The original documents are located in Box 10, folder “6/24/76 - Smithsonian Gown Presentation (2)” of the Sheila Weidenfeld Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Copyright Notice The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald R. Ford donated to the United States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections. Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Some items in this folder were not digitized because it contains copyrighted materials. Please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library for access to these materials.

Digitized from Box 10 of the Sheila Weidenfeld Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library

Betty Ford in the BO.W1'-' going to the Smith· &aman's First Ladies. Hall, ·photographed at the May, 1975, State Dinner the Fo.,ds gave for the Shah of Iran. Cut Out For History lJy Nina s: Hyde ' .· ~ .}.A/':ii-"l~.. :~.:;chtf!on -gow..h Mr$;~ordj iilte·other-~~t· owned by; Mrs~. Gerald Ford ;Ladies, ,receiyed a letter will be added to the First' from the · 'sm.IthsQnlari. re· Ladies Hall in the Smithso- nian Institution's Museum questing a gown shortlr a!· of History and Technology ter she moved into the next week. -·- - White House. Mrs. Ford de· Chosen. because it is one of /cided to make her don.atiozi :Mrs. Ford's favorite colors now so it can be installed (soft green) and cuts before the July 4 peak tour· (princess-line with a stand· Jst weekend. up neckline), the gown was For two months the cen­ worn to· the White House ' tral exhibits division of the State Dinner for the Shah of Smithsonian has been devel Iran in May, 1975, and on oping a mannequin to other occasions. Designed "wear" Mrs. Ford's gown. and mad1?'for py Created from measurements Frankie Welch of Alexan- provided by the White · drla, _the gown ill sequined House -and working with a chiffon, chosen to simulate muslin of the dress, the fabric Mrs. Ford brought mannequin will be the .same home from China. - physical size as Mr1.' !'ord,_ The First i;adies ;Hall, a. but will have the same clas­ popular visit!)~ll' ·attractiQil, s~cal £,ace of all the other is also the most popular ()'.)$· figures in :the. exhibits: tume collection in the coun. Mrs. Ford's hairstyle ·and try. shoes have been scwpted "It shares the ilamour and painted onto the manne- that surrounds the p0sltion quin. No other accenories of the IFlnt Lady. It is a will be shown ~ince Mrs. very personal glimpse of the Ford did ·not ca,n:y a bag First ta4Y," said Margaret when. she wore the dress. Klapthor, curator of the

I The Grand ~pi~ Pre., Thursday, JUly 8, 1976 3.9 is• history

HELEN HERRON 'Taft, First Lady from 1909 to 1913, was the first to give her gown to the Smithsonian collection. Page 2 THE SMITHSONIAN TORCH August 1876 First Lady Gives 'Favorite' Gown to Smithsonian Bicentennial By Linda St. Thomas Contest Winners One way to tell which exhibits are most popular at the Smithsonian is to check how Announced often the rugs wear out. Judging by the "oh's" and "ah's" of the Nearly 7,SOO Americans had ideas about guests and reporters at the unveiling of Mrs. Individual Freedoms in Our Society; Betty Ford's gown in the First Ladies Hall, American Arts and Culture; Science, the rug in front of her mannequin might be Technology, Energy and the Environment; worn out even before the Bicentennial is Family Life, Work and Leisure; and U.S. over. and the World. In a brief ceremony June 24, amidst flashing cameras, television lights and heavy They submitted these ideas to the "Toward security, Mrs. Ford donated her green chif­ Our Third Century" Bicentennial contest fon dress to the Museum of History and sponsored by California's Wells Fargo Bank Technology collection. in cooperation with the Smithsonian. "When I took visitors to the Smithsonian Essays, films and tapes, entered by peo over the past years, never in my wildest from all over the country and some citi dreams did I believe that someday I would be living abroad, were reviewed initially here myself," said Mrs. Ford. Wells Fargo staff and more than entries were passed on to the S4 revi "With today's addition," said Secretary the Smithsonian. Ripley, "the collection represents every ad­ Mrs. Ford poses with her mannequin in MHT's First Ladies Hall. ministration from President George Photo by John Wootf'n Dean Anderson, special as Washington to President Gerald R. Ford." The mannequin, "unveiled" from behind a For example, Mrs. Truman's matronly dress Charles Blitzer, Assistant S Most visitors to the Museum of History screen before Mrs. Ford spoke, was made to was unpopular with the visitors, compared History and Art, coordinated and Technology ask to be directed to the Mrs. Ford's size. It has been placed in the with others in the Hall. "So I contacted Mrs. and sent the best I 00 or so First Ladies Hall, added Mr. Ripley. "They replica of the White House East Room of the Truman and we decided to redress the national judges for a final de come not only to admire the handsome First Ladies Hall, joining the dresses of Mrs. mannequin in a light grey gown with thin The SS winners of the gowns, but because the gowns symbolize for Eisenhower, Mrs. Kennedy, Mrs: Johnson straps and lace applique which she had worn nounced jointly on JulY. them the women "1ho wore them, and the and Mrs. Nixon. to a formal dinner for Queen Juliana of the Ripley and Richard Co gown of the reigning First Lady is always the "Mrs. Ford's mannequin has been in the Netherlands. Wells Fargo. The top most popular dress in the collection." works since January," said Margaret But dresses are not changed without good $10,000 each for the be Secretary Ripley requested a gown worn Klapthor, curator in MHTs Division of reason. Many years ago, friends of Mrs. essay written by a pe by the present First Lady shortly after the Political History. "We duplicated her hair Coolidge told her that the red flapper dress best film or tape rec Fords entered the White House. color and style and the color of her eyes as was inappropriate for this collection. Mrs. Top three winne closely as possible in the polyester resin Klapthor wanted to keep the dress because it Category l (unde The designer of Mrs. Ford's dress was mannequin." was one of the best "period dresses" in the 1st • Arthur Ev~ Frankie Welch of Alexandria, and she Hall and was popular with the visitors. The attended the ceremony along with "We do not change the gowns in our First 2nd· Daniel Sr Ladies Hall very often," said Mrs. Klapthor. dress, a rose chiffon velvet, was left in the 3rd - Lois Ref descendents of President Monroe, Martha collection. Washington, and Benjamin Harrison. "Just think of all the historians, fashion Category II/ buffs, and dollmakers around the country Mannequins are arranged in eight period The dress, a princess style gown made of 1st· Sidney who would be set back by frequent changes settings to suggest the surroundings in which 2nd - Eric sequined chiffon, was made in the designer's in this collection." they were worn. Alexandria workshop. This was the first time 3rd - Phi' But the Smithsonian has changed a few The contemporary East Room setting, Categor a gown by a Washington area designer has dresses over the years. "I go to the Hall with the gown of Mrs. Ford, is still the most been displayed in the Hall. 1st· 1/ sometimes just to eavesdrop on the visitors' popular display. In the words of Secretary 2nd - Mrs. Ford wore the gown on four State comments and, of course. I read our letters Ripley, "It is a tribute to our First Lady that 3rd occasions, including a recent White House about the dresses," she. said. we regularly must replace the worn rugs in I dinner for King Juan Carlos II of Spain. The comments are not always flattering. front of the East Room display case." M ' t' GERALDINE SANDERSON PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF HISTORY ANO TECHNOLOGY TELEPHONE WASHINGTON, O .C . 201560 ( 202 ) 381-61586 L------~

