Description:
Scrap book containing fabric swatches documenting dress fabrics worn in a rural area of north-central Massachusetts in the second half of the 19th century. The swatchbook diary also provides some insight into fabric choices available for women's dress during the Civil war. On inside page, a handwritten note reads: This scrapbook of fabrics/ was collected by my Aunt-/ Miss Martha Anna Abercrombie,/ of Lunenburg, Massachusetts,/ born 1839-Died 1923 / They are samples of her dresses/ and those of my grandmother-/ Mrs. Otis Abercrombie (nee/ Dorothy Lovina Putnam.)/ born 1807-Died 1886/ I will be pleased to have/ them preserved at the /Heritage Foundation in Deerfield./Alice Abercrombie Merriam./ October 20th 1969.” Martha Anna Abercrombie (1839-1923) may have been the assembler of the diary, after the fact, in addition to the donor, Alice Abercrombie Merriam (1891-1986) of Greenfield, Massachusetts. The swatches range in date (all noted in pencil by assembler) from 1840 to 1896; however, many are undated. The swatches include printed wools (delaines), cottons, as well as silks and fancy weaves. At least two pages are of figured black silks, possibly for mourning. Several notations are of interest, including: p. 15, three swatches; one looks like ribbon trim, another is a green (with purple) striped silk; the third is a purple (with green) striped silk. The notation for the green swatch in pencil reads: “Class Day dresses” 1858 MAA’s. The notation for the purple swatch in pencil reads: DLA’s Harvard (Otis Putnam Abercrombie). The notation for the ribbon trim in pencil reads: MAA; p. 18, two swatches, a medium blue silk taffeta with notation “Class Day” dress, MAA, 1866. Harvard. Daniel Putnam Abercrombie; an open weave aqua blue stripe “1859”
p. 20, five swatches: 1 brown and white printed cotton; 1 blue and white printed cotton labeled 1850 in pencil; 1 striped blue silk/silk blend; 1 green, tan, black and white plaid; 1 greenish-blue pin stripe silk swatch, labeled in pencil “1852-my first Silk dress. Bought in Montreal." p. 22, one large swatch, probably cotton, black with red spots (both ground and spots are printed) with note: Mother Aunt Martha Anna and I all had dresses like this during the War (1862). We bought the whole piece to get it at lowest price and then gave 40 cts per yard-and they were our Evening Gowns that Winter.” One (small tree design) labeled “1861-cost 90 cts War Price” in pencil; another labeled “1859” in pencil. This and the other pieces given by Mrs. Merriam came with the note: "No special knowlege of these but came from my Grandmothers house - Dorothy Putnam Abercrombie's {Mrs. Otis) in Lunenburg, Mass. Given by Alice Abercrombie Merriam."
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+V.050 |
