Balch House, Oak Park, Illinois, United States

Access: Use of this item is restricted to the UNT Community
The facade of the house is horizontal in orientation and the surface treatment appears to be a beige stucco with heavy wood trim.
Date: 1911
Creator: Wright, Frank Lloyd
System: The UNT Digital Library

Balch House, Oak Park, Illinois, United States

Access: Use of this item is restricted to the UNT Community
The interior of the house features heavy use of wood and brick.
Date: 1911
Creator: Wright, Frank Lloyd
System: The UNT Digital Library

Purse

Purse of gunmetal mesh, suitable for afternoon use. Rectangular frame, plain polished gunmetal / steel frame with ball/snap closure and matching chain of elongated links. Body of purse formed of gunmetal / steel mesh, with linked chain latticework along bottom edge, terminating in small spheres. Inside of frame is engraved "Bessie H. Brown" and "Dallas Texas 4205 Swiss Avenue" Measurements: 26 cm. from top of clasp to bottom of fringe; 19.5 cm at widest part of bag.
Date: 1912
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library

Purse

Silver mesh purse with cathedral arch frame etched with scroll filigree. Ball and socket clasp. Ball finials at each corner of tri-corner bottom. Mesh band handle with slide adjustment stamped with a four petal flower. Interior of frame stamped: "Mesh / Whiting & Davis / Bags" and "Sterling"
Date: 1910/1919
Creator: Whiting & Davis Co.
System: The UNT Digital Library

Felt cowboy-style hat

Hat of light tan felt in cowboy style. Black grosgrain trim around brim and as hatband. Headband of brown leather; unlined.
Date: 1910/1919
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library

Picture hat

Picture/mousquetaire style hat of violet silk over purple straw body. The low, domed crown is surrounded by a wide brim, and overlaid by two wide, dyed violet ostrich feathers. The underside of the brim the lighter colored violet woven straw body of the hat. The crown is lined in black taffeta fabric and has an attached cord to help secure hat to wearer's head. Retailer's label sewn inside crown: "Sanger Bros / Dallas and Waco / Texas"
Date: 1917
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library

Paper dress

Young girl's party dress of yellow heavy crepe paper over white cotton(?). “Paper dress” is knee-length, sleeveless, with rounded neckline and wide straps. A-line under-layer of white cotton is overlaid by 7 wide horizontal tiers of yellow heavy crepe paper “petals”. Center-back opening with single tiny circular white button at neckline. No labels visible in garment.
Date: 1915/1925
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library

Riding habit

Riding Habit. A) Jacket of brown wool; green lining; Full sleeves B) Bloomers/pants of brown wool.
Date: 1910
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library

Detachable collar

Man's detachable collar. Plain off-white weave fabric. Stamped on reverse: "Trade Ide Mark / Elite Quality" "3055" "Montcalm / Geo. P. Ide & Co. Inc. / U.S.A." "16 1/2"
Date: 1910/1919
Creator: George P. Ide & Co.
System: The UNT Digital Library

Detachable collar

Man's detachable collar. Plain off-white fabric over card(?). Stamped on reverse: "Trade Ide Mark / Geo. P. Ide & Co. / U.S.A." "Clarion / Linocord buttonholes" "14"
Date: 1910/1919
Creator: George P. Ide & Co.
System: The UNT Digital Library

Detachable collar

Man's detachable collar. Plain off-white fabric over card(?). Stamped on reverse: "Trade Ide Mark / Geo. P. Ide & Co. / U.S.A." "Clarion / Linocord buttonholes / 2875" "14"
Date: 1910/1919
Creator: George P. Ide & Co.
System: The UNT Digital Library

Detachable collar

Three button-hole, pointed, linen detachable collar in window pane jacquard design. Size 15 1/4. Stamped on interior: "Trade Mark / Ide Silver Collars" "Caxton / Geo. P. Ide & Co. / U.S.A" "Linocord Buttonholes / Reg. US Pat. Off. / 4506"
Date: 1910/1919
Creator: George P. Ide & Co.
System: The UNT Digital Library

Detachable collar

Man's detachable collar. Plain off-white weave fabric. Stamped on reverse: "Trade Ide Mark / Elite Quality" "3055" "Montcalm / Geo. P. Ide & Co. Inc. / U.S.A." "16 1/2"
Date: 1910/1919
Creator: George P. Ide & Co.
System: The UNT Digital Library

Picture Hat

Picture hat of black velvet with domed crown and wide brim edged in black satin. Hatband of pleated black satin. Bright green ostrich feathers on left side of crown. Lined in pink fabric. Designer's label: "Mae Kelley / Exclusive Hand Made Hats / Whittier, Calif." Retailer's label: "Yvonne / Hats / California"
Date: 1910
Creator: Kelley, Mae
System: The UNT Digital Library

Infant's Dress

Infant's dress of white cotton batiste with lace surrounds. Full length with short, puffed sleeves. High waist gathers at yoke. Yoke and sleeves trimmed in lace. Yoke is constructed of cut-out pieces and is embroidered in white vine and floral design. Hem has five rows of pin tucks above a 2-1/2" ruffle trimmed in satin-stitched dots along the bottom. Center back opening with two tiny mother-of-pearl buttons; third, top button is missing. Unlined.
Date: 1913
Creator: Torrance, Mary Sleeper
System: The UNT Digital Library