I ;; -'.~ ,,,-w...... -Star Pllotosrapher Rme!!JUJ Mattlafi 1 fi-.1 . " ~,i::. fWc -~ • I' ,., A- Gown,:f-d~,..· . or. Ever. . •-..4 · ·:·1·~~1.C·i ~ Betty Ford yesterd~y, donated one ofberf;v/Or_: ~s to the SmitbSimian's First Ladies Hall, ; tbus 'achieving azrirtio/ortality shared by ·Onjy 37 other women. Ace~·for the institution was· SmithSonian Secreta.i-Y. s;:·mnon Ripley. Lacking an Inaugural gown;·Mis;:Ford presented-the:inu~ sewn with a pale- green; princess-style dress ·of ·sequined chiffon. Tbt?>gown, designed by Frimlde: . Welch of Alexandria; is embroidered witli.'C:Jiry.: Saiitbemums to simulate.fabric Mrs. -Ford'.~ l1 -Ce!Vc!d:m China. In ease you noticed the.1:hanne;, l -~~s striking Jack of.resemblance to Mi"S~.l[q~~·' ie's{po mistake (below). Each mannequm-:~­ sponds to the firsr.lady's physical size. anct.-bair stile.. All, however.. have the face - oF.Coideiia~. .,. . . - . (daughter of King Lear), sculpte4'in, lfJ.63, fJY Pierce F. Connelly; ..Mrs. Ford's dress will appear ~a period setting;with mannequins o!,.firs~

'Hadies Eisenhower; Kennedy, Johnsi:mt and ~·· Nbrlm. -~ High Tame ~ t, /A J.. I 7(o A(te~ wearing th~ gown on live state. /ccasions. Betty F'or& has decided to turn over her mint green princess-style chiffon gown to the Smithsonian for lb First.Lady Collection. A duplicate has been made for the Fll'St Lady who considers the design "timeless/'

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-0- WASHINGTON OJP I ) -- BETTY FORD WILL PRE SE NT HER FAVORITE MI NT GREEN PRINCESS STYLE CHIFFON GOWN TO THE FIRST LADY COLLECTION AT THE THURSDAY. THE GOWN , WITH ITS MODIFIED MANDARIN COLLAR, WAS DESIGNED BY F'RA NK IE WELCH 0 F ALEXANDR IA , VA • , WHO HAS MADE A DUPL !CATE Or IT FOR MRS • FORD • -0- ---"•'l'TnMC::

EVENT: THE PRESEmTATION OF A BALL GOWN BY MRS . GERALD R. FORD TO THE COLLECTION OF THE GOWNS OF THE FIRST LADIES . TIME: 3 P.M. LOCATION: NATIONAL MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY, CONSTITUTION AT 14TH sr., NW. 86 Thursday, July 1 1976 1st Lady's Gown byFrankie Displayed at Sril. hsonian First Lady Betty Ford made a gether; and ,they have been frien green and pink. These were gifts to choice which is typical ~f her when ever since. At that time Presiden guests at'tbe Smithsonian ceremony. she selected one o? her gowns to be Ford was in Congress. Mrs. Ford was The handkerchief was ilJspired by displayed for posterity in the Smith­ selected as one of WashingtQD's fash­ Mrs. Folld'.s official ~rf which she sonian Institution. ·· ionable women to model clothes from gives to visiting dignitaries. It bears With the uninhibited sincerity that ¥rs. Welch's Al~xandria s~p for a rs. Ford's signature ori a floral and is her trademark, Mrs. Ford selected news story-logical since au young olka dot backgrouna. Mri Welch this Bicentennial ye.ar a dress design­ womal\ Bet~y Ford work-e