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  • Girl's Dress, 1845-1860

    Girl's Dress, 1845-1860

    This lovely, expensive girl's dress would have been worn for very special occasions and appears to have been seldom used.

  • Dress, about 1860

    Dress, about 1860

    While this appears to be a day dress at first glance, it was more likely used around the house in the morning as it opens entirely from waist to hem at center front. It may have had boning in the bodice, however the bodice has been altered so it is difficult to determine.Worn by Betsy Ann Cowles Palmer around 1860. Betsy Ann Cowles Palmer was born in 1822. In 1839, she married Charles Henry Palmer, a pioneer investor and developer of mines and railroads in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The Palmer'…

  • Red Wool Twill Child's Dress, 1860-1870

    Red Wool Twill Child's Dress, 1860-1870

    Gored child's frock of red wool twill with black wool braid around neck, sleeves, hem. Round neck with self-piping and white eyelet machine lace; lace repeated on two-piece bishop sleeves. Three gores in front, four in back. Center-back closure has nine buttons (one decorative). Upper half lined with white unglazed cotton; lower half with glazed linen; linings sewn together. Band of white muslin at hem edge. All fabric bias-cut; hand-stitched; seam edges bound closed; magenta thread used. This i…

  • Shaker Dress, 1835-1860

    Shaker Dress, 1835-1860

    This dress is believed to have belonged to Elvira Hill, a Shaker. It would have been worn with a tucker, fichu, chemisette, or modesty scarf of some type at the neckline.

  • Child's Dress and Jacket, 1850-1860

    Child's Dress and Jacket, 1850-1860

    This outfit could have been made for use by either sex, but was probably made for a boy due to the shortness of the skirt (with knickers probably visible underneath). The printed wool is very fine. The flat-pleating all around suggests an 1850s date. A fashionable dress for warm weather.