The Phyllis (Knalson) Bancroft Collection consists of one green, woman’s party dress. The dress is a woman’s party dress of mint-green silk voile. The dress is sleeveless with scooped neckline, dropped waistline, and flared skirt. Ivory lace is used for cap sleeves, inset waist band and hem edge. Scalloped rows of narrow lace and ribbon decorate the flared skirt. Purple ribbon streamers are attached at the shoulder and waistline. The scooped neckline and edges of the arms are bound with voile fabric. The dress was worn by Katherina (Katie) Graf, circa 1931-1932. The dress has a straight waist of 28 inches; length of dress is 37 inches, and skirt flare is 38 inches wide.

This dress was the first dress given to Katherina (Katie) by her husband Edward (Eddie) Knalson. Katherina is the sister of Dora and Erna Graf. Their parents are Katherina Buck [ancestral village of Friedenstal, Bessarabia] and John Graf, Jr. [ancestral village of Neudorf, Glueckstal Colonies]. Their daughter, Phyllis Knalson Bancroft, wore this dress for a theatrical production of “Our Hearts Were Young and Gay” as the character Emily.