Bertha E. Butts sewing scrapbook and dress
Scope and Contents
The Bertha E. Butts collection contains 2 items: a sewing scrapbook and dress. Butts created both while enrolled in a dressmaking course at the Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics Institute in 1904. The scrapbook includes fabric samples of sewing stitches and techniques, 14 pencil sketches documenting the making of her dress, and a written sewing test (she scored 98).
Dates
- Creation: 1904
Creator
- Butts, Bertha E. (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open to researchers.
Biographical / Historical
Bertha E. Butts (1882-1963) was born June 30, 1882 to Frank Lyman and Hattie Green Butts in Sodus, New York. One of ten children in the Butts family, she attended school at the Sodus Academy and in 1904, enrolled in a dressmaking course at the Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics Institute. Butts worked as a seamstress in Sodus and later, in Washington, D.C. There, she also operated three cafeterias, one of which she co-owned with her sister, Mrs. Victor Tapke.
Bertha E. Butts died December 27, 1963 in Chevy Chase, Maryland. She is buried in Sodus Rural Cemetery.
Extent
1.9 Linear Feet (1 clamshell box, 1 lid box)
Language
English
Overview
Materials related to Bertha E. Butts, dressmaking student in the Department of Household Arts and Science at the Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics Institute in 1904. The collection includes a sewing sample scrapbook and dress made for class.
Arrangement
The dress and scrapbook reside in separate boxes.
Physical Location
C.S. South, Shelf 327
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Accession number(s):
08:31
The collection was donated to RIT Archives by Bertha's niece, Mary Helen Joint in July 2008.
Processing Information
Finding aid created by Amy Vilz in July 2011.
Subject
- Title
- Bertha E. Butts sewing scrapbook and dress
- Status
- Published
- Subtitle
- RIT Archives
- Author
- Amy Vilz
- Date
- 18 July 2011
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the RIT Archives Repository
