A Gift of Red Flannels, Part 2

At the conclusion of the Spencer Hastings' guest posting of April 4, 2018, referenced earlier in Part 1 of A Gift of Red Flannels, I included a copy of a painting Grant Wood had completed. Coincidentally, this particular painting was emailed to me by my good friend, Joe of New York City, the same week as the Hastings' story was to be posted. Like “Midnight Alarm,” the forwarded painting featured a union suit too. Albeit unworn by anyone. 

The composition was of a farmhouse, trees, sheds, fencing and a suit of long white underwear hanging on a clothesline. It was of the boyhood home of fellow Iowan, President Herbert Hoover. The drying union suit in view no doubt belonged to our thirty-first president. Joe told me he had seen Wood's tribute to Hoover displayed in New York's Whitney Museum:

After the 2018 Hastings' posting, I heard from several of USF blog readers, including my pal Sam of Upper Lower Michigan. He emailed me a sketch by Grant Wood featuring union suits. So, in a subsequent posting on April 20, 2018, “More Grant Wood, Artist and Union Suit Fan,” I included his very amusing drawing. In this one, a mid-western pioneer woman is shown hanging out her husband's freshly washed union suits on a make-shift prairie closeline. Several Indians are helping themselves to the underwear. Wearing only loin clothes themselves, they seemed puzzled as to what the unusual clothing is and how it might be worn.

Like Joe, Sam and me, Wood found humor in warm, inviting, one-piece long underwear, called “Union Suits.”

After hearing from Bob Wadsten, I enthusiastically dug deeper into his grandfathers' red flannels. I uncovered long forgotten newspaper reports about Grant Wood's search for that certain type of long underwear and Gustav Wadsten's answering Wood's call by providing him with his father's 1880's union suit.

In addition to the articles Bob had sent to me, I discovered newspaper clippings which further explained why Wood was not interested in procuring just any ol' union suit. He wanted an authentic one from the earliest days, circa the 1880's, if possible. He had searched and searched in vain, traveling the mid-western states of Iowa, Minnesota, and Ilinois, but to no avail. 

Finally, Wood decided to advertise for “red flannel underwear.” He received various overtures but turned down offers of inferior style underwear. He didn't need two piece shirt and drawers, red petticoats, or long sleeved flannel undershirts without attached drawers as were offered. The underwear most definitely had to be a one piece button-up suit, red in color and made of flannel just like men of the late nineteenth century would have worn. Oh yes, it must show wear. A brand new, pristine union suit would not be "authentic" enough since surely a farmer, having worked hard all week, would most assuredly have had on “broken in” underwear just like the overalls, work shirt, boots and socks he would have worn.

Midwestern journalists, having gotten wind of Wood's classified newspaper searches, began joyfully writing extensively about his underwear quest. And finally, newspaper articles chronicled the fact that a “suit”able union suit had been located. As it turned out, the long red underwear donated by Bob Wadsten's grandfather, Gustav Wadsten, was a popular topic back in 1935. Click or tap on these articles to enlarge, if necessary, to view:

Wood's search for specific red flannel underwear was picked up by newspapers across the nation such as this one from Santa Barbara, California's The Morning Press:

"In the old days, when men were men...red flannel was symbolic of the gruelling lives they led...By their underwear ye know them."

Time magazine asked for a responce from Wood as to a feature they had previously published. Obliging, he mailed his answer to the Time editors objecting to certain errors in their article:

Interesting that Wood did not want the Time's readers to think modern day men and boys in Iowa were rubes wearing long red flannel underwear in mass. With tongue in cheek no doubt, the Time Magazine editor thanked Wood for "clarifying the underwear fashion in Iowa." The editor also verified that Wood paid $10 for the union suit.

As established, Grant Wood decided not to pursue "The Bath - 1880.” At least one other later report, attributed to his sister after his death, indicated he felt he had received poor publicity surrounding his project from the press after their initial part in assisting him in finding the union suit to begin with. He wondered if this underwear undertaking could hurt his reputation as a serious artist and art teacher? He apparently concluded that it would and abandoned the project.

It must have been upsetting to many of his contemporary fans upon learning he had just been about to begin the widely covered, proposed painting the very week after having received the coveted union suit, but decided against doing so. He had been all set to begin, the sketch drawn, a model chosen, the underwear located and received. To my great disappointment, the painting, “The Bath – 1880” was never forthcoming. In the end Wood decided against pursuing his planned work dedicated to a Saturday night bath, a wooden bath tub, and a farmer undressed down to his long, red flannel underwear. We modern day union suit wearers would have appreciated that historic piece, a warm, fun, and inviting endeavor. I suspect the Wadsten's would have too.

