Dress, about 1850

Child's Dress, 1810-1825

The puff-over-long sleeve style was seen in women's fashions around 1810-1820. Pastel silks were also used during this period for "best dresses." See: Bradfield, Costume in Detail, pp.107-110; Buck & Cunnington, Children's Costume, p. 195. This dress was probably worn with pantalettes, probably by a little girl, although boys wore similar dresses in this era before the age of about three.

Quilted Petticoat, about 1800-1825

Between 1740 and 1800 dresses had open front skirts or they were looped up the sides to reveal the petticoat.Quilted petticoats were usually decorated along the hemline.Not only were these used for decoration, but for warmth as well.Later into the nineteenth century a quilted petticoat was primarily used for warmth.

Dress, 1825-1829

According to the source, the dress fabric was originally made and embroidered around 1785, and made over in the early 19th century.

Dress, 1820-1825

This dress descended down through the family of Louise Ogle Scull (1828-1906?), grandmother of the donor. Scull lived in Somerset, Pennsylvania, seat of Somerset County. She is said to have married Edward Scull in 1848. The mancheron of the sleeves is reminiscent of the 1810s, but the waist is lower indicating the 1820-23 period. The Van Dyked trim, collar, puffed oversleeve, and skirt treatment are typical of the early 1820's.