First established in 2009, the DVLGS started out initially as the Philadelphia Ladies Society in 2005. At the time, the group consisted of a small group of tea going friends who simply enjoyed going out dressed in costume.
The original idea for startng a group, however, is rooted in a shared love of the Victorian period between two sisters that blossomed much earlier. They were raised with an appreciation for history and often watched movies like Somewhere In Time and Gone with the Wind with their parents. Keri started enjoying dressing up in Victorian syle clothing during college after seeing Titanic.
Her routine became standard practice. Her younger sister, Justine, often accomanied her on excursions to places like nearby Adamsown, PA to browse at antiques. It fascinated her sister who had never seen anyone do this yet it was not unusual to the family who fully embraced Keri's style as it was as unique as it was beautiful.
With a sustained interest in finding others who enjoyed sharing our style of fun, in the spring of 2005 Keri proposed the idea one afternoon that a club be started. This was the the beginning of the age of internet groups, forums, etc. The name Philadelphia Ladies Society was agreed upon and a group homepage was created. Flyers were made up in Microsoft Word, though if any were left in public places there weren't many.
The demands of life plus a lack of interest took away from any additional planning for the group and it was set aside and left indefinitely to fizzle out. There was zero response over the internet or from the flyers. Among the original target activities for the group were trips to tea rooms, antique shopping trips, and garden parties. It was open to those with an interest from Renaissance to Edwardian.
One more approach was made to revive the original group in 2008, this time led by Justine, who redesigned the flyers and added new goals and activities for the perspective group to engage in. Again, no response from the flyers. It was decided at this time to also narrow the group's focus and limit it to Victorian and Edwardian.
It was a costumed picnic meet and greet held at the Philadelphia Museum of Art's Azalea garden in the spring of 2009 that encouraged her to reconsider. With new social networking sites like Myspace and Live Journal she began promoting the group more openly. The group also gained what a serious group requires and was lacking, a website. Despite an unsuccessful first approach in 2009 to rejunenate the effort to find other Delware-valians who would appreciate such a group, 2010 became the year to make what started as a passing dream a reality right here at home. A new website was created after the brief attempt a year earlier and the nature of the group was revised, the goals and theme concentrated even more.
That following April in 2010, she organized the group's first official meet at the King George II Inn in Bristol. For the first time, and with the help of friends, a real gathering took place in which new members came out.
The Delaware Valley Ladies and Gentlemen Society is an interest-based social club that was organized to plan, promote, enjoy, and share Victorian activities. We are an historical recreation activities group, aiming to preserve and promote Victorian culture throughout the Delaware Valley. We welcome anyone regardless if you live in the Delaware Valley or not. Anyone who shares an interest in any aspect of the Victorian era is encouraged to join us in the fun.
How We Started
This page was last updated: 7 October, 2011
What is the DVLGS?
ABOUT US
From Victorian house tours, tea events, and formal picnics to period movie nights; the DVLGS hosts activities and events throughout the year. Our current goal is to host atleast one themed event per month, in addition to our monthly potluck meetings on the second Tuesday evenings of each month.
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Guests are always welcome to both events and meetings. It is never required that anyone dress up or wear period costume. In fact about half of our most active ladies and gents attend in modern casual or modern semi formal attire so never let "nothing to wear" discourage you from coming out to join in on the fun! We all come from very different backgrounds of education on the Victorian period, have varying areas of special interest, etc.
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We did not want to limit ourselves or our member base to that of just Philadelphia so the Philadelphia Ladies Society was changed to the Delaware Valley Ladies and Gentlemen Society in an effort to not only to broaden the map where we are active but to keep the group open to both interested Victorian ladies as well as gents.
Your loyal hostess wanted to welcome participants of both genders as there are many groups and events that cater mostly to a female base. Victorian events have become synoymous fluff, lace and otherwise female oriented themes, such as Victorian teas and fashion shows.
The modern Victorian aesthetic all too often concentrates on frilly laces, roses, and the like which are of little interest to men who may enjoy other, more masculine, aspects of the Victorian period like sport shooting, archery, etc. In the future we plan to organize more events of this type.
The Formation of a Society
It wasn't long before she inspired her younger sister to dress with her, thus Justine started collecting thrift store finds to create ensembles of her own to wear. Eventually, creating her own. The driving force behind the idea of starting a group was Keri who had fallen in love with visiting tea rooms after recieving a visit to a local one for a birthday gift. She held her own that Christmas at home where she invited friends to join her. The Christmas tea marked their first costumed gathering. With the help of her sister who purchased the necessary materials, your loyal hostess created her very first period gown especially for the occaision (pictured below second to the right).
College years: Justine poses in Keri's Gunne Sax gown for an old time photo shoot. She was a collector of vintage clothing and enjoyed photographing her pieces as modeled by her sister. 2000.
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The Christmas Tea held in December 2004
The tavern at the King George II Inn April 16 2010
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It was during her time at Moore College of Art and Design studying fashion that Justine started to take up a more serious interest in Victorian clothing. She started to collect original pieces, initially for the sole purpose of wearing them, and later for the purpose of studying and preserving them.
Among her volunteer work; which includes Glen Foerd Mansion on the Delaware and the Grundy Museum, she spent one year as the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and on the Board of Directors with the Bristol Cultural and Historical Foundation before going back to school.
Your Loyal Hostess
She is a member of the Victorian Society of America and a member of the National Registry of Living Historians (N.R.I.H).
Her collection has been displayed at
Historic Bristol Day and used in
accompaniment with the presentations
she has held.
She is an experienced costumer of Victorian era
clothing and enjoys every opportunity to step
out of the 21st century, get dressed up and have
fun with friends.
Though her love for the Victorian era transcends
anything monetary, she is available for talks and
presentations and lectures on ladies dress and
living of the 1800s. She has done talks for Temple University and the Van Liew Suydam House, among others.
Her dream is to one day own a Victorian home through which she can provide the DVLGS not only a headquarters where the group can meet and sponsor public events, but one that can house a museum depicting Victorian life.
Sadly, on 1 May 2011, co-founder of the group and her older sister Keri-Ann passed away in her sleep. She left behind many wonderful memories and the windows she opened for her younger sister are those that have led to the interests she keeps alive today. Left behind are not only the memories and large impressions of a woman whose own passions transformed into another's life goal- Justine now holds onto Keri's once prized memorbilia, including the Victorian paper doll and book collection they acquired together, as well as her Victorian clothing collection.
"It may just be stuff but in it are all the memories we shared and the love that went into having it." Justine was affectionately titled "Lady Bean" by her sister, as one of her many nicknames. It was Keri's overnight phase to learn how to sew thus receiving a sewing machine for Christmas one year that enabled Justine to ever make a single stitch. She still uses to this day, that same machine that, like so many of her other possessions, was passed down to her by her older sister and will be prized forever.
Demonstrating an antique skirt lifter for the audience during a program about Victorian Tea and Tea Fashion
