Girl's Dress, 1880-1885

Straight, low-waisted, heavily knife-pleated girl's silhouette dresses were very common in the early 1880's; men's suit fashions were also often reflected in women's clothing of the period.

Girl's Dress, about 1885

This is a fairly inexpensive and rather short ready-to-wear dress for a young girl. It is surely a summer or spring dress - light in color and easily washable. Dresses of this type were often advertised in clothing catalogs of the mid-1880s.

Child's Print Silk Twill Petticoat Dress, about 1885

White silk twill dress with printed blue sprigs, attached long-sleeved lace chemisette, and petticoat. High ruffled lace collar and ruffled lace sleeve cuffs. Self-fabric piping. Self-fabric sash around waist; bow-tied in center-back; padded to form slight bustle. Center-back button closures. Glazed cotton lining. Cotton petticoat with lace hem visible below dress hem, which is slit into panels. Machine lace. Machine and hand-sewn; dressmaker made. This is a fashionable princess-line party dress…

Girl's Dress, 1870-1880

This dress is notable as a homemade attempt at fashion: the colors are typical of the period, but the styling a bit naive. The piecing of the lining material is quite resourceful. The length indicates that it would have been used by a girl.

Girl's Dress, about 1870

This type of dress was very popular for railroad travel after the Civil War, and was probably worn in the summertime. One wonders if it functioned as a duster; however, it appears to be fairly close-fitting.

Boy's Tweed Jacket, 1880-1900

Girl's Wrap, about 1895

This young lady's wrapper comes from the Scull family of Somerset County, Pennsylvania, and was possibly worn by the daughter or granddaughter of Louise Ogle Scull. It appears to be an informal garment, used first thing in the morning. The train in the back is interesting - perhaps it was for a young woman who was rather short. The sleeves, which have some interesting piecing, indicate a circa 1895 date of manufacture. The vermicular printed fabric pattern is reminiscent of circa-1840 roller pri…