A Note About Dolly Bloomer... Amelia Jenks Bloomer was born May 27, 1818 at Homer, N.Y. In 1849 she took up the idea of reform in women's clothes-previously originated by Mrs. Elizabeth Smith Miller -and the wearing of a short dress with loose trousers gathered at the ankle. Gradually, the name, "bloomers" became attached to any divided skirt or knickerbocker dress for women.
   Mrs. Bloomer was a dedicated reformer. Besides bloomers, she earnestly supported temperance. women's suffrage, and a number of lesser moral and political reforms, all concerned with women's rights. In January, 1849, she published a newspaper. "The Lily." which began with a circulation of 200 copies. It jumped to over 4,000 in four years. an increase in readership which was greatly due to her appearance on lecture platforms in the East, each time wearing her scandalous bloomers.
   During this period, the name "Dolly" Bloomer was given first to Mrs. Bloomer, then to any girl sufficiently emancipated to copy her.