SPECIAL EVENTS 2005

Historic Wedding Display

 

Marriage Attire from 1893 - 1993

 

The month of June represents weddings to many. Antique wedding garments were on display at the Kauffman House Museum and Gallery during the month of June 2005. Eighteen different wedding dresses and many pictures of wedding couples filled the house. Visitors enjoyed looking at the examples and comparing them to their own wedding attire. Each gown has a story to tell and represents much about the people and culture of the time.

 

 

 

 

 

This gown was made by Louisa Aldofina Johnson for her marriage to August Swanson on February 22, 1893 in Stanton, Iowa. The gown was of cotton, two pieces, with ties inside the skirt to form a bustle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This gown was one of a four generation display. Josephine also made the dress worn by her daughter Dorothy Swanson for her August 30, 1934 wedding to Simon Ossian. The suit worn by Si Ossian was also displayed. It had a button fly.

 

 

 

  

 

Dorothy's daughter Kathleen made her dress for her wedding to Robert Means May 26, 1962.

Alencon lace was hand sewn onto the silk organza over taffeta. A hoop skirt was originally worn under the dress. The suit on display was worn by Robert Means

 

  

 

Kathleen's daughter Deanna was married July 31, 1993 to Christopher Langel in this dress.

 

 

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The wedding suit and dress worn by Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Lee around 1900 is part of the Historical Society's permanent collection on display in the Gallery. The Lee's lived on Grand Lake and came from Kansas City, Missouri

 

 

 

 

 

Another wedding dress in the Society's collection is the dress of Josephine Young for her wedding to Henry Langley in 1906. The dress was made by Mary Lyons Cairns, the mother of Patience Cairns Kemp who was instrumental in saving the Kauffman House and founding the Historical Society.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The wedding dress of Patience Maureen Cairns worn in 1943 for her wedding to 

Marshall Colvin Kemp in Honolulu, Hawaii was on display along with her shoes and gloves.

 

 

 

Patience's daughter Jane Kemp was married at the Air Force Academy in the following dress:

 

 

 

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This wedding dress and veil was worn by Edna Morris Smith in 1913 in Indiana, Pennsylvania

and by her granddaughter Kristin Gorham Armstead for her marriage to Mortenson in 1988

in Fort Collins, Colorado

 

 

 

Edna's daughter Susan Smith was married in 1962 to Steve Armstead.

 

 

 

 

 

Another dress in the museum collection is that of Nell Pauley worn for her wedding in the 1930's.

 

 

 

The wedding gown and veil worn by Reba Goscha on May 20, 1941 in Jennings, Kansas.

 

 

 

  

Lois Lauck was married to David Sauer on April 8, 1961 in Akron, Ohio

 

 

 

 

 

Patricia Davis wore the following dress and veil for her marriage 

to John Raney, August 12, 1967 in Keokuk, Iowa. 

The dress has a coat with a train.

 

 

 

 

Jean Warner was married December 27, 1969 in Dayton, Ohio in the following dress.

 

 

 

 

Becky Lord wore the wedding dress and veil for her wedding on July 9, 1983 at the Mary Jane Ski Area.

 

 

 

 

 

Dorothy Hoffstat Caldwell wore the veil and shoes for her wedding April 16, 1928 in Kansas City, Mo. 

 

 

 

Some other interesting garments on display during the exhibit were trousseau items.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The table in the dining room was set like that for a wedding supper in the 1930's.