Aprons

Aprons were sometimes worn for every day use to keep clothing from soiling and wearing during work or play and sometimes complemented outfits. Some more fancy aprons were used for serving company such as hostess aprons and cocktail aprons. Many aprons did not survive the test of time due to their heavy usage. Because aprons continue to be such common commodity, possibly other vintage aprons may still be owned and used by family members. The Lowndes County Historical Museum has a limited number of aprons which are featured on this page.

Tie 1” wide w/10” on left and 7” tie on right
Pockets 2 patch
Ruffle tapered from waistband [1 ½”-4”] finished with a machine made scalloped edging.
Overall length 27 ½”.
Estimated date 1920-1940
History Donated by Kathryn Ulmer (1908-1982) , a Valdosta native, who was the daughter of Jessie C. Ulmer and Lottie Fry Ulmer. Lottie Fry’s parents and Kathryn’s grandparents were Noah E Fry (1833-1898) and Fannie L. Zipperer Fry (1839-1914). Fannie Zipperer had come to Valdosta as a Civil War refugee from Chatham County and met and married Noah Fry. According to her obituary in the Valdosta Times June 7, 1914  (now Valdosta Daily Times) they were considered “Valdosta Pioneers.”  In the July 28, 1877, Noah E. Fry donated 5 acres of land for the Valdosta Institute. He also served as a councilman for the city and lived on Patterson Street. Kathryn Ulmer’s father was a farmer. In 1921, he was using the Atlantic Coastline to ship loads of iced  cantaloupes from Valdosta  to New York in June but the next year managed to make the first of his  shipments  two weeks earlier according to the Thomasville Daily Times Enterprise May 24, 1922. Kathryn Ulmer also donated us a copper tooling of her home. This building is now occupied by the organization 100 Black Men of Valdosta Ga, Inc.

Type Waist Apron 33” long, 30” wide
Construction Method Hand stitched
Hem Finish 1”  turned under hem with 1 7/8” wide machine cotton lace whipped  to edge of apron hem and tie ends
Decorative Stitching 4 rows of sharks teeth above hem [Note: sharks teeth is a method of sewing a series of horizontal pleats that are then cut vertically into a pyramid pattern.  The cut ends then folded  up and resewn into the pleat stitching revealing a series of sheerer (one layer of fabric as opposed to the pleated fabric) triangles in a pyramid form.]
Estimated date 1890-1910
Attributed to Mrs. Madge Edwards see also
Christening Dresses for more information on Madge Edwards

Type Waist or half apron white sheer, fine cotton with sheen
Pocket Same fabric with machine-stitched entredeux hem, pointed
Waist and ties same fabric
Hemmed edges and rounded skirt hem- treated as one cotton lace edging attached with machine stitched entredeux.
Donated by Josie Eager Beadle  from the estate of William G. and Dorothy Hopkins Eager. More information on this collection may be found on our web site in lace, linens, and adult female clothing sections our website.

The next four aprons were gifted to us by Kay Powell and belonged to Juanita Tomlinson Powell of Valdosta, Ga (1915-2009). Juanita Powell contributed greatly to the  Lowndes Community. Working in insurance for many years, she retired and served as a South Georgia Medical Auxiliary lady, was a member of the Lions Club, the Literary Club, the Lowndes County Historical Society, and Founding member of Park Avenue United Methodist. For more information on this collection please see our textile Red Cross and Medical page.

The aprons serve as a special reminder of her hospitality to the community so much so that it was mentioned in her obituary, “She evolved into a great cook who turned out dinner every Sunday then- determined how much she had cooked- invited whoever she ran into to join her in the meal.”

Length 25″
Width 14″
Hem and top hand embroidered feather stitched hem 25” long.
Donated by Mrs. John  (Jackie)Wiggins. For more information on the Wiggins, please see the Quilts/Coverlets/Blankets tatting, sewing accessories, and Adult Female clothing sections of this web site.

Type waist apron, 100% nylon sheer material
Waist ties of same material
Pocket Heart-shaped lace pocket on right-hand side
Hem w/lace beading around edge (polyester machine made lace).
Dimensions 17 3/8” L  center point, 24” W  apron base.
Belonged to Mrs. Louie Peeples White. For more information on this vast textile collection see hats,  accessories, and adult woman’s clothing on this web site.

This little clever pattern turns an apron into a bonnet for all those times it gets sunny while working in the garden. This small red and blue flower print apron was made by “Aunt Marjorie” McIntyre. For more information on this vast collection and family history, please go to these other textile collections pages: Children’s Clothing, Linens, Undergarments, Quilts and Coverlets, and Law Enforcement.

Also from this collection is two aprons, one  bright red and the other in bright gold cleverly made from several matching printed handkerchiefs.

Lastly from this collection is an apron completely stitched by hand. This white apron features, feather stitching, embroidery,  and a C on the pocket for Carlie King sister to Bertha McIntyre and is hemmed with lace.  Bertha McIntyre was the seamstress in downtown Valdosta in the 30’s. and at that time Carlie was living in the same household as her sister. The feather stitching on this apron is beautiful! It is unclear whether Carlie made this apron or her sister made it for her.

Aprons were sometimes worn for every day use to keep clothing from soiling and wearing during work or play and sometimes complemented outfits. Some more fancy aprons were used for serving company such as hostess aprons and cocktail aprons. Many aprons did not survive the test of time due to their heavy usage. Because aprons continue to be such common commodity, possibly other vintage aprons may still be owned and used by family members. The Lowndes County Historical Museum has a limited number of aprons which are featured on this page.