Reagan/Bush Inaugural Scarf, Frankie Welch design;1981 Rectangular polyester scarf with printed design of 4 squares with the same design: 6 borders of alternating red and white ending with red center square. The outermost border is red and has the name of the designer: copyrighted Frankie Welch. 4th border has red initials "RB" (Reagan/Bush) encircled on a white ground. The red center square has a medallion showing the Capitol with stars in background, an eagle with outspread wings over which is printed "Reagan/ Bush" in pennants. The eagle holds a shield with stars and stripes and olive branches below. The words "INAUGURATION OF/ PRESIDENT AND/ VICE PRESIDENT" encircle the medallion.
Georgia-born textile and fashion designer Frankie Welch came to the Washington DC area in the 1960s, where she ran a dress shop that introduced her to important members of Washington’s political elite. She designed hundreds of textiles (scarves, ties, and apparel fabrics) for clients including several Presidents (Lyndon Johnson through Bill Clinton), the US Senate, and the White House. A dress she designed for Betty Ford is in the First Ladies collection here at NMAH
Dimensions: 35” L X 8” W
ATHM Collection: 1992.88.3; gift of A. D. Larson & K Larson Kreiser