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Tudor Place
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TUDOR PLACE | OPEN. Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Sunday Noon – 4 p.m. Click for info.

Costume, Furnishing Textiles & Needlework

The abundant textile collection includes over 3,000 examples of historic and modern clothing and furnishing textiles such as upholstery, window treatments, floor coverings, quilts, bed and table linens. Among its earliest items are 50 complete or fragmentary 18th-century pieces associated with the Washington family, including one of Martha Washington’s twelve shell-shaped, needlepoint cushions and two late 18th-century wool rose blankets. Another early piece is the ca. 1790 silk needlework picture embroidered by Elizabeth Peter Dunlop, the sister of Tudor Place builder Thomas Peter.

In household furnishings, the collection includes extensive holdings of 19th-century table linens; early printed, cotton bed hangings; several sets of early-to-mid 20th-century window treatment;, and finely woven cotton bed linens.

Floor coverings include two fragments of 19th-century English woven rugs, and more than 35 late 19th-century hand-knotted and -woven rugs from southwest Asia.

The costume collection includes 1,500 examples of men’s, women’s and children’s apparel that offer insights into public and private customs; the cost and availability of materials; the impact of technological innovations like the sewing machine; and the strictures of climate and geography on fashion in Washington, DC. Changes in style details, such as the fluctuation of waistlines and hemlines, yield insights into changing social roles, such as the migration of women from the domestic sphere.

The collection’s nearly 100 pairs of shoes showcase both luxury and labor in the history of six generations of wearers.

The costume collection’s strength lies in its variety. Some 19th-century highlights include hand-sewn garments dating to Tudor Place’s founding generation, such as Martha Peter’s ca. 1800 Empire-style silk gauze dress with matching rose-colored silk shawl. From the 1840s, there is Britannia Peter Kennon’s wedding dress, and from the two decades following, boldly patterned ladies’ bodices. Over 40 pieces of clothing worn as a child by Anna Williams Peter illustrate childhood and maternity in the 1870s and complement the moiré silk wedding dress she wore in 1894.

The 20th-century costume collection draws from the wardrobes of Caroline Ogden-Jones Peter and her husband, Armistead Peter 3rd, and features couture, accessories, and popular styles from the 1920s to ‘60s. Examples from the Parisian couturier House of Lanvin include a stunning fall 1920 robe de style and an early 1930s embroidered wool bathing suit. French accessories include a matching leather jacket and cloche hat by Hermès, and a silk scarf by Rodier. Caroline’s acquisition of these high quality tailored goods reflects the retail history of these labels as well as other brands acquired in department stores such as Washington, DC’s Julius Garfinckel’s & Company and Bergdorf Goodman in New York City.

Evening Dress (Robe de Style) Jeanne Lanvin, Paris, Fall 1920 Silk taffeta, tulle, beads, pearls and rhinestones 8839

Bathing Costume Lanvin Sport, Paris, ca. 1930 wool, cotton, bakelite 81044

Evening Dress Silk, Cotton, Iron Maker unknown, American Retailed by Hilton, Hughes & Co., NY, 1894 8892ab

Wedding Dress Unknown maker, ca. 1841-42 Silk, Cotton 8999

Quilt Made by Britannia W. Peter, Georgetown, D.C., ca. 1830 Block-printed Cotton, Cotton Batting 8066

Woman’s Hat Made by Milgrim, Retailed in New York City, ca. 1935-1950 Wool felt, silk, grosgrain ribbon, netting 8598

Needlework picture Attr. to Elizabeth Peter Dunlop, Georgetown, D.C,. ca. 1790 Silk threads on silk ground 2004.8001

Pair of Slippers Leather soles and uppers with plain-woven linen insole. Made in the United States or England, ca. 1790 – 1810. 8729.01-.02

U.S. Naval Uniform blouse. Unknown maker, ca. 1917 Wool, cotton 81018.01a

Baby Boots Probably made and retailed in America, ca. 1872 – 73. Leather soles and uppers, cotton lining, glass buttons TT661.

