Minneapolis Institute of Art

Shirt

Seminole artist

Date

c. 1930–40

Medium

Cotton, dye

Culture

Seminole

Department

Arts of the Americas

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

The Seminole are divided into two groups; one group that currently lives in Oklahoma as a result of President Andrew Jackson's relocating the tribe, and another group that stayed in the Southeast region. The group that currently lives in the Southeast region created this shirt. In 1910 this style of shirt, known as the Big Shirt, replaced a style that was known as the Long Shirt. This type of shirt would have been worn only by men or boys, and later worn by men of high stature. The Seminole adapted their clothing to new influences and their environment. They traded for cotton that replaced their use of animal hides. Cotton was cooler and much easier to work. With limited supplies of cotton, the Seminole developed a patchwork technique that became their garment style. This type of shirt would be worn over a white shirt, and the style had a relatively short lifespan. In the 1940s, the Big Shirt was transformed into a jacket, and was worn as an indicator of Seminole identity. United States, Americas

The authoritative record is held by Minneapolis Institute of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.