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Dress

Clothing Maker
Dateabout 1865
MediumHand-stitched and machine-stitched cotton, with brass hooks and eyes
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (length x width across shoulders): 58 x 18 1/2in. (147.3 x 47cm)
Hem (circumference): 210in. (533.4cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineConnecticut Museum of Culture and History collection
DescriptionWoman's day dress of sheer white cotton, with a woven windowpane check and printed dark purple flower buds and tiny black polka dots. The neckline is high and round, and is finished with a narrow band collar (5/8 inch wide). The bodice fabric is stitched separately from the lining, except at the armscye seams and waistline. It is gathered across the center front and center back into the 1 3/8-inch-wide waistband. The shoulderline is dropped, and the sleeves are cut with an upper and lower seam like a coat sleeve, and are gathered slightly into the armscye. The wrist openings are decorated with a 2 1/2-inch-wide flared ruffle of self-fabric, topped by a narrow double ruffle of fabric gathered over a cord. The armscye seams are piped, as is the waist edge. The bodice lining is constructed of heavier-weight, plain-woven, white cotton. It has a low and wide neckline, and it continues into the top of the sleeves for about 2 1/2 inches. The lining closes at center front with hooks and eyes, and a drawstring around the neckline. There is no fastening mechanism for the fashion fabric.

The skirt is cartridge-pleated around the waistline. It opens to the left of the center front. The hem is lined for 3 7/8 inches with self-fabric, and the bottom edge is bound with white cotton tape.
Object number1986.226.0
On View
Not on view
Dress
Mrs. Seth Griswold
about 1865-1870
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Editha Laura Jacobs
1896
Gift of Phyllis Kihn, 1980.38.2a-c, Connecticut Historical Society, Public Domain
Marie L. Brown
1870
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Unknown
about 1845
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Celia Stanley
about 1870-1875
Gift of F. Ruth Johnson, 1970.39.5a,b  © 2013 The Connecticut Historical Society.
Florence May Alford
about 1897
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Perkins French
about 1812
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Mix family
about 1865
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Mrs. Seth Griswold
about 1875
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Mary Elizabeth Carter
about 1870
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Unknown
about 1893-1894
Wedding Dress
Julia E. Hickox
June 1860