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Sumi Okamoto's Wedding Dress

Sumi Okamoto's Wedding Dress - Dress, Wedding
Accession #: 4118.1
Title: Sumi Okamoto's Wedding Dress
Object Type: Dress, Wedding
Date: December 7, 1941
Participants:
Physical Description: Wedding ensemble which includes: a white satin dress with lace insets and formal train, under slip, and faux pearl beaded crown veil. The dress has long sleeves which are gathered at the shoulders and the sides of the upper arms, the bodice is fitted and gathered at the bust, the neckline is very high and has a lace yoke with six satin covered buttons. The slip is full length and has a V-neck and spaghetti straps. The crown is beaded in a champagne and white zigzag pattern, there is an elastic cord to hold the crown in place, and there is a veil of tulle netting cascading from the back. Dress: 4118.1A Slip: 4118.1B Veil: 4118.1C
Description: Sumi Yoshida wore this classic, American, white satin wedding dress to marry Joe Okamoto in Spokane on December 7, 1941. That same day, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawai'i. Local FBI detained wedding guests and arrested two Japanese community leaders. Since Spokane was outside the coastal evacuation zone, local Japanese avoided internment, but still faced discrimination. Japanese had begun arriving in the Inland Northwest around 1890 as railroad and mining laborers; many had settled in Spokane to operate businesses.
Category: Textiles
Related Objects:
4118.2 (Okamoto, Sumi M., Box, Bride's, Sumi Okamoto's Wedding Dress Box, December 7, 1941)
Subjects/Topics/Concepts:
Marriage (Communication->Ceremonial), Japanese (Diversity->Asian), Clothing (Personal Artifact), Women (Women); World War II (Military & Warfare->War)
Geographical Reference: Spokane (Washington->Spokane County)
Dimensions:
height 52" (without train)
length 90" (height including train length)
Materials/Techniques:
satin (Material)
plastic (Material)
rayon (Material)
Related Exhibits:
Credit Line: Gift of Sumi Okamoto, 2005

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