Maine Memory Network

"Dawnland Couture" by Decontie & Brown, Bangor, 2019

Contributed by: Maine Historical Society Date: 2019 Location: Bangor Media: Multi media

Margaret Payson's Delphic-style gown, Portland, ca. 1938

Contributed by: Maine Historical Society Date: circa 1938 Location: Portland; New York Media: rayon, glass beads
This record contains 10 images.

Le Théâtre

Lewiston, Maine's second largest city, was long looked upon by many as a mill town with grimy smoke stacks, crowded tenements, low-paying jobs, sleazy clubs and little by way of refinement, except for Bates College. Yet, a noted Québec historian, Robert Rumilly, described it as "the French Athens of New England."

Cosmopolitan stylings of Mildred and Madeleine Burrage

Born in Portland, sisters Mildred Giddings Burrage (1890-1983) and Madeleine Burrage (1891-1976) were renowned artists and world travelers. Mildred's experiences studying painting in Paris and Italy, and the sisters' trips to Mexico and Guatemala inspired their artwork and shared passions for cosmopolitan and stylish attire. Housed at Maine Historical Society, The Burrage Papers include selections of original advertising drawings called "line sheets" from Parisian fashion houses dating from 1928 to 1936. Images of Madeleine's gemstone jewelry and Mildred's artwork accompany intimate family photographs of the sisters.

Historic Clothing Collection - Early Twentieth Century

"Dating into the mid 1890s her couture quality wine velvet and cream figured silk double gigot sleeved dinner or opera dress, and her openwork cream…"

Historic Clothing Collection - 1950-1960 - Page 4 of 4

"While pirating French couture designs was an old practice, in the 1950s some U.S. manufacturers contracted and made arrangements with French…"

Sister Madeleine Couture: Dedicating her life to teaching
by Biddeford Cultural & Heritage Center

The story of a life immersed in family and teaching

Valeda Couture: a mother’s view on immigration of her children
by Biddeford Cultural & Heritage Center

Quebec farm life and a mother’s experience when 7 of her 12 children move to Biddeford.