The Margaret Bright Gallery of Class Dolls

This dress of light green chiffon is called a “handkerchief” dress with overlapping pointed sections for the skirt. Margaret Craig Martin remembers that Alumnae Director Mae Grimmer, '14, gave the doll to her to be dressed, and she got a Mrs. Beck to make the dress. She wrote that their Class Day dress had a short shoulder cape that they tied at the side. The pointed flounces were knee-length.

The dress is in the Godet style. The Class Day dresses were rainbow colors with a darker shade for the jacket. Madeline May Allen said that her dress was peachy apricot with an orangey jacket—all the brunettes chose that color! Others were blue, lavender, green, and even one white, which was used later for a wedding dress. Madeline found a photo that showed her in the Class Day dress, and this was most helpful as the dress was being copied for a replacement. The new dress was made of similar material and color as the original doll’s dress. The same belt buckle was used. The first doll dress was made from Anne Simms Haskins' Class Day dress.

Elizabeth Thornton Britton suggested that Edwina Martin Crowther dressed this doll and that it was like their Class Day dress.

Mildred Taylor Carraway dressed the 1933 doll. She wrote: "I don't remember that I had anyone helping me—but it has been a long time. I remember the class dresses as described by Hazel [Martin Lassiter]—rainbow colors, long, and ready made—and I might add, quite pretty."

Vara Lee Thornton remembered that Katharine David Ogburn dressed their doll. Katharine wrote: "I did dress our doll originally in 1935, using my own dress. I believe, though, that someone redressed her later. (I was not an expert seamstress.) The dress was pale green, long, self-color embroidery on dress—of silk voile—wide ruffles over shoulder of plain, same fabric. The dress was chosen by classmates from dresses worn by models (classmates). The entries were from different stores and the one selected was from an exclusive dress shop in Raleigh, Jean’s. It was quite a fashion show—music, etc.” We do not know who redressed the doll, but Mary Decie Luther Cuthrell said that her Class Day dress was used for the material.

This doll's outfit, bright yellow taffeta and net with self-covered buttons and hat, is like that of Class Day. At their 50th reunion in 1985, no one could recall who dressed the doll. Catherine Mosely Love was class agent.

Despite help from Martha Ann Riley Fisk and Dr. Norma Rose, we have been unable to discover who dressed this doll. Sonora Bland Benthall was class agent.

Mary Florence Sawyer Daniel reported that she helped dress the 1937 doll with help from Ruth Smith, Lucille Shearin, and Jennie Hanyen, Associate Professor of Home Economics, 1931-1965. Ruby Barrett Graham, Frances Woodard, and Lib Johnson Lassiter agreed that “the Class Day dresses were in pastel colors. Green, blue, and lavender we feel certain were used and probably pink (though it might have been yellow). The dresses came from either Ellisberg's or Jean's."

Jean Lightfoot Newton said that their Class Day dresses came from Ellisberg's.

Nellie Ball Roberts wrote that she dressed the 1939 doll: "The dress was a replica of the Class Day dresses of that year, which were all alike. The material and style were the same as the dresses. I remember how afraid I was that our doll wouldn't measure up!" Wearing a pink dress with long skirt and jacket, it did measure up, beautifully. Mary Kate Collier Williamson added that several pastel colors were used for Class Day dresses.