Hat, Quaker bonnet

Elizabeth Fry's silk bonnet, c.1840. Mrs. Fry was a Quaker reknowned for her work in prison reform. Maria Edgeworth described one of Fry's prison visits in a letter of March 1822:

'Enter Mrs Fry in a drab-coloured silk cloak, and plain borderless Quaker cap; a most benevolent countenance . . . The prisoners came in, and in an orderly manner ranged themselves on benches . . . On a very low bench in front, little children were seated and were settled by their mothers. Almost all the women, about thirty, were under sentence of transportation, some few only were for imprisonment . . . She opened the Bible and read in the most sweetly solemn, sedate voice I ever heard, slowly and distinctly, without anything in the manner that could distract attention from the matter.'

Black silk grosgrain bonnet. Pleated into brim over crown, base drawn together with threaded narrow silk ribbons tied in bow. Interlined with stiffened open weave material and lined with grey silk (now faded). Brim of stiffened brown card covered on outside with black grosgrain, with grain running horizontally in opposite direction to grain of cap and lined with grey silk (now faded). Broad (4 cm wide) fine silk ribbon to tie pinned to brim, lower edge cut diagonally with accompanying inscription on paper: "This bonnet and cap belonged to my grandmother Elizabeth Fry. Signed Georgia Done? ney (née Fry)".