Mary Lincoln Dress Now on Display at ALPLM

Visitors to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum now have the opportunity to view a rare piece of history associated with the Lincoln family. A dress worn by Mary Todd Lincoln has been placed on display as part of the museum’s ongoing exhibit, Lincoln: A Life and Legacy that Defined a Nation.

The dress, often referred to as the “strawberry dress” because of its embroidered berry and leaf pattern, is one of the few surviving garments connected to Mary Lincoln that can be linked to historical photographs. Its survival and documentation make it an important artifact within the museum’s collection and a notable item for historians studying the Lincoln family and the culture of the period.

The garment has a long history tied to Illinois. After Mary Lincoln’s lifetime, the dress remained with members of her extended family for many years before eventually being donated to the State of Illinois in 1963. Since that time it has been preserved within the state’s historical collections.

Because of the age and fragility of the fabric, the dress cannot be displayed often. Curators must carefully control lighting and environmental conditions to prevent damage. As a result, public appearances of the dress are infrequent. It was previously displayed in 2011 and before that in 1985, making the current display a relatively rare opportunity for visitors to see the garment.

Officials with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum say clothing can offer a personal connection to people from the past that written documents alone cannot provide.

Christina Shutt, executive director of the institution, noted that garments such as this one help tell the story of Mary Lincoln’s life and allow visitors to better understand her experiences during a period that included the Civil War and the immense pressures placed on the First Family.

Museum staff also point to the dress as an example of how Mary Lincoln presented herself publicly while living in Washington. Ian Hunt, the museum’s head of acquisitions, said Mary Lincoln was aware that she and President Abraham Lincoln were being closely observed after arriving in the capital from Illinois. Her wardrobe reflected an effort to appear fashionable and confident in the highly visible environment of the White House.

The strawberry dress is currently included in the museum’s broader exhibit examining Abraham Lincoln’s life and the lasting influence of his presidency. The display brings together a range of historical objects and documents to provide visitors with a deeper understanding of the people and events that shaped the nation during Lincoln’s time.

The dress will remain on display at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum through April 26 before being returned to storage for preservation. Museum officials encourage those interested in Lincoln history to take advantage of the limited opportunity to see the artifact while it is publicly exhibited.