Mennonite apron of bleached, plain-weave cotton and black two-ply silk embroidery. Apron is gathered at the top and sewn onto a waist band with a commercial tape string at each end.
At top center is a dark brown cross-stitched design of a central star flower on triangle base, surrounded by seven stars or crosses. The separated initials "M S" flank this design and large crosses flank initials. Three different embroidered borders of black silk combine with drawnwork at bottom above a one-inch self-fringe secured with black stitches.
Provenance
Purchased by donor from the Rev. Fred Weiser in 1997. Weiser notes there are about 15 aprons known; see article in Der Regebogge written "some years ago."
Staining around embroidered design and initials from bleeding embroidery, near top. Age discoloration with small stains overall. Stains along sides. Several thread "pulls". Areas of missing embroidery on three crosses at bottom. Small hole at lower right of design.
Conserved Nov. 1997 by Dorothy McCoach of Bethlehem, PA
Object ID
G.97.39.9
Place of Origin
Lancaster County
Credit
Gift of Hampton Randolph, Sr., Heritage Center Collection
Commercially-made Masonic Ceremonial Apron. Top is bound with blue twill tape extending 32 inches on both sides. Front of white lambskin with white leather tab that folds up. Back is blue polished cotton, folded to front to bind sides and bottom edge. Edges of tab also bound in blue cotton. In black ink, beneath flap, "Worn by David B. Willson, Sept. 26 A.D. 1873 - Dedication, New Masonic Temple, acting Junior Warden pro-tempore - Columbia Lodge, No. 186, Col'a Pa."
Dedication of New Masonic Temple, Columbia Lodge, No. 186
Masonic Manufacturing & Publishing, No. 31 S 4th St., Philadelphia
White bib apron (25% cotton/ 75% poly) to go with dress (2019.001.5 A). "Large" size apron has panels gathered with bib attached at waist both front and back. Front is buttoned to back on sides at waist. Two (7.5" long x 8" wide) pockets on front panel sides, 7 inches below waist band. Saint Joseph Hospital School of Nursing, Lancaster. Fashion Class-Mates.
2-piece white starched cotton apron: bib front (with label) & 3.5-inch wide shoulder straps that are pinned in the back to the 2.5-inch waist band of the gathered skirt. Tab attached to inside front center of waistband with stamped: "Attach Bib here". Bib is hand-stitched to tab. Skirt opens in back. 2 buttonholes with 2 different white 2-holed shell buttons. This apron is paired with dress, 2019.001.7 A. Saint Joseph Hospital School of Nursing, Lancaster.
Full front bibbed white cotton apron. Bands go over shoulders & are crossed in the back before they are pinned to the skirt. There are 2 buttonholes on each side of the waistband where the gathered skirt closes in the back. Bib is machine sewn to the skirt. Both have sewn-on labels in the front. Saint Joseph Hospital School of Nursing, Lancaster.
Floor-length white cotton apron with 6" high gathered bib machine sewn to 2.5-inch waist band for gathered skirt apron open in the back. 2 bands attached to bib go over shoulders & are crossed in the back before they are pinned to the skirt. There are 2 buttonholes on each side of the waist band. Labels sewn onto both bib & skirt in front. Saint Joseph Hospital School of Nursing, Lancaster.
