Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
1996.04.20 |
Object Name |
Blouse |
Date |
c. 1910 |
Features |
Black lace over net with black satin inset centre front extending to turned down collar, neckline accented with ruffled black and white lace, long sleeves enriched by ruffles, with black satin band at elbow, lace extending below, makers label John Barker & Co. Ltd. Kensington, Blouse Specialist, net basque, c. 1910 |
Object Story |
This blouse was designed under the John Barker & Co. Ltd. clothing company in Kensington, in London, England. John Barker & Co. was founded by John Barker and James Whitehead in 1870. The company would soon expand into one of London's main shopping destinations becoming the Barkers of Kensington department store. In 1957 the store was bought by the House of Fraser and ran under the name until 2006 after which it was shutdown. This blouse was owned by Janet Bogart Conger in the 1900s. Janet was born in Belleville, Ontario 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 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, Frederick, 1869-c1929 Conger, Helena, c1864- Conger, Janet Bogart, 1839-1909 Conger, Jessie, c1862- Conger, Maude Seymour, 1860-1930 Conger, Peter Conger, Peter D. |
Subjects |
1890's 1900's Clothing & dress Costumes Socialites Wealth Wealthy people Widows Woman Women Writers |
Search Terms |
1890s 1900s Belleville Belleville Cemetery Costume, 1909, women France Napanee Paris |