Lollaretta Pemberton’s Wedding Dress

1939

Lollaretta Pemberton walked down the aisle in this wedding dress.

Lollaretta Pemberton wore this dress when she married Grover Allen in Marshall, Texas. Their wedding was a society event, and was featured in several local newspapers. Pemberton’s dress tells the story of marriage and migration during American segregation. After the wedding, the young couple joined millions of other African Americans who migrated from the South during the Great Migration.

Pemberton’s intricate ivory-colored dress is made of lace and tulle. Its headpiece is made of silk. The tulle veil attaches to the headpiece and extends to the floor.