Name/Title
DressEntry/Object ID
1993.26.1a-bDescription
Brown silk dress consisting of a bodice and skirt. The bodice is long sleeved and secures down the center front with 18 cast bronze buttons. The buttons are post-backed and molded with a raised design of flowers on a trellis. Either side of the bust and shoulders, as well as the bottoms of the sleeves, are embellished with decorative applique of black glass beads. The sleeve cuffs are decorated with narrow braid and lace. The shaping seams of the bodice are reinforced with boning, and the neckline has a short standing collar. The construction is done in brown thread, the seam allowance finishes are done in red thread, and the buttonholes are done in purple thread. It is fully lined in brown cotton.
The skirt consists of a main skirt body, a lace overskirt, and an attached bustle cover. The bustle cover is a distinct panel attached to the main skirt at the bottom and sides, with about a 12" of each side left unattached. The top edge is attached to a length of self-fabric to be tied or pinned around the wearer's waist. Beneath the bustle cover is a panel of brown cotton, meaning that any bustle pad would have to be worn outside the main skirt. The lace overskirt sits only on the front and is attached at the waistband. It is machine-embroidered in thick, tan threads on a fine, brown netting of the same shade as the dress fabric.
The fabric of the dress is woven with a diaper pattern of weft floats.Context
Worn by Katherine Fletcher Northrup of Jeffersonville, Vermont, to her 1889 graduation from Johnson Normal School.Acquisition
Accession
1993.26Source or Donor
Sargent, Frederika Brigham Northrop (1903-2003)Acquisition Method
GiftClothing/Dress/Costume Details
Article of Clothing/Dress/Costume
DressClothing Sex
FemaleSize
25" waistMade/Created
Date made
1888Place
Village
JeffersonvilleTown
CambridgeCounty
Lamoille CountyState/Province
VermontCountry
United States of AmericaContinent
North AmericaLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Primary Object Term
DressNomenclature Sub-Class
Main GarmentsNomenclature Class
ClothingNomenclature Category
Category 03: Personal ObjectsDimensions
Dimension Description
SkirtLength
41 inDimension Description
BodiceLength
22 inRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Northrop, Katherine Fletcher (1870-1938)Person or Organization
Johnson State CollegeRelated Places
Place
Village
JeffersonvilleTown
CambridgeCounty
Lamoille CountyState/Province
VermontCountry
United States of AmericaContinent
North AmericaRelated Publications
Publication
About the Covers: Katherine Fletcher's Graduation Dress