Ellen G. White and Her Critics

The Visit to Dansville, 1864

In September, 1864, Mrs. White with her husband visited “Our Home” at Dansville, New York. EGWC 143.7

Her comment on that visit, at least so far as the dress feature is concerned, is reflected in a personal letter she wrote immediately afterwards: EGWC 143.8

“They have all styles of dress here. Some are very becoming, if not so short. We shall get patterns from this place, and I think we can get out a style of dress more healthful than we now wear, and yet not be bloomer or the American costume. Our dresses according to my idea, should be from four to six inches shorter than now worn, and should in no case reach lower than the top of the heel of the shoe, and could be a little shorter even than this with all modesty. I am going to get up a style of dress on my own hook which will accord perfectly with that which has been shown me. Health demands it. Our feeble women must dispense with heavy skirts and tight waists if they value health.... EGWC 143.9

“We shall never imitate Miss Dr. Austin or Mrs. Dr. York [both of ‘Our Home’]. They dress very much like men. We shall imitate or follow no fashion we have ever yet seen. We shall institute a fashion which will be both economical and healthy.”—Letter to Brother and Sister Lockwood, September, 1864. (Letter 1a, 1864.) EGWC 144.1

Note that in this letter Mrs. White explains why she would never imitate Dr. Austin. That reason comports with her 1863 statement, already quoted. She refers to “that which has been shown me,” meaning of course, what she had seen in vision. It is also evident that though in her vision dress reform had been presented before her, she had not been given any pattern or specific details concerning it, and certainly not with regard to its length, in terms of inches from the ground. She specifically declared that the dress she thought to “get out” would not be “the American costume.” EGWC 144.2