The Goat Suit

Title: “William L. Finley Mountain Goat Costume”
Date: 1930

Description

Provenance: This costume was worn by naturalist William L. Finley to photograph mountain goats in their natural habitat at the Continental Divide.

Description: One-piece, handmade, white cotton flannel mountain goat costume with attached hood and long sleeves. The sleeves and legs have casings at the hems with elastic. The hood has light blue flannel attached ears. The costume opens in center front and closes with metal snaps. The goat's hair beard, currently unattached, can be sewn to the chin of the hood.

The date of this costume is based on the film associated with this costume titled, "Getting Our Goat," made in 1930 by William L. Finley and Arthur N. Pack of "Nature Magazine." The film footage shows Finley donning this goat costume in order to more closely approach goats for filming. This footage was digitized from film reels held in the William L. Finley Papers, Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Oregon State University Libraries.

Catalog Number
H1986-055-0001

Collection: Oregon State University Horner Museum Collection