1. Dressed for the Photographer: Ordinary Americans and Fashion, 1840-1900 by Joan Severa (Kent State University Press). Divided by decades, Dressed for the Photographer uses photos and writings from each period to show how even economically disadvantaged Americans could wear styles within a year or so of current fashion. This book is especially helpful if you're trying to date an ancestor's photograph. By comparing the clothing and hairstyles, you can pinpoint the time period in which the picture was taken. Each of the 272 photos has a detailed description, such as: "The child is posed in summer dress style worn around the turn of the decade [1870s]: one-piece, with bodice and skirt gathered into a yoke and waistband.... The Alice in Wonderland look of this hairstyle is created by tying back the hair and holding it off the high forehead with long, curved combs, then tying a pastel ribbon in a wide bow at the back of the crown." This book is well worth the expense if you have a lot of photographs to date.

2. Everyday Dress of Rural America, 1783-1800 with Instructions and Patterns by Merideth Wright (Dover Publications). Whether you're interested in learning how your Colonial-era ancestors dressed or how to make authentic period costumes, Everyday Dress of Rural America is the book for you. The garments illustrated and discussed here include clothing both the settlers and the Abenaki Indians of New England wore. You'll find full descriptions and scaled patterns with specific instructions for women's outfits (shift, petticoat, skirt, gown, neckerchief, apron and headgear) and for men's (shirt, cravat, breeches, breech-cloth, waistcoat, coat, frock and headgear).