My research also resulted in the discovery of a book devoting an entire chapter on the search and resolution of the almost famous red flannel union suit. The 1944 book, "Artist In Iowa A Life Of Grant Wood" by Darrell Garwood, detailed Wood's search and ultimate decision to discard plans for the painting. Garwood goes into much more detail as to why the famous artist decided to abandon his plan for “The Bath - 1880.” This book also explores the little known or remembered fact that Wood married a woman named Sarah. I don't believe the author or publisher would mind you taking a look at Chapter 28, Page 184 entitled "Fame and Red Flannels":

https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.89523/2015.89523.Artist-In-Iowa-A-Life-Of-Grant-Wood_djvu.txt

Well, there you have it. Hope you agree with me the adventure of the Wadsten gift of red flannel underwear is one for the ages.

Happy New Year Union Suit fans and to you, Bob Wadsten. And, thanks for contacting me with a most interesting take on your family's gift of red flannels! … Chris Ayers.

An email from Bob Wadsten added January 3, 2021:

Chris, Great piece of writing and very interesting.  Once again, thanks very much for bringing this aspect of our family history to light.  I will continue to search for my great-grandfathers union suit and will hopefully have interesting news for you and your readers.  I hope to devote some time to finding a red union suit in the very near future – will keep you posted.  Hope you had a very Merry Christmas and all the best for a Happy New Year. 

Gratefully, Bob

Union Suit Fans: Thanks to Bob for his story. If any of you happen to run across information that could lead to the whereabouts of the Wadsten red flannel underwear, be sure to contact me and I will pass along to Bob. My own search has come up with nothing... Chris

Merry Christmas Everyone and Happy New Year!

 A Gift of Red Flannels, Part 1

Recently, I received an email from Mr. Bob Wadsten who had discovered my blog, Union Suit Fan, while searching for information regarding a 1935 proposed Grant Wood painting, “The Bath – 1880.” Bob has family ties to a suit of long underwear that was to have been used in the proposed painting. Bob wrote: 

"Thought you might find this interesting. This story is about my grandparents who responded to Grant Wood and sent him the union suit. These stories appeared in the Cedar Rapids, Gazette on January 6, 1935.

Best, Bob Wadsten, Golden Valley, MN"

(Bob included two 1935 newspaper articles to his email.)

In that search of the internet for additional information about Wood's painting, Bob uncovered Spencer Hastings' guest contributor story, “Grant Wood, Union Suit Fan.” I had posted Hasting's account in my blog on April 4, 2018. It featured a Wood lithograph, “Midnight Alarm,” included  among others of an exhibit at the Springfield Art Museum in Missouri. The work was of a young farmer descending the stairs of his farmhouse in the middle of the night, barefoot and wearing only a white union suit. Presumably, a noise had awakened him and he sought the source of the distrubance interrupting his sleep.

1939 Lithograph on Paper
Grant Wood

Within that posting Hastings mentioned a painting, “The Bath – 1880,” planned by Wood, perhaps even sketched out, but never completed, exhibited or sold. After viewing the posting, Bob forwarded me two newspaper offerings he possessed.

With Bob's permission, I'm pleased to pass along this account of one-piece red flannel, somewhat worn, long underwear that was meant to play a central part in the acclaimed artist's planned project. Bob's family story is especially interesting because it closely ties to subject matter I share with my blog viewers. You may need to click or tap on the following articles to see them more clearly:

After receiving these articles from Bob, I emailed him back with my deep appreciation for him forwarding me such information unknown to me. Arguably, the long underwear would become the most famous union suit ever included in a painting by one of America's most famous artists. You will remember, Grant Wood painted the iconic and, some say, controversial “American Gothic” in 1930:

Bob's great grandfather, Lars Wadsten, had first owned and worn the red flannel union suit. Many years later, it was his grandparents who subsequently sent Wood the underwear for his painting. The story of how Gustav Wadsten ended up with the union suit and had even worn it himself, is interesting as well. That long underwear must have been made really well to hold up all those years. The family underwear would no doubt now be central to the theme Wood had in mind.

Responding to my email, thanking him for sending the articles he had saved over the years, Bob wrote: 

"Hi Chris,

You’re welcome – happy to hear that you can appreciate this. It is a remarkable story and one that I heard my Dad recount years ago but never looked into. I learned just recently that Wood abandoned his plans for execution. I don’t know what happened to the union suit as I never heard anything about its disposition."

Bob continued, "As close as I can figure, the union suit belonged to my great-grandfather who emigrated from Sweden in 1868 to Junction City KS and joined the 19^th Kansas Cavalry as an enlistee. He fought in the Battle of The Washita among other adventures. He was born in 1845 to a very wealthy Swedish family and was the only one to emigrate. He went into business in Boston where my grandfather was born in 1885 and eventually ended up and died in Elizabeth City, NC in 1926.

I’m assuming that he sent the union suit to his son, my grandfather, who wound up in Minneapolis in 1915 and where my father was born in 1924...I only recently became interested in digging into the back story of the union suit. I have never worn or seen a union suit except in pictures. I ran across your blog while Googling “Grant Wood” and “The Bath – 1880” and decided to share these old clippings...It would really be fun to see where the union suit ended up. Thanks again for your interest and let’s stay in touch.

