Bonham -- Thanks to a recent donation, a new exhibit of turn-of-the-century clothing now awaits visitors to Fannin County Museum of History.

Several fashionable items that belonged to former Bonham resident Mrs. W.W. Russell and Trenton resident, Mrs. T.B. Robinson, have recently been placed on exhibit by museum curator Jean Dodson.

Mrs. Russell enjoyed the accoutrements that went along with being the wife of a wealthy general merchant, including the finest of clothing and a home that was often referred to as "the Russell Mansion."

Russell Mansion

Mary Bradford Rovetta, the granddaughter of Mrs. W.W. Russell, lived in the Russell Mansion until the sprawling structure was torn down in 1955.  The towering home was built in the 1870s and faced Park Avenue in northeast Bonham.  Mrs. Rovetta is the daughter of Annie Russell Bradford.

As a child growing up in the Russell Mansion, Annie Russell enjoyed a rather unique lifestyle. Her father built a small schoolhouse on the property and hired Lydia Goodman to teach Annie.  Lydia was originally from Virginia and the Goodman family would play an important role in education and culture in Bonham.  Lydia eventually married a relative of W.W. Russell. 

Blanche Goodman

In the 1880s, Lydia's sister came for a visit.  Blanche Goodman was a highly respected artist in her home state of Virginia and she was quickly recruited by the art department at Carlton College in Bonham. Blanche would go on to marry newspaper publisher Frank Brazleton and her growing reputation as a portraiture artist brought in commissions to paint portraits for many of Bonham's pioneer families.

All of this local history resurfaced with the generous donation of Mrs. W.W. Russell's wardrobe by her granddaughter.  A blue wool "party coat" is adorned with countless French knots.  A crimson evening dress handmade in 1880 is matched with a jet-bead shawl.

Mrs. T.B. Robinson's clothing is just as eye-catching.  The first thing most people will notice are the dimensions.  A dark blue print dress with stylish ruffled sleeves and hem has a slender 20-inch waste.  A dressy suit has a more ample 22-inch waist, although the extra two inches may have been to allow for the boned waist cincher.