Exhibition Dates: January - December 1997

The exhibition Dream Stitches took the viewer back in time and into the world of an expectant Mother at the turn of the twentieth century as she dreamed and stitched a clothing layette for her baby.  While the exhibit focused on articles for the layette that were made at that point in time, garments dating from 1854 through the 1930’s were included. The wide variety of clothing ranged from every day necessities to those made for special occasions. Bonnets and gowns, varying in design from simple to exquisitely tucked and frilled, were among the items featured. Information about fine hand-sewing techniques and customs regarding infants and their clothing was highlighted.  Period portrait photographs of Victorian infants from the studio of Henry C. Norman of Natchez, Mississippi, complemented the exhibited artifacts. The photographs for this special feature were selected from the collection of Joan W. and Thomas H. Gandy.  Booklets made by Louisiana high school home economics students as class assignments in 1926 depicted items that would be included in a baby’s layette along with garment illustrations, fabric samples, and projected costs. Visit the virtual scrapbook for exhibition.

Read more on our other past exhibitions