Lillie Smith was the first in a line of family members to be photographed in the family heirloom dress.

Brynn Konkel doesn’t realize it now, but she has just become part of a long family tradition.

Konkel turned 3 months old Friday and became the 111th person in her family to wear an heirloom dress.

Her parents, Jeff and Natalie, dressed her in the 3-foot white cotton dress, with an eyelet embroidery hem, that was made in 1896 by Brynn’s great-great-great grandmother Lieuzetta Schonalu, the matriarch of Jeff Konkel’s family.

Schonalu, of Willowdale, made the classic christening dress for her firstborn daughter, Katie, but Katie died before she could wear the dress. Schonalu’s second daughter, Lillie, became the first person to wear the dress and start the tradition that has traveled across the country and to Germany for every baby in the family to wear for a photo.

Included with the carefully packaged dress that has remained in remarkably good condition are two family albums.

“It brings the actual (family) tree to life,” Jeff Konkel said.

His aunt, Joyce Lane, of Garden City, has been the gatekeeper of the traveling dress and albums for three decades. The albums reflect the change in times. They begin with old photographs and newspaper clippings, and one album ends with a flash drive that holds a spreadsheet of the family genealogy.

“I think it helps keep the family together,” Lane said. “We’re spread from coast to coast, and it just keeps us connected.”

Jeff was No. 57 to wear the dress.

He said his wife, who is excited to be part of the tradition, teased him.

Only 12 boys in the 111 years haven’t worn the dress, because their fathers refused to allow their sons to be photographed in a dress.

Konkel hopes the tradition continues for Brynn’s children, boys or girls, which he isn’t counting on happening for at least 30 years.

Babies in Arizona, Missouri, Emporia and New York are next to be part of the tradition.