Best Regards, Bob Wadsten (Jr.)"

Bob and I have stayed in touch. Not surprisingly, my interest peaked after having heard from him and reading the accounts of his great grandfather's underwear, a soon to be famous union suit. Researching the internet myself, I discovered more information on Wood's search for red flannel underwear and the subsequent donation of the Wadsten union suit. I found several additional newspaper accounts, including one having a photo of Grant Wood and his insistence on a specific suit of long underwear. Another article featured a photo of grandfather Wadsten and an account of his having saved the day by donating his union suit to Wood. Bob had never seen these articles and indicated he was quite interested in seeing and reading about his grandfather in 85 year old newspaper accounts. To view these, click or tap on the articles to enlarge, if necessary:

It's interesting to note the photo of Gustav Wadsten shows him wearing a shirt with an open right hand sleeve. It appears the cuff of his union suit is showing through the opening. Back in 1935 men such as Wood and Wadsten typically wore union suits much, if not most, of the year round, and certainly in January when the photo was taken.

In my upcoming Part 2 of “A Gift of Flannel,” I will share more fascinating 1935 newspaper articles about Wadsten's red flannel underwear. The union suit story is even given its own chapter in a book about Grant Wood which I'll be sure to share with you.

And what became of the Wadsten union suit? Well the possibilities are pretty interesting too. Stay tuned.... Chris

Definition of Union Suit from Merriam Webster Dictionary (since 1928):

"an undergarment with shirt and drawers in one piece."

First Known Use of the word "Union Suit" was in1846. 

Illustration of Union Suit

Example of Union Suit in a Sentence:

"Undershirts have come a long way from their days as an offshoot of the one-piece union suits men wore as undergarments in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to protect precious clothes from sweat." — Gerard Baker, WSJ, "The 10-Point.," 2 Aug. 2017
(I've got examples of Union Suit in hundreds of Sentences in my blogs. Ha!... Chris)

YesterYear - Strident Strikers Strip 

In April, 1941, textile workers walked a picket line in front of the closed Appalachian Mills garment factory in Knoxville, Tennessee. There were no less than thirteen textile mills operating in Knoxville then with most of them producing underwear and socks. Millions of men's and boys' union suits were made here. A strike was called because a number of union men were fired from the plant. The striking picketers stripped to their own union suits in a demonstration of unity. Several of the men, some wearing hats, others carrying U.S. flags, but all wearing union suits, carried signs that read: “I Lost My Pants at Appalachian Mills.”

The strikers believed wearing nothing except their union suits would draw much more attention than if they were fully clothed. They were right. Their photo was published in newspapers across America that month. Textile mills in Knoxville produced more union suits in the first half of the 20^th century than in anywhere else in North America. In fact, Knoxville was known as "The Underwear Capital of the World."  If you wore underwear from the early to mid-1900's, your underwear was probably made in Knoxville.

Thanks to Joe of New York City for securing this photo for me.

On December 14th, I received this email from Billy of Knoxville, TN:

"Chris:  Even when I was a little boy, kids my age knew underwear of all types like my briefs and undershirts was made in Knoxville my hometown. Maybe my socks too, can't remember for sure. My grandpas and daddy wore union suits made here, uncles and older cousins too. Not year round but much of the year. I followed 'suit,' pardon the pun, when I was about twelve years of age. But now my union suits are made in far away places like Indonesia or Honduras. The last two I bought were Duofolds made in India. I often wonder what the men and women who live in warmer climates and make our union suits these days must think of our western long underwear... 'Crazy Americans!'   ...Billy"

And this email yesterday from Seth of Bangor, Maine: 

"Hi Chris: The photo and caption of the striking union suit wearing workers, reminded me of another bunch of striking men out in public posting you did sometime ago. But I can't find it. Did you delete it? ...Seth"

Thanks, fellas for your emails and, Buckeye, for your comment below. No Seth, I did not delete the previous "striking" posting. It is actually located in my companion blog: "Union Suit Fans in the Limelight," June 4, 2018. That posting was of entertainer Spike Lee and his band, City Slickers, marching down Market Street in San Francisco in 1949. They were all dressed, or should I say undressed, in their union suits. The long-handled clad men were supporting their local musicians strike. 

To see that posting: go to the dancing red long johns found on the side of this page, click or tap on "Union Suit Fans." At the top of the next page under "My Blogs," click or tap on "Union Suit Fans in the Limelight." This will take you to my other blog which features actors, singers, dancers, etc. who enjoy performing in their union suits. Maybe you've seen it. 

Scroll down to the Spike Lee posting found back in June, 2018 along with "Panic at the Disco," a very talented band, marching down the street in their union suits. Enjoy, Chris

City Slickers Band Striking
in Their Long Underwear

Panic at the Disco Marching
in Their Union Suits