Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Dress |
Catalog Number |
2002.10.8 |
Maker |
Sue Brett |
Date |
1995 |
Material(s) |
Polyester; rayon; nylon |
Dimensions |
H-42 W-20 inches |
Description |
This is a woman's black/gold gown. Part a) is a long sleeved straight gold lace tunic with a round neck and a one button closure at the back. The neck and sleeves are trimmed with black polyester. Part (b) is a sleeveless straight black polyester slip with 2" shoulder straps and wide round neck. |
Notes |
This was worn by the donor's mother, Sarah Johnson Dishman (b. 12/1/1924 - d. 1/23/2002) on her 55th wedding anniversary. Sarah, the eldest of five sisters, was the daughter of Elmore and Naomi Smith Johnson of Georgetown, KY. She married her high school sweetheart, Oscar Dishman, Jr. of the New Zion community in Scott County and had three children: Carolyn Bell, Bernard Dishman, and Marilyn Dishman. Oscar Dishman, Jr. was an African American horse owner and trainer. Together the Dishmans spent 20 years on the road traveling the thoroughbred circuit from New York to California and to several foreign countries. Oscar graduated from Ed Harris High School and was drafted shortly after entering college. After serving in the Army, Oscar became a horse groomer like his father before him. He subsequently moved up to exercise boy. In the "Georgetown News and Times" (April 23, 1985) Oscar said of his decision to become a trainer, "I wanted to better myself as a person and become independent in the horse race industry." Dishman's first win as a trainer was on June 8, 1961 at River Downs in Cincinnati with a horse named Mary-El-Du. In the early days Oscar also worked as a barber at River Downs to supplement the family's income. The barbering did not last long because Oscar soon found himself very busy training horses. As the quality of the horses he trained increased, Oscar moved to larger tracks with bigger purses. In 1965 he built a home for the family near Keeneland. |
Collection |
Marilyn Dishman Collection |
People |
Dishman, Oscar Jr. Dishman, Marilyn Dishman, Sarah Johnson Sue Brett |
Subjects |
Dress Dresses Women Clothing & dress Anniversaries African Americans Afro-Americans |
Search Terms |
African Americans Women's clothing |
Physical Holder |
Kentucky Historical Society - KHS |