Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
1996.04.02 |
Object Name |
Dress |
Date |
c.1895 |
Features |
c.1895, taffeta bodice and skirt joined, slightly pointed waist, round neckline trimmed with cream colored lace, large leg-of-mutton sleeve, trained skirt with v shaped front opening revealing decorative overskirt (vertical pointed panels, alternating with lace), brilliant green satin interior flounce attached to lighter green band, skirt waist band and strap inside, bodice embroidered Henry Morgan and Company, Montreal |
Object Story |
This dress was made for Henry Morgan and Company clothing company based in Montreal. Colloquially known as Morgan's, the company was founded by Henry Morgan and his business partner David Smith in 1845. At its peak, the company owned 11 stores across Ontario and Quebec. In 1960 the company was bought by the Hudson's Bay Company and the stores were renamed as such. In terms of material this dress is made of lace and taffeta which was a very popular material in the late 1890s that is made of woven silk. This dress was worn by Janet Bogart Conger in 1895. Janet was born in Belleville in 1839 to Abraham L. and Isabella (nee Young) Bogart. In 1857 Janet married Peter de Sidnia Conger on November 19th in Belleville who owned the Conger Coal Company in Toronto and eventually became the mayor of Belleville. The two had 4 children, Maude in 1860, Jessie in 1862, Helena in 1864 and finally Fredrick in 1869. 10 years later, in 1879, Peter was in a train accident which caused irreparable damage to him which he reportedly never recovered from. Said damage may have been the cause of his heart attack 6 years later which resulted in his death. After Peter's death Janet became a very wealthy widow and took to travelling to New York and France. In her free time Janet became a writer and a socialite. After returning to Napanee, Janet met and married her second husband Dr. William Cox Allen who was previously the mayor of Cornwall. William died in 1901 followed by Janet on March 17th, 1909. After her death Janet was buried beside her first husband Peter in Belleville Cemetery. |
People |
Conger, Janet Bogart, 1839-1909 Conger, Jessie, c1862- Conger, Helena, c1864- Conger, Maude Seymour, 1860-1930 Conger, Peter Conger, Peter D. Conger, Frederick, 1869-c1929 |
Subjects |
1890's 1900's Woman Women Costumes Clothing & dress Widows Wealth Wealthy people Writers Socialites |
Search Terms |
Belleville Belleville Cemetery Napanee Montreal Montreal, Qc France Paris 1890s 1900s Costume, 1900 |