1859 Day Dress

This day dress belonged to Elizabeth Ann Fullwood Aycock (c1828-1864). Born in Old Sumter District in South Carolina c.1828, Elizabeth Ann Fullwood was the daughter of William J. Fullwood and Lavinia Pringle. Elizabeth married James H. Aycock in 1855. The mother of three, Elizabeth died in 1864.

The dress front has a narrow yoke at the neck into which the rest of the front is lightly gathered or shirred. The dress opens down the center front and has another detail area of shirring on either side of the bodice bottom. The shorter Sleeve Jockey or Cap Sleeve is cut on the bias and has no lining. The edge has an applied shirred “cuff” detail and measures from shoulder to hem 6 1/4”. The second longer sleeve is made from two fabrics. Hidden under the Sleeve Jockey is this Second Sleeve which has a plain white top into which a fuller self fabric long sleeve gathered into an applied shirred cuff.

Original skirt seams were all hand stitched. The skirt is made of 5 panels which are the width of the fabric (29”). The panels are placed so that there is a seam at center back and no seam at the center front. The center front has a placket.. The applied hem is made from white cotton.