Name/Title
Wedding DressEntry/Object ID
1972.290.1 A-CDescription
Two piece embroidered satin wedding dress with lace and bead decoration. The satin is embroidered in gold with a flower and leaf pattern. The bodice has built-in stays constructed with a center seam and two seams on either side. It features a square neckline which is decorated with a white satin collar. There are four bows along the outer edges of the elbow-length sleeves. The skirt has a ruffled white satin hem and an overskirt of beaded white tulle. The skirt gathers into a bustle at the back which is decorated with rosettes and three large ruffles.Context
This dress was 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
DressClothing Sex
FemaleTextile Details
Fabric
SilkMaterial
Beads, Tulle, Metal, Net, LinenColor
Yellow, White, SilverDimensions
Dimension Description
A: BodiceWidth
23-1/2 inDimension Description
B: SkirtWidth
34-1/2 inDimension Description
C: WaistWidth
23 in
