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Photo Credit
Autumn Blaylock, Collections Intern, University of Arkansas Museum
Object Date
1963, Mrs. D.O. Atteberry
Date
2025
Description
“When a mountain girl wants a new dress, she catches a butterfly of the desired color, and crushes it between her teeth...”
Given to the University’s Museum by Mrs. B.J. Wade, this pink flowered sprigged dress possibly dates to the early 1900s and could be worn in a variety of settings; including the possibility of “Play Parties.” “Play Parties” are described by Mary Celestia Parler in CBS’ The Search: Folklore in Arkansas as similar to a dance, consisting of folksong instead of instrumentals, hand-swings rather than waist swings and a game that is directed through song.9While this specific garment may not have been worn for events such as this, one thing that remains to be true across cultures and generations is the desire to don a new outfit for a special occasion. Randolph’s conversations with community members proves this to be true as the saying goes, “When a mountain girl wants a new dress, she catches a butterfly of the desired color and crushes it between her teeth...”10
9 Parler, Mary Celestia. “CBS’ The Search: Arkansas.” YouTube, 1950. https://youtu.be/0JX5vQFDln4?si=4lRyBQw26nkPYzED.
10 Randolph, Vance. “Ozark Superstitions.” The American Journal of Folklore 46, no. 179, March 1933.
Object Housed
University of Arkansas Museum
Object Accession Number
0000-0054-003(a-d)
Donor
Mrs. B.J. Wade
