Dress
Object number2013.2.11 a,b
Made by
Rose Marie Pugliese-Pendro
MediumSequins/Plastic/Metal/Satin/Lace
Credit LineGift of Marya Pendro-Thomson
DescriptionChild's First Communion dress with veil. Handmade. Tan satin underdress with beige long-sleeved lace dress overtop. Three metal snap buttons down front of underdress. Metal zipper and fourteen decorative pearl buttons down front of lace dress. Collar is highly decorated with several sizes of pearls, clear beads, and sequins.DimensionsMeasured flat.(a) Height: 29.5 ; Width (shoulders): 13.5 ; Length (sleeves): 17.5
(b) H: 3.75 ; L (veil only): ~33 ; Circum (headband): 21
Historical NotesHoly communion (First Communion) dress and veil handmade by the donor's mother Rosemarie Pendro, a talented seamstress who made much of donor Marya Pendro-Thomson's clothing. Part of a collection relating to the Pendro family. The Pendro family immigrated to New York City in the late 1800s from Austria-Hungary, though the family was primarily of Carpatho-Rusyn and Russian descent. They settled in the Pittsburgh area around 1890, after hearing that there were jobs in the area. The family formed close ties with several institutions in the region most notably the Edgar Thomson Steel Mill and Joseph Horne Company. Shortly after arriving in Pittsburgh, George Pendro began working at the Edgar Thomson Steel Mill. Several other family members worked at the mill including George’s son Andrew, Andrew’s wife Lucy, and Lucy’s father Andrew Wagner. The family also had close ties to the Joseph Horne Company department store. Frank Wagner, Andrew Wagner’s father worked as a boot maker for Horne’s after emigrating from Germany in 1843. Many family members would later work for the company, most notably his great-grandson Andrew Pendro, Jr. who worked in the special events and sign departments from 1963-1981.
Previous owner
Marya A. Pendro-Thomson
On View
Not on view
1934
1920-1930