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  • Wedding Dress, 1918

    This dress was worn by Virginia Palmer Bradfield Ward for her wedding in 1918. It was an exquisite, expensive gown. It remains in remarkably good condition. The overskirt feels like rayon, which may help to explain the excellent condition of the piece. Virginia Palmer Bradfield Ward was born 1897 in Grand Rapids, MI. She was born in to one of Michigan's oldest mining families.Her great grandfather, Charles Henry Palmer, was a pioneer investor and developer of mines and railroads in Michigan's Up…

  • Service Hat, 1918-1920

    Dr. Frank J. Sladen (1882-1973) graduated from Yale University in 1902, and Johns Hopkins University in 1906.Following his schooling, he also served his internship and residency at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore until 1912, when he became their chief resident physician.During that time his research included blood coagulation, and the use of meningitis and diphtheria antiserums.Dr. Sladen came to work at Detroit General Hospital in 1913 as the Chief of Medical Service.After Henry Ford took over the f…