Wedding Dress of Mary Elizabeth Maxam Davis

Women's clothing--wedding attire--1860s
Davis, Mary Elizabeth Maxam, 1843-1923

Wedding dress of Mary Elizabeth Maxam Davis, maternal grandmother of Mildred (Mrs. Raymond S.) Totman (1903-1997). Elizabeth married William Davis (1838-1907) on February 11, 1862, in Colrain, Mass. Additional photograph of dress being modeled, and of Mildred Totman, in accession file.
Remodeled from an earlier (1840s) fan-front dress. Fabric: silk (18" wide) with large scale multi-colored plaid on brown background; bodice and sleeves lined in brown glazed cotton or linen (shattering). The fitted two-dart bodice has five bones, machine chain-stitched seams, altered (raised) neckline with 1/2" band collar; waist and armscye piping; boned center front closure with japanned brass hooks and eyes; several are later replacement steel hooks and eyes. Two-part coat sleeves with carefully matched piecing below elbows.
Nine-panel skirt with earlier cartridge-pleated waist and hand-sewn seams, later center front slashed opening with snaps and one added pocket. The hem had been shortened; hem width varies on different panels (2 5/8"-5"), no hem facing.

Unknown

1862 ca.

Gift of of Mildred (Mrs. Raymond S.) Totman (1903-1997).

CHS

CHS. Fair use.

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Physical object

CHS-1990-002

Colrain, Mass.
Conway, Mass.

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