Annie Medora Taylor Richardson – My Great Grandmother Wearing Mantilla

“I know it’s here somewhere…”  I think for those of us who have a genetic proclivity for saving almost everything that comes into the house, those are the words we utter most frequently as we age – right up there with “I can’t find my keys…” and “I just saw them…”

Now that I am working on a seemingly endless project to inventory everything of significance in this house, I am making discoveries about items I squirreled away decades ago for safekeeping and ‘knew’ (though never tested that assuredness) that they were safely tucked away.  Yesterday I had one of those fabulous encounters – right on the (yuckily dusty) top shelf of my very own closet:  Two well sealed boxes with the following labels:

SMALL HAT BOX
This box contains clothing that belonged to Helen Medora Richardson Espy (1878-1954) and Harry Albert Espy (1876- 1958).

1. 1 black, hand embroidered scarf – wedding gift from Helen to Harry, November 24, 1897.
   

   Rachael Taylor’s Mantilla

2. 1 black lace mantilla – belonged to Annie Medora Taylor Richardson (1856-1902), Helen’s mother
3. 1 white knit, pearl studded fascinator (This may also have belonged to Helen’s mother.)
4. 1 full-length black lace undergarment
5. 1 pair white satin slippers – perhaps Helen’s wedding slippers – in black embroidered slipper bag

SUIT BOX
This box contains clothing that belonged to Helen Richardson Espy (1878-1954).

1. Linen handkerchief edged in hand-made lace
2. 1 pair of linen bloomers, lace trimmed
3. 1 corset
4. 1 shift, lace trimmed
5. 1 satin bodice with bow at front of neck and back of waist
6. 1 silk tucked-front bodice – this was the top to Helen’s wedding (1897) dress; made of Japanese silk which was gift from the Royal Family of Japan, as was the silk fabric for most of her trousseau.
   

Treasure Boxes

My task today is to unwrap each item, photograph it, prepare an identifying label, and paste photos and labels into a scrapbook – one of five, so far, documenting this houseful of ‘stuff’’ for posterity.  Another frequently asked question these days – “Why?  Why am I doing this?”  So far, there is no good answer.