In 1989, then-President Walter Murphy received the commencement dress of Myrtie George McFarlin, the daughter of George A. McFarlin and Sarah Eugenia Cotton McFarlin. Myrtie was born in 1861 near Opelika, Alabama. Her father was killed in action during the Civil War in 1864 while Myrtie was a small child. Her mother eventually remarried William Daniel Russell and together they had five children. Myrtie graduated from LaGrange Female College (now LaGrange College) in 1880; she died on May 13,1951 at the age of 89 in Troup County, Georgia, possibly in Hogansville. Her Commencement dress was preserved by Mrs. JoAnne Campbell, a relative on her father's side. After a generous donation by a LaGrange College alumnus, it was decided that it be sent to a textile conservator. We worked with Howard Sutcliffe, Principal Conservator at River Region Costume and Textile Conservation in Montgomery, Alabama and he did a fabulous job. Watch his video the day he brought it to us. Thank you, Howard!
Detail of handmade button known as a Dorset button. You can find out more about these buttons on Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorset_button
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