1880s Wool and Silk Wedding Dress

An off-white silk satin and novelty weave wool wedding dress with hand painted panels: Bodice: short length; fitted; front - 2 sets of waist darts, back - princess seams; satin band collar hidden by lace collar; center front closure : 23 small round fabric covered shank buttons/buttonholes; wrist length, 2-piece set-in sleeves, satin applique at cuff area and lace ruffle; lower back: modified inverted pleat with reverse sides in satin; lined in brown glazed cotton fabric Skirt: full length; slight bell silhouette with fullness in back; center front panel: tiers of lace over novelty weave wool; front side panels: hand painted flowers (pink) with leaves and stems on silk satin; center back panel: gathered at waistband ( 1.5 brown cotton fabric) novelty weave wool fabric; hem trimmed with a narrow pleated dust ruffle; lined in brown finished cotton fabric Bustle: novelty weave wool fabric; full length of back skirt; gathered with strings on the inside (brown cotton fabric) to give a bouffant effect; there is a waistband that comes around the front Front bodice panel: silk satin; long - wide to narrow panel; top part - gathered for fullness mid section - shirred lower section - ends in a bow

HCT.1999.19.1a-d

1888

Anna McAfee married Daniel H. Stoner on June 27th, 1888, and her daughter, Ola Glen Stoner, married Morris Nathaniel Pigman on June 7th, 1922. Both weddings took place in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, southeast of Pittsburgh, and most likely in the same church.
Anna Laura McAfee was born January 4th, 1868 in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, and even though her father worked as a day laborer, he was able to afford a special white dress for his daughter’s wedding. Although not ‘white’ according to our thinking today, the natural cream colors of the fabric and lace in this dress were considered
white at this time when many wedding dresses for middle class brides were a more serviceable darker color and could be worn for occasions after the wedding day. The hand-painted floral designs on the satin panels of this dress make it extra special and its full rear bustle puts it in the height of fashion for 1888.
Anna’s husband, Daniel Stoner, was born in 1862 also in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. His father was also a day laborer. Both of Daniel’s parents came from large families. His father was one of thirteen children and his mother one of ten. After Anna’s and Daniel’s marriage, Daniel Stoner worked for the Union Supply Company as a manager at various stores for fifty years until his retirement. Anna and Daniel had only three children, one of whom was Ola Glen Stoner, born June 25, 1889 and married to Morris N. Pigman in 1922.

1880-1889