Navarre Dress
MediumCotton
Dimensions116.8 cm x 55.9 cm 23"x45"
Classifications3D Object
Object number2000.060.02
DescriptionPotawatomi dress owned and worn by Eva L. Navarre, Viola A. Navarre and granddaughter Gladys B. Small (who donated the items). Item is comprised of a light brown (tan) cotton material (commodity sack). It is a full length dress with short sleeves. At the end of the dress and the sleeves the dress was cut to make approx. 1/2 inch wide fringe. In between the cut fringe pieces are pieces of yarn that have been pulled through and tied to create more fringe. The yarn is white, orange and green on the bottom and white, orange and red on the sleeves. Along the bottom, above the fringe, is a row of large diamond shaped pieces comprised of black fabric with green yarn on the outside edge, yellow fabric with red yarn inside of that, green (mint) fabric with white yarn inside of that and red fabric with orange and white yarn in the middle. There are crosses made out of orange yarn in the very middle. In between each diamond shape are tassels of thick red yarn. Above the larger diamond shapes is a row of smaller diamonds. These are comprised of the green (mint) fabric with red and white yarn on the outside edge, yellow fabric with green and black yarn on the inside of that and in the middle is red fabric with orange and white yarn. In the very middle are crosses made of orange yarn. At the bottom tip of each is a tassel made of red, orange and black yarn. Above and in between each is a tassel of white yarn. Around the neck of the dress are diamond shapes made of brown fabric with red yarn and white thread on the outside edge, yellow fabric with orange and red yarn inside of that, and red fabric with blue yarn and white thread in the middle. In the very middle is a cross made of blue yarn. At one side tip and the bottom tip of each there is a tassel made of white yarn. The neck is trimmed with red and white yarn. The front middle diamond has a small tassel of brown and translucent purple beads hanging from white fringe. Each sleeve has a row of diamond shapes above the fringed area. The diamonds are comprised of blue material with red and white yarn on the outside edge, yellow fabric with blue and red yarn on the inside of that, and red fabric with orange and white yarn in the middle. There is a cross made out of orange yarn in the very middle. The item has various places where there is loose yarn and threads. There are various stains throughout. The fabrics are all frayed. There are holes throughout. The item is very creased and wrinkled. Handwritten note in physical file reads, "dress worn by Eva Lena Navarre Oct 1882 Rossville Kans. Territory". Original excel sheet for item reads, "dress is a part of a 3 part grouping that was gifted to CPN Dec 12, 1985 by Gladys B. Small. The other 2 items are a pair of moccasins and pair of leggings made from old commodity grain sacks. Gift agreement is in file. Handwritten note says dress was worn by Eva Lena Navarre".Collections