Mourning Ensemble (bodice and skirt) Moschocowitz Bros, NY, 1895-99 Silk, Tulle, Lace, Sequins, Glass Beads, Velvet 8118.01ab

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  • Slavery at Tudor Place
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WHAT'S NEW

In The News

Tudor Place one of top 13 unique Washington DC Wedding Venues

January 25, 2023/by Janet Wall
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From The Blog

Connecting with descendants of John Luckett: A Conversation with Karl Haynes

November 10, 2022/by Janet Wall
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https://tudorplace.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2020-01-23-300x155.png 0 0 Janet Wall https://tudorplace.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2020-01-23-300x155.png Janet Wall2022-11-10 16:10:512022-11-10 16:40:08Connecting with descendants of John Luckett: A Conversation with Karl Haynes

Education at Home

Craft: Bee Finger Puppet

August 2, 2022/by Janet Wall
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Bleeding Hearts, bright pink heart shaped flower

From the Archives with Love

December 22, 2022
February 11, 2023
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https://tudorplace.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WIth-Love-from-the-Archives_02.11.22.jpg 2560 1280 Janet Wall https://tudorplace.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2020-01-23-300x155.png Janet Wall2022-12-22 14:03:402023-01-10 12:42:33From the Archives with Love

Landmark Lecture: Museum J.E.D.I. The Intersection of Museums & Social Justice

January 26, 2023
March 7, 2023
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https://tudorplace.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/OmarEatonMartinez.png 498 500 Janet Wall https://tudorplace.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2020-01-23-300x155.png Janet Wall2023-01-26 13:10:462023-02-02 13:50:39Landmark Lecture: Museum J.E.D.I. The Intersection of Museums & Social Justice

Tudor Tots: Who’s Feeling Lucky?

December 21, 2022
March 8, 2023
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https://tudorplace.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_0318-1-scaled.jpg 1707 2560 Comms2018 https://tudorplace.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2020-01-23-300x155.png Comms20182022-12-21 09:15:352022-12-21 09:26:34Tudor Tots: Who’s Feeling Lucky?

Tudor Nights: The Feminine Touch: Celebrating Works of Art Created by Women

November 18, 2022
March 9, 2023
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https://tudorplace.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/March9TudorNightsPhotoRecropped-1.jpg 518 891 Comms2018 https://tudorplace.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2020-01-23-300x155.png Comms20182022-11-18 15:19:542023-02-06 14:39:28Tudor Nights: The Feminine Touch: Celebrating Works of Art Created by Women
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SLAVERY AT TUDOR PLACE

As an historic site that bears the scars of slavery, Tudor Place seeks to look this injustice in the eye.  Click here to learn more.

  • About

    • Our Story
    • Staff & Leadership
    • Jobs, Internships & Volunteering
    • For Neighbors
    • Annual Reports
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  • Other

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Advance registration encouraged; suggested donation. Click for info.

1644 31st Street, NW | Washington, DC 20007
202-965-0400 | info@tudorplace.org

  • About

    • Our Story
    • Staff & Leadership
    • Jobs, Internships & Volunteering
    • For Neighbors
    • Annual Reports
    • Preservation
  • Visit

    • Plan Your Visit
    • Parking & Directions
    • FAQ & Accessibility
    • Group Tours
    • Shop
    • Virtual Tour
  • Calendar

  • Museum & Collection

    • History
    • Collection
    • Slavery at Tudor Place
    • Domestic Servants
    • Archive
    • Learn
  • Garden

    • History
    • Explore
    • What’s Blooming
  • Other

    • Rentals
    • Education
    • Join & Give
    • Contact
    • Tickets
    • Donate
    • Membership

Advance registration encouraged; suggested donation. Click for info.

1644 31st Street, NW | Washington, DC 20007
202-965-0400 | info@tudorplace.org

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