124 REPORT OF NATIONAL, MUSEUM, 1923 



in America, using as a central exhibit a series of dresses worn by the 

 mistresses of the White House during the administrations of the 

 Presidents of the United States, beginning with that of George 

 Washington. The dresses in this series were contributed to the 

 Museum collection largely through the efforts of Mrs. James, and 

 these she surrounded with a most bewildering array of costumes 

 and costume accessories, many of which were of very great intrinsic 

 value and historical interest. The objects lent to the Museum by 

 Mrs. James in connection with these collections are now united 

 in the Museum under the terms of Mrs. James' bequest, which 

 includes also materials of historical interest relating primarily to 

 the Bailey-Myers-Mason family. Of the greatest importance in 

 this latter connection are the following: An ivory handled sword 

 owned during the War of 1812-15 by Col. Mordecai Myers, United 

 States Army; uniform and sword of Sidney Mason when United 

 States Consul at Saint Johns, Porto Rico; gold and silver medals 

 and foreign decorations awarded to Commander T. B. M. Mason, 

 United States Navy, including the gold medal of the Benevolent 

 and Life Saving Institution of New York, a medal awarded by 

 the Italian Government, a number of naval uniforms worn by 

 Commander Mason and his order books and commissions together 

 with various pieces of insignia and patriotic society badges owned 

 by him and other members of the Bailey-Myers-Mason family. 

 This portion of the collection includes also a collection of miscel- 

 laneous antiques, such as arms, chinaware, silverware, jewelry, and 

 other objects owned by members of the family noted above, as well 

 as an unique and priceless collection of miniatures on ivory, daguer- 

 reotj^pes and photographs, and portraits. The portion of the col- 

 lection relating to the history of female costume has been very 

 fully described in previous reports. It includes a dress worn by 

 Mrs. Abraham Lincoln and an immense collection of female costumes 

 of various descriptions with accessories, such as jewelry, bags, fans, 

 and other objects. 



In addition to the objects of antiquarian interest included in the 

 bequest from Mrs. James, the following accessions of note in this 

 connection have been received during the past year: A Lowestoft 

 china tea set which was presented during the early part of the 

 nineteenth century by Commodore Matthew G. Perry, United 

 States Navy, to Mrs. Elizabeth Brenton Shaw of Wickford, Rhode 

 Island. The set includes a teapot, a creamer, a bowl, six cups, nine 

 saucers, and five plates, all of the interesting and quaint design of 

 the period when they were made. Each piece is decorated with the 

 United States coat of arms in colors. The set has been presented 

 to the Museum by Mrs. Louise S. Burge, Miss Marie Louise Burge, 



