This is a hand-sewn baby dress made by my great-grandmother for my grandmother to wear as a toddler around 1940 in Kansas. My grandmother's family lived a simple, working-class, farming life with several children. During this time, clothing wasn't often bought at stores, it was made with love and care. When we lived in Pennsylvania, my mom was given the dress from my grandmother so I could wear it as a baby. This dress shows my great-grandmother's resourcefulness as well as her desire to give her children something special and unique. This dress has been used and passed down through many generations. I am now the fourth generation in my family to care for it. To me, it's more than just fabric, but a symbol of my family's history, resilience, and values. In the 1940s, many families relied on skills such as sewing in their everyday lives and sought to pass these skills down to their children. This shows how Americans can be resourceful and show perseverance in their work. This heirloom shows how ordinary Americans lived through times of struggle and found a way to create beauty through perseverance and hard work. 

– AC

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more