Martha Dandridge Washington's Gown

Summary

Martha Washington (1731-1802), wife of President George Washington, sits in a chair in a dress worn during his administration, 1789-1797. Her dress is made of faille which is salmon pink and hand-painted. Around her shoulders is a soft white shawl of Mechlin lace and she wears lace mitts. As she was accustomed to wearing a "mobcap" to all social functions, she is wearing a represented one of white lace. She holds in her hands a brown satin bag which she made and which is embroidered in ribbonwork. This dress is part of the First Ladies Exhibit at the National Museum of History and Technology, now the National Museum of American History.

Subject

• Washington, Martha 1731-1802
• 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. #91-3682/38050).

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

c. 1965

Topic

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

Place

United States

Form/Genre

• Photographic print
• Object

ID Number

57614

Physical description

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

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