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Native American
Native American - Northeast and Southeast Woodland
Women's Clothing
Clothing and Accessories ➔ Dress
Identifier:
1993.47.2Description:
This gingham dress is blue plaid with pink trim at the hem, bodice, and wrists. The dress was used by the Native American singers Kathy Bowen (who donated the dress) and her sister, Virginia (Ginny) Medacco, and was made by their mother, Dorothy Medacco. The sisters sang country and western music professionally as The Gaye Sisters, named after Virginia's middle name of Gaye. Originally a solo performer, Virginia's sister Kathy later sang accompaniment. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, the sisters performed locally and throughout the Midwest. They also performed in Nashville at the Grand Ol' Opry. They also performed as The Secretaries and as The Beverly Sisters.
This dress demonstrates the diversity of Michigan Native American culture. The sisters were members of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians.
Date:
1955 – 1965Materials:
Gingham CottonDimensions:
47" h 19" wCurrent Location Status:
In StorageCollection Tier:
Tier 2Source:
In Honor of Stephen and Dorothy MedaccoExhibits/Programs:
Anishinabek: The People of this Place (1995 – 2025)Anishinaabek: The Original People of This Place (after 2026)
Redesign of the Anishinabek: The People of this Place exhibit. Ideas for potential artifacts.
Related Entities:
Dorothy Medacco (creator)Dorothy was the wife of Stephen Medacco and the mother of Viginia Medacco and Kathy Bowen, Native American country and western singers in the 1950s and 1960s. Dorothy made the dresses her daughter performed in and also wrote poetry for the 1979 edition of the "Turtle Talk" newsletter, of which her daughter Virginia Medacco Herr was the editor. Kathy Bowen (donor)
Alternate names: Kathy Medacco
Kathy (Medacco) Bowen was the daughter of Stephen and Dorothy Medacco and the sister of Virginia Medacco. Together, Virginia and Kathy formed the Native American country and western singing group the Gaye Sisters, which performed during the 1950s and 1960s. The sisters also performed as The Secretaries and the The Beverly Sisters. Kathy was a tribal member of the Little River Band of Odawa Indians. Virginia Medacco (used by)
Alternate names: Virginia Herr
Virginia (Ginny) Medacco Herr was the daughter of Stephen and Dorothy Medacco and the sister of Kathy Medacco Bowen. Together, they formed the country and western singing group known as the Gaye Sisters, after Virginia's middle name of Gaye. The sisters also performed as the Secretaries and the Beverly Sisters. Virginia later became the editor of the "Turtle Talk" newletter. She was a tribal member of the Little River Band of Odawa Indians.