Long sleeve cotton shirtdress

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A long sleeve cotton shift dress (possibly a nurses’ uniform) and corresponding buttons (b). The dress is made from white cotton and features a pointed collar made from one panel of fabric. Two panels of cotton fabric make up the front of the dress, which open at the center front with a 24” button placket. The 4.5” button placket on the proper left side has four circular buttonholes and the proper right side has horizontal buttonholes. The buttonholes on the proper left side are circular and the buttonholes on the proper right side buttonholes are horizontal. There are three shell buttons at the bottom proper left placket and the bodice of the dress is gathered and sewn into a 2.75” wide waistband. Each sleeve is made from panel of cotton fabric sewn to itself at the inner arm, has a 7.5” vent, and is attached to a 4” cuff.

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