The Dress

My cousin emailed me yesterday with exciting news. The Academy of Music in Philadelphia is holding a Gala celebration in January to commemorate their 150th anniversary. The exciting part for us is that an ancestor of ours (we're racking our brains to remember the name. Dear Grandmother told so many stories that never got written down... HINT - write 'em down before it's too late!) attended the opening of the Academy in 1857, and the family happens to be in possession of the dress she wore and the fan she carried. The photo is of the dress with the fan, framed, hanging in the background. We're discussing loaning the dress and fan to the Academy for display at the event.

Turns out, there were more clothes, too. After my dear Grandmother died, and my relatives tackled the thankless task of cleaning out the house, they found boxes with other clothes... Amazing stuff that we probably should not have been touching without gloves!

But SO cool to look at. I believe that much of it will be loaned or donated to an historical society where it can be properly cared for, instead of sitting in a box somewhere disintegrating.

Back to the Gala... So we're thinking of spending the WAAAAAY too much money for tickets (it's a white tie event!) and having reproduction gowns made to attend. It's an exciting prospect. I'd LOVE to see dh in a tail coat. Once in a lifetime opportunity. (both the Gala and the tail coat! LOL)