Friends of Kansas City Museum at Corinthian Hall

First Lady Dresses

and other political fashions

The Kansas City Museum boasts an exquisite collection of First Lady dresses and related political fashions in its Costume Institute. Many of these fashions were donated by United States First Ladies themselves or their family members, and documentation for some has been provided by the White House press office.

The purple dress above from First Lady Mrs. Mamie Eisenhower and this deep blue sequined dress worn by Mrs. Margaret Truman Daniel are among the fabulous dresses in the Kansas City Museum’s collection of First Lady and political dresses. View more of these dresses in our photo gallery.

Items from the collection were last on display at a special exhibition in 2006 at the Museum. Along with other important historical artifacts, these dresses are being preserved for possible display at the Museum after restoration of Corinthian Hall is completed. Preservation of these important historical artifacts can be supported through tax-deductible online donations.

Inside the Museum’s collection

The Museum’s collection includes dresses from U.S. First Ladies Mamie Eisenhower, Bess Truman, and Betty Ford. Several other dresses worn by prominent Kansas Citians to the inaugurations of Presidents Taft and Kennedy are also part of the collection, representing styles of the day.

The collection also includes gowns from Margaret Truman Daniel (daughter of Harry S Truman), and the wives of Kansas City Mayor Barney Allis and Missouri Governor Herbert Hadley, who served during the time Corinthian Hall was built (1910) as the family home of Robert A. Long, a lumber baron and one of Kansas City’s greatest philanthropists.

Pick of the Curatorial Specialist
The yellow dress above was worn by Mrs. Barney Allis (Irene Allis Kaplan) to President John F. Kennedy’s inauguration. Curator Lisa Shockley loves it not just because it’s a Helga design, but because it was purchased at Harzfeld’s, a popular Kansas City department store. Shockley learned that during a snowstorm the night of Kennedy’s 1962 inauguration, many roads were impassible in Washington, D.C. Mrs. Allis Kaplan and her party caught a ride to the inaugural ball in the back of a milk truck – an unlikely, but reliable, vehicle. Mrs. Kaplan also wore the gown to the 1962 Jewel Ball.

According to Lisa Shockley, curatorial specialist for 3-D collections at Union Station/Kansas City Museum, these dresses represent an important collection of historical fashions. Collections of First Lady dresses are especially popular – the Smithsonian has just recently reopened its First Ladies of the Smithsonian exhibit in its National Museum of American History.

Restoring Kansas City’s grandest treasures

Today, the Museum is undergoing a spectacular restoration and its artifacts are being carefully restored. This collection of First Lady dresses will remain an important part of the Museum’s Costume Institute, one of the region’s most renowned collections of historical clothing, quilts and textiles.

Support the preservation of the artifacts

Right now, the Kansas City Museum artifacts are in need of your support. Though the building restoration is publicly funded, the artifact preservation requires significant private donations. Please contribute online to support the fine work of our preservationists and curators and return this lovely collection to its permanent home in the Kansas City Museum at Corinthian Hall. Please consider joining Friends of Kansas City Museum and enjoy the benefits of membership.

Treasures of the Kansas City Museum

A Showcase of First Lady Fashions

View our gallery
of photos >>

In the weeks ahead, we’ll be sharing more information about the artifact collections of the Kansas City Museum, and hosting events designed to educate and enrich your appreciation of the treasures of the museum. Stay informed about our Preservation Workshops, Family Fun Days, Hard Hat Tours of the Museum, and other events by signing up to receive email updates.