Child's dress

A) Infant's dress of white batiste cotton. Yoke has rounded neckline with tatted lace and floral embroidered inserts. Short puffed sleeves are trimmed in tatted lace. Skirt has insert of floral embroidered batiste between two rows of tatted lace; pin tucking above inserts and at ruffled hemline trimmed with tatted lace. Center back opening with snap closure; snaps missing. Unlined. B) Slip of white batiste cotton. Sleeveless with wide rounded neckline; bordered in tatted lace. Bodice embroidered in floral pattern with embroidered bow at the center. Gathered waist. Skirt with tucks and insert of tatted lace and tatted lace at hem. Center back closure of four mother-of-pearl buttons and button at each shoulder (buttons at shoulders missing).
Date: 1912
Creator: Rowland, Carrie M.
System: The UNT Digital Library

Hat

Hat of ivory/ecru panne velvet, black fur, ivory lace, and a black plume. The crown is of low, crushed ivory or ecrue panne velvet, with a lower border of black fur. The wide brim had an inner wire framework covered with ivory lace, edged with the same black fur. Extending from lower edge of crown at side to off of the edge of the brim is a large black plume. Crown is lined with ivory/ecru satin, with gathered section at center. There are no labels in the hat. Gift of Margaret Baker. From the trousseau of Mrs. Thomas Elmer Braniff.
Date: 1912
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library

Girl's Dress

Small girl's dress of fine white cotton or linen. Wide lace ruffle borders small yoke of lace and net. Short puffed sleeves trimmed with matching lace. Dress falls full from gathering under yoke ruffle with three rows of fine tucks, two rows of lace inserts and matching lace border at hem.
Date: 1910
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library

Mitts

Pair of ivory cotton or silk mitts. The elbow-length fingerless gloves are of crocheted ivory material in the style of the 1860s. The long sleeves have bands of lacework patterning. The hands are fingerless, with cording between where fingers would go, and an oval opening for the thumb.
Date: 1916
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library

Linen petticoat

Fine white handkerchief linen petticoat, with outer flounce of embroidered sections joined with lace bands and ruffle. 26" waist.
Date: 1910/1915
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library

Wedding skirt

Chinese Wedding Skirt for a Member of the Court. Mid-calf length wrap-style skirt comprised of two panels of red brocade silk with chrysanthemum pattern attached to 2.25" waistband of green wool; panels connect with interior button of green wool and skirt is secured with ties of green wool that wrap around the waistband. Panels are unadorned where wrap overlaps and finely pleated where panel is visible. On pleated sections are long strips of dark blue silk piped and backed in light blue silk; strips are decorated with silk and metallic embroidery with floral, dragon, and geometric designs, and at the bottom each strip has a modified fleur-de-lis shape and two silk tassels, one of lavender and the other turquoise. Inset into each side section of skirt are rectangular bands of floral embroidery in silk threads on white silk cloth. The bottom of the skirt has a bands of white and blue silk with embroidery, which are also pleated where visible. Primary background cloth of skirt is red silk. Side panels are lined with turquoise silk fabric. Inside labels from Neiman Marcus and The People’s Republic of China indicate the skirt was probably bought during an Asian Fortnight in 1962 or …
Date: 1911/1930
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library

Purse

Purse. Ornate bell-shaped silver (plated?) frame with openwork latticework set with red and blue cabochons and with silver (plated?) chain. Body of purse is of crocheted gray with vertical stripes of horizontal rows of faceted blue beads. Bottom of bag with fringe formed of loops of matching beading. Lined in gray satin with roses and vine trim.
Date: 1910/1920
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library

Hat

Small cartwheel-style hat. Cylindrical crown of gold and ochre/brown brocade with irregular folds. Circular stiff brown velour brim, not as wide as a typical cartwheel hat but in the same style. Affixed to the crown near the brim on one side is a cluster of three cloth flowers and a sprig of cloth leaves. Affixed to the other side is a plume of brown ostrich feathers. Inside of crown lined in black silk. Embroidered inside crown is maker's marks, including an oval frame containing a monogram, possibly RSCM, and "Gold Medal / Pattern"
Date: 1910/1920
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library

Boy's Suit (Jacket and Pants)

Boy's suit of olive green wool tweed with gold flecks and small blue and white vertical stripes. A) Jacket. Triangular, placket front is bordered with black twill tape and has a vertical, center insert of red wool bordered with black braid. Four gilded brass buttons on each side of placket with right side closure having tailored buttonholes. 1-1/2" belt of self attaches at bottom button. Long, set-in sleeves are trimmed with two, smaller, nonfunctional matching buttons. Turn down collar closes with 2 hook & eyes. Bow tie of black silk faille. Horizontal, double welt pockets at side. Body of jacket is lined with black polished cotton and sleeves are lined in cotton fabric in stripes of light gray with thin green stripes. B) Short pants of matching tweed. Closes with a single brown button on each side of waist above pockets. Single slit pocket on the back at right. Sides of legs trimmed with 3 matching, nonfunctional buttons. Interior cotton satin waistband has 8 vertical buttonholes and is stamped: "Aletor(?) Waist Band / Patented / June 29, 1896 / 3 / Brooklyn, N. Y." Front lined in brown polished cotton.
Date: 1910
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library