Name/Title
Wedding SlippersEntry/Object ID
1972.290.2 A-BDescription
Cream-colored slippers with rosettes. The shoes appear to have been both hand- and machine-sewn. The light brown interior contains illegible writing followed by "699 B."Context
These shoes were worn by Leila Bernard Meredith (1861–1947) on her wedding day. She and her husband, Richard Irvine Manning III (1859–1931), were married February 10th, 1881 in Richmond, Virginia. Leila's father, John Alexander Meredith (1814–1882), was the first Circuit Court judge of Richmond and a member of the Virginia State Senate. He also played a crucial role during the Civil War when the city was burned.
Richard Manning came from a prominent South Carolina family with several members active in local and state politics: his grandfather, Richard Irvine Manning I (1789–1836), was South Carolina's 50th governor, and his uncle, John Lawrence Manning (1816–1889), was the 65th. Manning himself served as the state’s 92nd governor—after working as a state representative for four years and a state senator for seven—and worked alongside Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) during World War I.
Leila and Richard III had at least 13 children, though only ten survived to adulthood. Seven of their sons were alive at the onset of World War I, and all served; one was killed in action. At the time of her death, Leila was survived by six children, 26 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren.Clothing/Dress/Costume Details
Article of Clothing/Dress/Costume
ShoesClothing Sex
FemaleTextile Details
Material
Fabric, Leather, WoodColor
TanDimensions
Width
2-1/8 inLength
8-3/8 in
