Rowing Jumper, Thames Rowing Association, ca. 1880

rowing blouse

Man's rowing jumper. Made of blue wool with white embroidered designs and a collar. This shirt belonged to Frederick S. Newcomb, a member of the Thames Rowing Association, a New London, CT rowing club ca. 1880.

Rowing clubs had uniforms beginning c.1880. One New York club sported a pretty elaborate one: "striped silk undershirt, white flannel shirt over it, with blue cuffs and collars, and blue pants, straw hat, with flat rim and broad ribbon." Such an outfit would suit to row a fixed-seat gig, as would this jumper from a club in New London, Connecticut. Those in faster sliding-seat sculling boats rowed in sleeveless vests and shorts.