Dolley Madison's silk dress
name: label: wearer
content: Madison, Dolley
notes: label: Description
content: Dolley Madison remained a presence in the Washington social scene throughout her life. Her silk brocade evening dress dates to the 1840s. The sleeves were replaced and the skirt remade by a later wearer to follow the styles of the 1880s.
label: Description
content: As first lady (1809–1817), Dolley Madison was the smiling public face and goodwill ambassador of the Madison administration. A popular figure in fiercely partisan Washington society, she used her skills as a hostess to win support for the president and to mute opposition.
label: Description
content: Political party members in bitter opposition to each other found that the atmosphere in the first lady’s drawing room encouraged conversation and cooperation. Her celebrated weekly receptions became the perfect place to meet and do business and established the political importance of the White House hostess.
label: Description
content: Like many women in the early Republic, Dolley Madison practiced a personal form of politics as part of a social network of friends, relations, and the wives of Washington officials. Exchanging letters and visits, the first lady gathered and dispensed information about political events and public opinion. Using her influence to find jobs as favors for their friends and family, she expanded the network and increased goodwill toward the president and his administration.
label: Description
content: In 1812, America declared war on Great Britain. By the summer of 1814, British troops were marching toward Washington. Narrowly evading capture, Dolley Madison stayed at the White House to remove as many papers and treasures, most famously the 1797 Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington, as possible and send them to safety before leaving herself. The invading troops burned the White House. Only the exterior walls survived the attack. The first lady returned four days later to begin rebuilding.
topic: label: Subject
content: First Ladies
setName: label: See more items in
content: Political History: Political History, White House/First Ladies Collection
label: Exhibition
content: First Ladies
label: Exhibition Location
content: National Museum of American History
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Margaret Weir Thompson
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: PL.291357.01
label: catalog number
content: 291357.01
label: accession number
content: 291357
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Dress
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: pink (disjoint section color)
label: Physical Description
content: fabric, lace (disjoint section material)
label: Physical Description
content: silk (disjoint section material)
label: Physical Description
content: brocade (disjoint section production method/technique)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 55 in x 27 in x 27 in; 139.7 cm x 68.58 cm x 68.58 cm