Marching Order, from the Parasol Drills series (N18) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1888

"Marching Order" is from the Parasol Drills series made by Allen & Ginter for their cigarette brands. These cards, though small, speak volumes about the era's evolving perceptions of women. Produced during a time of shifting gender roles, this card reflects the late 19th-century fascination with the "New Woman"—an educated, independent, and physically active woman. "Marching Order" presents a woman smartly dressed in what was a very masculine cut of jacket and hat, yet holding a frilly parasol. The parasol itself becomes a tool, a weapon even. The juxtaposition challenges traditional representations of women as passive and domestic, instead suggesting that women could occupy public spaces and engage in traditionally male activities, while still clinging to some of the feminine. The Allen & Ginter company was based in Richmond, Virginia, at a time when the city was trying to rebrand after the Civil War. This image invites us to consider the complexities of identity and representation during a pivotal time in American history.