– Fashions of the Titanic Era –

SECTION C THE STATE JOURNAL Ap RiL 15, 2012 Spectrum El EgancE and OpulEncE – Fashions of the Titanic Era – By Beth Caffery Carter Curator of ColleCtions When and liberty Hall HistoriC site Where to Go hen the Titanic set out on its “Elegance & Opulence: Fashions of the maiden voyage, the ship car- Titanic Era” from Liberty Hall Historic Site ried 324 first-class passengers. These were members of Collections is on exhibit at the Orlando BritishW and American high society, and 145 Brown House, 202 Wilkinson St., through of them were women. They were of an up- June 23 and is free admission. The hours per class that lived a life of leisure and were are Tuesday-Saturday, 10a.m.-4:30 p.m. aware of conspicuous con- sumption, or buying goods mainly for dis- great deal about what people playing wealth. she socialized with, what With 2012 people were wearing, and marking the what she purchased. 100th anni- She wrote about versary of the buying a dress in Italy sinking of Ti- in May 1908: “I com- tanic, Liberty mitted the indiscre- Hall Historic tion a week ago of hav- Site will be ex- ing – or rather begin- hibiting several ning to have – a white of the gowns linen dress made. Lil is that belonged also having one so we to the Brown go together for the fit- family dur- tings & oh the worry of it ing this era for they are never ready and show how and our precious time is a woman of so- wasted…” ciety from Frank- Mary Yoder Brown Scott fort would have traveled back to New York dressed, particularly on from Liverpool in July 1908 their own ocean sail- aboard the White Star Line SS ing trips to Europe, in Baltic. The Baltic sailed be- “Elegance & Opulence: tween 1904 and 1933. It was Fashions of the Titanic the largest ship in the world Era” from the Liberty until 1905. Hall Historic Site Collec- Perhaps the most famous tions. White Star Line ship is the Titanic. Knowing your Icebergs and place in society entertainment Mary Yoder Brown Scott, John and Margaret- Mrs. Scott returned to ta Brown’s granddaugh- Europe in 1911, this time ter, visited Europe in 1908 with her daughter, Mary and in 1911. Her daughter, Mason “Mame” Scott. Our knowledge of this trip Mary Mason Scott, trav- comes from a journal kept eled with her in 1911. Both by Mame. Before their de- of these women were ex- parture on Aug. 5, 1911, cited for the cultural and Mrs. Scott and Mame en- historic sites that they were joy breakfast and lunch at about to see, but they were the Waldorf and a trip to also eager to socialize, shop, Tiffany’s diamond and and enjoy some fine dining. china. They board the In 1908, Mary Yoder SS California and set photos suBmittEd Brown Scott traveled with sail for Europe. her niece, Lillian Mason Mame was eager TOP : mary Yoder Brown scott Brown. She wrote several for her journey letters back home discuss- and wrote, feeding pigeons in st. mark’s ing her shopping excur- square, Venice, italy in 1908. sions, sight seeing, and the latest gossip. Before boarding the ship, Mrs. Scott visited ABoVE: here’s an image first- family in New York City class bedroom suite B58 on and stayed at The Waldorf the titanic. (ulster Folk and Astoria and the Park Ave- transport museum). nue Hotel. She wrote to her sisters Black silk satin, chiffon, and sequin at Liberty Hall and said, “The evening dress that belonged to LEFt: this is the front of a “There are only 80 first- Columbia’s Eliza Brown Baily that dates to passenger list booklet that class passengers so I don’t around 1913. collision with iceberg on doubt I will get a room to 4th raises hopes of see- contains the names of all first- myself.” ing one of these bergs.” class passengers aboard the Mrs. Scott was aware of her status as a The anchor liner Columbia had struck an ss Baltic that departed from first-class passenger. Before departing, she iceberg just before the Scotts’ trip, twist- Liverpool to New York on July wrote to her daughter: ing the ship’s bow, but no passengers were 23, 1908. mary Yoder Brown “While I was at dinner Eben[ezer] came endangered, and the ship arrived safely in scott’s name is listed in this in to tell me there was a letter for me in my New York. book. room telling me a double room was at my Transatlantic liners were warned to pro- disposal or disposition, which ever it is. ceed with caution, but Mame holds out Wasn’t it nice of him. And the captain is to hope of seeing an iceberg. She does see one take care of me at every stopping place. So on Aug. 8, 1911: “Fog very heavy in evening, you see that Lillian and I are to be very com- passed spot where Columbia rammed ice- fortable indeed, as people of distinction (so berg.” Eben said) should be.” Mame makes notes of what she ob- Mrs. Scott and Lillian crossed the Atlan- serves while on the California. She sees tic on the SS Dampfers, a steamship oper- several other steamboats and sailing ships, ated by the Hamburg-American Line. The whales, porpoises, birds, and of course, ladies visited several countries including Spain, France, and Italy. Mrs. Scott wrote a s ee titaniC, C2 C M Y K C M Y K.

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