Automobile and driver's robe
Object Details
- Description
- This automobile and driver's robe was purchased by Forrest W. Crookham early in his career as a Rural Free Delivery service carrier. The driver’s robe helped Crookham face wintry weather conditions while delivering the mail on his country route out of Roseville, Illinois. Crookham began as a rural letter carrier in 1915 and was still working a route when he donated this article of clothing to the Smithsonian Institution in 1960. He described wearing the driver’s robe during the 'horse and buggy days', saying, “It has a spring loop that fits snugly around your waist and as you would raise up or lean over to reach a mail box the robe followed you and always staid [sic] in place. As for your feet, there were two pockets (shoe shaped) at the bottom of the robe and if necessary it was possible to walk to some extent with it on. It was a God-send to me as before wearing it I froze or frosted my feet every winter. . . .”
- The robe’s creator was Harry Hoenigsberger. Harry’s father Arnold was a German immigrant who moved his family to Chicago in 1892. Using experience he had gained while working in the fur trade in Brooklyn, Arnold opened the Perfection Fur Robe Company with Harry and his other son, Dave. The business manufactured fur robes, coats, baby carriage robes and other fur accessories. The company store was located at 155-159 Market Street. After his father’s death in 1901, Harry Hoenigsberger opened his own store, the Chicago Auto Robe Supply Company, located in the same building as his father’s store.
- Reference:
- Personal correspondence Forrest W. Crookham to Tommy Martin, President R.L.C.A., December 5, 1960. Smithsonian Institution accession file.
- Data Source
- National Postal Museum
- Date
- c. 1915
- Object number
- 0.234863.276
- Type
- Employee Gear
- Medium
- fabric (wool, cotton); leather
- Dimensions
- Height x Width: 50 × 44 in. (127 × 111.76 cm)
- Place
- Illinois
- See more items in
- National Postal Museum Collection
- Topic
- The Gilded Age (1877-1920)
- Postal Employees
- Record ID
- npm_0.234863.276
