Editor's Note: NCA President Pam Markel has been investigating NCA history in preparation for our 100th Birthday Bash in August (click here to read more about that). She found this amazing information about a famous member.
Did you know there was a Chicago Costumers’ Association that originated BEFORE the founding of the National Costumers Association?
And… It was founded by one of our own Honorary Life Members?
Minna Schmidt
Wilhelmine Friederike Moscherosch (always known as Minna) was born on March 17, 1866, in the town of Sindelfingen, Germany near Stuttgart. She immigrated to the United States at the age of twenty years old. She answered an ad for a “Healthy young girl who can teach two boys the German language, wait on an invalid lady (85 years old), and do sewing for the family.”
In December 1886, Minna arrived in America and continued to Chicago, Illinois to begin her work with the family that had placed the ad. The next year she met her childhood sweetheart, Julius Schmidt, and they married.
During the financial depression that affected her husband’s business, Minna opened a studio in Chicago’s German community. She taught dance and coordinated productions for schools and adults. Costume rental was expensive so she started making costumes herself in her small attic shop.
Her business of costume making continued to grow and Minna was able to purchase a bigger building. She had showcases of exquisitely dressed figurines representing famous women of the world during 3000 years of changing mode of dress. If you wanted to rent a costume, you chose a figurine that had the historical costume you wanted.
By 1915, Minna, who fully researched her costumes, embarked on numerous trips to Europe, Middle East, Egypt etc.
By 1920, her business became a million-dollar business. In 1921, Minna organized the Costumers Association of Chicago.
At the age of 54, she enrolled in Chicago-Kent College of Law. In 1924 she graduated with a Bachelor of Law Degree, and in 1929 she received her Master of Law degree from Kent.
Her love and extensive study of the history of costuming led to her opening the “Chicago Schmidt College of Scientific Costuming” in 1927. Minna gave lectures on period costuming and instruction of hairstyles, headdress, and makeup. She also taught at Northwestern University for several years.
Minna created historically correct figurines of women throughout history, honoring women and showing the development of costumes over thousands of years. The figurines were made by her son Helmut, who was a talented sculptor. Her largest figurine project, which depicted “400 outstanding women of the world,” was exhibited at the “Century of Progress” World’s Fair in Chicago in 1933.
A selection of Minna Schmidt's figurines
Minna’s Chicago Costumers group included some our own founding members of the NCA: Lester Essig, John Weber, Fred Essig, Margaret Essig. Lester Essig, of Lester LTD, presided over the last meeting of this group in Minna’s absence.
Minna was a very involved member in the National Costumers Association. She taught many classes on costuming and gave wonderful lectures on various subject. She became an Honorary Life Member of the National Costumers Association in 1948. This award was bestowed upon Minna by President Hirschfield for her wonderful contributions to the advancement of the industry in her 62 years of costuming.
Minna died in 1961 at age 95.