This dress from the Texas Civil War Museum is attributed to have been worn by Emma Gertrude Flower, daughter of Roswell Pettibone Flower, 30^th Governor of New York. The two-piece dress is made of sage green velvet and ivory silk satin. The waist-length velvet bodice has been drastically altered from its original configuration, possibly for theatrical or ‘dress-up’ purposes. It is currently styled with an open neckline and short puffed sleeves. A natural-colored lace edging trims the neckline and the bottom of the sleeves. A band of beaded trimming accents the center front of the bodice and the bottom of the sleeves. None of the original construction details – lining, boning, facings – remain. It is possible this bodice was made from leftover velvet sometime after the original construction of the dress.

The ivory satin skirt is style with a shorter overlay on the front of the skirt. The left side of the skirt is accented with three green velvet bows with beaded centers. The bottom of the longer underskirt is accented with a panel of the green velvet at the center front; the remainder of the underskirt is plain. A box pleated self-fabric ruffle finishes the bottom of the skirt. The over and underskirts are treated as one layer at the waistline, with box pleats in the front and deep gauging in the back. The waistband has been altered at some point to add width. A thin cotton lining has casings to create draping; the original tape ties are missing; the original starched and pleated dust ruffle remains.

Condition: Fair to poor. The bodice was carelessly sewn when altered, leaving nothing of its original style or shaping. The skirt has significant wear at the sides of the waist and at the bottom of the overskirt. There are several stains on the body of the skirt and the hemline is dirty.   [cs][ph:L]

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