DRESS

Description: CREPED SILK CHIFFON. WHITE WITH PURPLE FLORAL MOTIF PATTERN. PURPLE GROSGRAIN RIBBON TRIM. SLEEVE HEAD IS SILK CHIFFON. BODICE AND SLEEVES ARE CUT ON GRAIN, SKIRT IS CUT ON BIAS. MACHINE MADE THROUGHOUT WITH HAND SEWN SLEEVES, HEMS, PLACKETS AND CLOSURES. THREAD LOOPS AND NECK ARE CROCHETED. BODICE IS DONE WITH FRENCH SEAMS.

History: DRESS WAS OWNED AND WORN BY DONOR’S MOTHER MARY ELIZABETH TAYLOR. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION REGARDING THE “CHICAGO DRESS” WAS SOLICITED FROM THE DONOR VIA TWO EMAILS ON 20 AND 21 JANUARY 2011 AT THE TIME OF DONATION. “THIS [IS] THE DRESS MY MOTHER BOUGHT IN CHICAGO AROUND 1935. SHE WAS BORN IN LETHBRIDGE IN 1910, SO THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN IN HER 20’S. SHE WORE IT A LOT. IT LOOKS HANDMADE, AND HAS A WAIST OF 22 INCHES. (SHE WAS VERY TALL- ABOUT 6 FT – AND VERY SLIM IN THOSE DAYS). MY MOTHER TRAINED FOR A NURSE IN VICTORIA, SO SHE WAS AWAY FOR A FEW YEARS, FROM ABOUT 1928-1932. SHE RETURNED TO LETHBRIDGE, AND WORKED AS A PRIVATE DUTY NURSE AND AT THE LETHBRIDGE MISSION. IT WAS DURING THIS TIME THAT SHE WOULD HAVE GONE TO CHICAGO, PROBABLY TO VISIT A SISTER OF HER STEP-MOTHER WHO WAS LIVING THERE AT THE TIME.” FOR DETAILED BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION RELATING TO DONOR'S FAMILY HISTORY, PLEASE SEE TO P20110012001.; *UPDATE* IN 2021 TWO COLLECTIONS ASSISTANTS, RYLEY GELINAS AND O. E., CONDUCTED AN AUDIT OF THE ROLLED TEXTILE COLLECTION, INCLUDING OTHER ARTIFACTS WITHIN THIS COLLECTION. RESEARCH CONDUCTED INTO THE DONOR WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AND NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS MADE AVAILABLE AS A RESULT OF THE AUDIT WORK.