Family's heirloom dress spans 111 wearers / LJWorld.com

Lawrence and Douglas county

September 16, 2007

Special to the Journal-World

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.

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16 September 2007
at 11:59 a.m.

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RockChalk72 (Anonymous) says…

Actually, Erin Castaneda got the information wrong from the interview and information provided to her. The dress is 111 years old with Brynn being descendant #141 to wear it. I have posted my story below, which contains accurate information and a more detailed history of the dress…

“A Stitch in Time…
111th Anniversary of the Smith Heirloom Dress

When my daughter Brynn Isley Konkel turns 3-months-old on Sept. 14th, 2007, she will have her photograph taken in a hand-me-down dress. However, this is not any ordinary hand me down dress….

The simple white gown was previously worn not only by me, her father, but also 140 other descendants of Brynn's Great-Great-Great Grandmother Lieuzetta Schonlau, the matriarch of my side of the family, who created the dress in 1896.

It has become a tradition that at the age of 3 months, the children have their picture taken in this dress. This is the 111th anniversary of the dress; Brynn will be #141 to wear this dress (2007); I (Jeffrey Marrion Konkel)was #57 in 1972; my mother (Mary Ellen (Smith) Konkel) was #13 in 1944; my grandfather (Marrion Donald Smith) was #2 in 1916; my great-grandmother Lillie Schonlau Smith, was #1 in 1897.

My great-great grandmother Lieuzetta Schonlau, a farm wife living near Willowdale, Kan., actually made the classic christening dress for her firstborn, Katie.
The 3-foot-long cotton based garment with an eyelet embroidery hem has a slip of the same material, which is also hemmed with the same eyelet embroidery.

Tragically, Katie didn't live long enough to wear the garment, and the privilege fell to my great grandmother Lillie, who, at the age of 4 months, became the first person photographed in it.

After Lillie was married to Kenneth John Smith, their first-born, Marrion, became the second descendant to be photographed in the dress.

Marrion, now deceased, was my grandfather. The dress has since become both an heirloom and a tradition in the Smith family, now into the fifth generation.

Through the years, the dress has crisscrossed the United States, and has even been sent to Germany and back.

Lillie served as caretaker of the dress until shortly before her death in 1987. My aunt, Joyce Lane of Garden City, has since stepped into the role.

In addition to being in charge of sending and retrieval, my aunt also oversees the delicate task of cleaning the 111-year-old garment.

My aunt also is keeper of the two albums that travel with the dress. The books include a history of the garment, family photos, including of Lieuzetta Schonlau, a numerical record of the descendants who have worn the dress through the years, and clippings from newspapers that have featured the family's unique tradition.

When it's not headed to or from a photo shoot, the dress is carefully stored in acid-free tissue for safe keeping. ”
16 September 2007
at 1:17 p.m.

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sunshine_noise (Anonymous) says…

What a wonderful story and Rockchalk for giving us the right story. Leave it to LJW to mis-print info. See can't always believe what you read. I hope this tradition remain a part of your family for many more generations to come.
16 September 2007
at 3:11 p.m.

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Bookie (Anonymous) says…

That's a beautiful story. To be part of such a tradition is a wonderful way to keep family connected. Thank you for sharing.