Dress, 1858-1863

Dress, 1905-1910

Dress, about 1850

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.

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.

Morning Dress, 1780-1795

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.

Dress, 1849-1852

This dress has 1840s lines, but 1850's sleeves. It is a classic, inexpensive, middle class silk dress.

Gown, 1857-1859

Dress, 1850-1855

An interesting, inexpensive fabric. The sleeve is a little modified from its work dress origins. This was probably the best dress of a lower middle class woman.

Dress and Pelerine, 1840-1845

Simplicity, rich material, and subdued color indicate that this redingote and pelerine might be of Quaker origin. The narrow sleeves, long waist and darts are typical of the 1840s, while the pelerine is reminiscent of the 1830s.

Morning Dress, 1850-1855

The dress was probably originally two pieces: a bodice and skirt. The basques of the bodice are now on the inside. The skirt was removed from the waistband, cut down and applied to the bodice, and green silk trimmings added.

Dress, 1845-1847

The simple bodice indicates that this dress was worn with a lace bertha and sleeve ruffles. The bust improvers, bodice construction and skirt are typical of the period. The dress was possibly remade from an earlier 1830s silk.

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According to the source, the dress fabric was originally made and embroidered around 1785, and made over in the early 19th century.

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.

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.

Dress, 1828-1832

The full sleeves, boat neckline, and short waist of this dress suggest a date of around 1830; the silk is expensive.

Dress, 1840-1849

A beautifully constructed, sewn, and finished dress, representing a homemade version of high style. The en tablier trim on the skirt is typical of 1850-55. The bodice and narrow sleeve are 1840s, the collar reminiscent of the 1830's, the skirt trim, ruffles and embroideryof the 1840's.

Dress, 1880-1882

This dress reflects the eighteenth century revival look of a pastoral shepherdess. Chambray was not unusual but the seersucker trim was unusual as a trim detail.

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.