First Ladies Gowns, Mary Todd Lincoln

Summary

Mary Todd Lincoln (1818-1882), wife of President Abraham Lincoln is dressed in a gown of royal purple velvet with a tight bodice and full skirt of the hoop-skirt period. The seams of the dress, skirt, and bodice, the hem of the skirt, and the bottom of the bodice are piped with narrow white-satin cord. The neck is trimmed with an elaborate fichu of black Alencon lace with a white edge, and a bouquet of pansies is placed at her bosom. The short puffed sleeves are made of white net and Alencon lace. The fan is purple taffeta. The dress is part of the First Ladies Collection at the National Museum of American History.

Subject

• Lincoln, Mary Todd 1818-1882
• National Museum of American History (U.S.) (NMAH)
• National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.)
• United States National Museum
• National Collections
• First Ladies Exhibit

Category

Historic Images of the Smithsonian

Notes

In this image the mannequin's face has been painted. In an earlier exhibit, the face is unpainted (See Neg. #38067.)

Contained within

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 285, Box 20, Folder: 3

Contact information

Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Institution Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu

Date

1965

Restrictions & Rights

No restrictions

Topic

• Women
• Artifacts
• Mannequins (figures)
• Costume
• Clothing and dress
• Exhibitions
• Gifts
• First Ladies Gowns
• History
• Museum mannequins
• Presidents
• Costumes
• Women--History
• Presidents' spouses

Place

United States

Form/Genre

• Photographic print
• Object

ID Number

MAH-57631

Physical description

Number of Images: 1; Color: Black and white Size: 8w x 10h Type of Image: Object Medium: Photographic print

Full Record

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