Child's dress

Child's dress

Child's dress

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Introduction

Child's dress, cotton and plaid, Mistassini-Cree pre-1954. Collected by William F. Stiles.

Reasons for connecting this relative with particular nation(s)

Cath Oberholtzer, "Material Culture of Mistissini-Cree Local Expression or Regional Style?" Papers of the Thirty-sixth Algonquian Conference. Christoph Wolfart, editor. Winnipeg: University of Manitoba, 312.

Date Made or Date Range: 1900s to 1954
Materials

Made of cotton, plaid, cotton thread?

Techniques or Format

Top is constructed with two different cotton prints. "Slash" front with no buttons, collar and sleeves bound with red print, front placket bound with blue print. All machine stitched.

Original and Subsequent Uses

Child's dress used in everyday wear.

Other Notes

Cath Oberholtzer notes, "In general, the composition of early collections emphasized a curatorial interest in the exotic aspects of the "other," eschewing those items exhibiting European influences. While hints of changing philosophies begin with Speck's collections, his encouragement in having indigenous items replicated or made to reflect the way they had been made in the past underscores the collecting mandates until the 1950s" (Oberholtzer 2005: 293). Interestingly, this dress is of European design and as Cath Oberholtzer suggests, reflects an effort to collect items that conveyed the reality of Mistassini peoples. Many of the items collected, along with this dress, are worn out, indicating their use. Cath Oberholtzer, "Material Culture of the Eeyou (Mistissini-Eastern James Bay Quebec Cree) Local Expression or Regional Style?" Papers of the Thirty-sixth Algonquian Conference. Christoph Wolfart, editor. Winnipeg: University of Manitoba. pp. 287-321.

Condition: good
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

NMAI catalogue card.

Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 22/4084
Date Relative was First Removed or Collected from its Community Context: 1900s to 1954
GKS Reference Number: 26330
How to Cite this Item

Item to be cited by Catalog Number, Collection and Institution.

Record Creation Context

Record created as part of practicum fall 2008.