“It brings back memories. It kept the family connected in so many ways….” Sandy Tartre Liarakos, San Diego, California



In May, members of the Tartre family gathered from across the country ~ California to Maine ~ to reconnect over a christening gown and accessories that they each wore on their baptism. 

Tartre relatives recently gathered to view the family baptismal ensemble that was made in 1889, worn by four generations, and donated to the Maine State Museum in 2017. 

In 1889, Maria Stella Lalanne Tartre (1867-1946) created this baptismal ensemble in anticipation of her first child, Charles Wilfred Tartre, who was born in Biddeford. Charles’s eight siblings also wore the special religious attire, as did another 150 of Mrs. Tartre’s grand and great-grandchildren, eventually spanning four generations.

One family member was designated “Keeper of the Robe.” When someone in the family wished to christen their baby, they requested that the “Keeper of the Robe” mail the baptismal ensemble to their home. The second to last baby was christened in Bothell, Washington, and the last baby in 2015 in Augusta. 

Maine State Museum Registrar Amy Thompson lifts the corner of the short-sleeved baby's long jacket for closer examination by family members. The jacket is lined in quilted silk and edged with braided cording. 

“It was a big deal because my mom had it for a long time…it was like a big celebration - Mom would have it put away in a closet ... and then there’d be a baby coming. So, then everything would come out. It was always a celebration. A connection.”

Terry Lacasse Baker, Brunswick, Maine

The baptismal ensemble includes this beautifully embroidered short jacket constructed of wool challis imported from France and purchased in Montreal.