Collections record Beta

Dress

2013-110-10

White cotton child's christening dress; long sleeves with eyelet lace edge and fabric button; high neck with eyelet lace; bodice with drop shoulders and vertical pleats; ties at waist to tie in the back; drawstring at the beck and fabric button closure at center back

Oswald W. Marrin Jr. was christened wearing this christening dress in Litchfield, CT in 1919. Oswald Wright Marrin Jr. (1919-2007) was born in New York City and lived in Litchfield. After graduating from Brown University in 1942 he joined the U.S. Marines. He was discharged in 1946. He worked at Scovill Manufacturing until 1951. He then took over the Marrin Real Estate company, which had been founded by his mother in 1930. He was the borough warden from 1967 to 1976. In 1984, he served on the Litchfield Citizen Advisory Committee which formed the town plan of development. He was a trustee of the Litchfield Historical Society, a member and past president of the Greater Litchfield Preservation Trust and of the Litchfield Country Club, a member of the Sanctum, and charter member of the Rotary Club.

The christening dress was brought from Scotland to American by the Marrin family; it is strange that there are two other matching dresses - is this actually the family christening dress? Matches 2013-110-15 and 2013-110-16

c. 1915-1920

length 35"

• cotton
• metal