Flat shoe with slightly rounded square toe, black silk satin upper and a square vamp throatline; rosette of black satin ribbon at throatline with a coil edged with black lace and with black beads at the center; 7/16" wide black silk satin pleated ribbon binding on the upper; two front side seams have no binding; vamp, quarters, and insole lined with a changeable taffeta of lavender and yellow, with an interlining (stiffener) in the quarters; straight last leather sole and no heel.
Provenance Narrative Accoding to the donor these shoes were worn by Robert E. Lee's mother. Although the overall appearance to the shoes suggests they were worn by an older woman, it is highly doubtful that they could have been worn by Lee's mother, who died in 1829; the style of the shoes demands a date no earlier than 1835 and as late as 1850s.
Signatures/Marks ANR; "Given Mrs. Henry St. George (illegible) by Miss Hattie (illegible) who said they belonged to the Mother of General Robert E. Lee." "621" ("1" on it side) sole of shoe; side of shoe; sole of shoe