DRESS

Description: 1) H-105.6 L-67.8 W-0.6. INSERTION DRESS, MACHINE MADE.BODICE IS KIMONO SLEEVE BODICE GATHERED AT WAIST AND FEATURING AN ARMISTICE BLOUSE NECKLINE. WHITE COTTON LAWN WITH MACHINE MADE COTTON LACE, COTTON BOBBINET LACE AND MACHINE EMBROIDERED COTTON LAWN. 2) H-122.4 L-87.2 W-1.6. GORED UNDERSKIRT. WHITE COTTON LAWN WITH MACHINE MADE COTTON LACE, COTTON BOBBINET LACE AND MACHINE EMBROIDERED COTTON LAWN. VARIOUS RUST COLOURED STAINING THROUGHOUT.

History: DRESS WAS OWNED AND WORN BY DONOR’S STEP-GRANDMOTHER MARY ETHYL DAWSON. ON 20 MARCH 2011, THE DONOR, IN RESPONSE TO A MUSEUM QUESTION ABOUT THE AGE OF OFFERED ITEMS FORMERLY BELONGING TO MARY ETHYL DAWSON STATED, “I BELIEVE THE ITEMS BELONGING TO MARY ETHYL DAWSON WOULD HAVE BEEN HERS AND USED BEFORE HER MARRIAGE TO MY GRANDFATHER, THOUGH PRESUMABLY SHE CONTINUED TO WEAR THEM AFTER HER MARRIAGE.” 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.