Nelly Don, her own celebrity, creating a reputation for herself as one of
the first and most successful self-made women millionaires
in American business. She designed and sold more dresses
in the 20th century than any single other person in the
United States. By 1949, the company posted $14 million in
sales, making dresses that sold in stores across the nation
for between $4 and $13 each. At that time, Nelly Don was
the single largest dress manufacturing plant in the world,
covering two Kansas City blocks.
Marla Day, curator for the Historic Costume and
Textiles Museum, said that Nelly Don’s attention to detail,
quality and workmanship forever changed American
clothing design.
In addition to the housedress, Nelly Don is also
remembered for contributions to
American fashion and history
during World War II.
During the war, she
developed one-piece,
Rosie the Riveter-style
work coveralls for women
who worked in industry
and uniforms for American
service women.
As a businesswoman, the
way she ran her company and
cared about her employees
— offering benefits
such as day care, tuition
money, good working
conditions, an on-site
infirmary, a clubhouse
and farm exclusively
for employee activities,
and a reasonably priced
cafeteria — made her
ahead of her time.
“She was such a pioneer in Kansas,” Day said. “She
deserves a special place in the collection because of her
innovative marketing strategies and her progressive support
for working women.”
But it’s the drama of her personal life that makes
the Nelly Don story legendary. Her first husband, Paul,
suffered from depression and often threatened to commit
suicide if Nell were to become pregnant. He later became
an alcoholic and the couple grew apart. While still married
to Paul, Nell began an affair with married U.S. Senator
James A. Reed. In September 1931, she traveled to Europe
ostensibly to adopt a child. In truth, while in Europe she
bore a healthy son to Reed.
Three months after returning to Kansas City, she and
her chauffeur were kidnapped in front of her home. Reed
came to her rescue, threatening the kidnappers that if they
“harmed a hair on her head” he would track them down
and ensure they’d get the death penalty. Reed then contacted
Kansas City gangster Johnny Lazia and ordered him to find
Nell within 24 hours or else Reed would buy national radio
time to expose Lazia’s illegal operations. So, Lazia sent 25
carloads of gangsters who did find and rescue Nell.
Nell lived to be 102 years old, outliving all 12 of her
brothers and sisters and dying 47 years to the day after Reed
died. Her life was recently brought to the silver screen in a
documentary titled “A Stitch in Time.” A companion website
and book are available at www.nellydon.com.
“She’s absolutely fascinating,” Day said. “There was a lot
of interest in her when the book and movie came out, which
brought her to the forefront. We knew we had to have some
of these pieces in the collection.”
The Friends of the K-State
Costume and Textile
Museum are leading
an initiative to bring
Nelly Don to K-State.
Recently the group
purchased four dresses
and donated them to the
Museum, a first for the
group that was founded
to help publicize the
Museum and raise
funds to improve and
expand its facilities
and staff. The dresses
were purchased with
proceeds from past
fund-raising events.
The Friends hope
their gift will inspire
others to donate Nelly
Don dresses that may
be packed away in cedar
chests and family attics.
High on the Museum’s wish list are
early garments made by the Donnelly Garment Company;
Handy Dandy Aprons, which sold in the millions during
the Depression and kept the company afloat; and Donall,
“scientifically planned,” utilitarian work garments for women
made during the World War II era.
Mary Don Peterson, president of the Friends and
emeritus professor of Apparel, Textiles, and Interior Design,
encourages anyone with an existing Nelly Don dress to
contact the museum, regardless of its condition. She said
there is an unfounded perception that because these dresses
were worn for work around the home — and often show
signs of wear — that they are unworthy of a place in a
museum.
“These dresses are integral to the history of fashion
in Kansas — and the nation,” Peterson said. “Nelly Don
is important because her company addressed the needs of
women at the time. We hope to increase our holdings so that
the first and most successful self-made women millionaires
in American business. She designed and sold more dresses
in the 20th century than any single other person in the
United States. By 1949, the company posted $14 million in
sales, making dresses that sold in stores across the nation
for between $4 and $13 each. At that time, Nelly Don was
the single largest dress manufacturing plant in the world,
covering two Kansas City blocks.
Marla Day, curator for the Historic Costume and
Textiles Museum, said that Nelly Don’s attention to detail,
quality and workmanship forever changed American
clothing design.
In addition to the housedress, Nelly Don is also
remembered for contributions to
American fashion and history
during World War II.
During the war, she
developed one-piece,
Rosie the Riveter-style
work coveralls for women
who worked in industry
and uniforms for American
service women.
As a businesswoman, the
way she ran her company and
cared about her employees
— offering benefits
such as day care, tuition
money, good working
conditions, an on-site
infirmary, a clubhouse
and farm exclusively
for employee activities,
and a reasonably priced
cafeteria — made her
ahead of her time.
“She was such a pioneer in Kansas,” Day said. “She
deserves a special place in the collection because of her
innovative marketing strategies and her progressive support
for working women.”
But it’s the drama of her personal life that makes
the Nelly Don story legendary. Her first husband, Paul,
suffered from depression and often threatened to commit
suicide if Nell were to become pregnant. He later became
an alcoholic and the couple grew apart. While still married
to Paul, Nell began an affair with married U.S. Senator
James A. Reed. In September 1931, she traveled to Europe
ostensibly to adopt a child. In truth, while in Europe she
bore a healthy son to Reed.
Three months after returning to Kansas City, she and
her chauffeur were kidnapped in front of her home. Reed
came to her rescue, threatening the kidnappers that if they
“harmed a hair on her head” he would track them down
and ensure they’d get the death penalty. Reed then contacted
Kansas City gangster Johnny Lazia and ordered him to find
Nell within 24 hours or else Reed would buy national radio
time to expose Lazia’s illegal operations. So, Lazia sent 25
carloads of gangsters who did find and rescue Nell.
Nell lived to be 102 years old, outliving all 12 of her
brothers and sisters and dying 47 years to the day after Reed
died. Her life was recently brought to the silver screen in a
documentary titled “A Stitch in Time.” A companion website
and book are available at www.nellydon.com.
“She’s absolutely fascinating,” Day said. “There was a lot
of interest in her when the book and movie came out, which
brought her to the forefront. We knew we had to have some
of these pieces in the collection.”
The Friends of the K-State
Costume and Textile
Museum are leading
an initiative to bring
Nelly Don to K-State.
Recently the group
purchased four dresses
and donated them to the
Museum, a first for the
group that was founded
to help publicize the
Museum and raise
funds to improve and
expand its facilities
and staff. The dresses
were purchased with
proceeds from past
fund-raising events.
The Friends hope
their gift will inspire
others to donate Nelly
Don dresses that may
be packed away in cedar
chests and family attics.
High on the Museum’s wish list are
early garments made by the Donnelly Garment Company;
Handy Dandy Aprons, which sold in the millions during
the Depression and kept the company afloat; and Donall,
“scientifically planned,” utilitarian work garments for women
made during the World War II era.
Mary Don Peterson, president of the Friends and
emeritus professor of Apparel, Textiles, and Interior Design,
encourages anyone with an existing Nelly Don dress to
contact the museum, regardless of its condition. She said
there is an unfounded perception that because these dresses
were worn for work around the home — and often show
signs of wear — that they are unworthy of a place in a
museum.
“These dresses are integral to the history of fashion
in Kansas — and the nation,” Peterson said. “Nelly Don
is important because her company addressed the needs of
women at the time. We hope to increase our holdings so that
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