Historical information

From its beginnings in 1958, the Society has mounted exhibitions and/or displays, in early days in shop window and in community spaces located in the Kew City Hall (later Kew Library), and since 2010 at the Kew Court House. Exhibitions typically coincided with the annual Kew Community Festival in March, but after 2013 evolved into three new exhibitions yearly at the Kew Court House. Smaller displays continue to be mounted in the Kew Library.

Significance

This photograph confirms that the purple ballgown is/was part of the Coombs family donation of Victorian era costumes made to the Society in 1961. Therefore it is important for establishing the item's provenance.

Physical description

Display of costumes from the collection of the Kew Historical Society, exhibited during the Festival of Kew in 1979. Recognisable items include from left the 1890s purple ball gown, the 1860s white satin wedding dress and the blue two-piece 1880s outfit. All items are clearly from the Coombs donation of 1961, there being no other record of costumes occurring before 1979.

Inscriptions & markings

Inscribed verso: "Taken during Festival of Kew 1979 / Kew Hist contribution / Exhibition of Family Treasures / Donated by Janet McDermott 1979"