPage Regional Museum Association.