This mid-19th century silk bonnet may have belonged to Augusta McVickar Jay, John Jay’s daughter-in-law. The “cottage bonnet” was a popular women’s hat during the time Augusta and her husband, William Jay, lived at Bedford House. It was designed specifically for outdoor wear in the countryside as it protected the face and neck from the sun. Join our “Dress for Success” Connecting to Collections tour on Sunday, September 8 at 2pm to learn more about items in our collection focused on the history of getting dressed.
