In 1879 Ida Kenney graduated from Indiana University. This what she wore

A mini corset is stitched into the dress donated to Indiana University's Elizabeth Sage Historic Costume Collection in the 1980s. This wool-and-silk dress was worn by IU alum Ida Kenney when she graduated with IU's Class of 1879, one of just a few women graduates.

Kelly Richardson, director and curator of the Elizabeth Sage Historic Costume Collection at Indiana University, examines the ribbing, making an educated guess that is was likely whale bone, inside the graduation dress donated in the 1980s. This wool-and-silk dress was worn by IU alum Ida Kenney who graduated 1879.

Crimson stripes decorate the sleeves of Ida Kenney's 1879 graduation dress, which is held by Indiana University's Elizabeth Sage Historic Costume Collection.

Lori Frye and Kelly Richardson carefully turn over a 145-year-old graduation dress donated to Indiana University's Elizabeth Sage Historic Costume Collection in the 1980s. This wool-and-silk dress was worn by IU alum Ida Kenney when she graduated with IU's Class of 1879, one of just a few women graduates.

Dye has transferred over time on this 1879 graduation dress worn by Indiana University alumna Ida Kenney.

Lori Frye and Kelly Richardson would like to get this 1897 graduation dress worn by Ida Kenney out of the box and displayed on a mannequin. Here the collar is placed where the researchers assume it would have been, one of several parts of the dress that require restoration.

Indiana University professor Lori Frye, left, and Kelly Richardson, director and curator of the Elizabeth Sage Historic Costume Collection, talk about the dress donated in the 1980s. This wool-and-silk dress was worn by IU alumna Ida Kenney when she graduated with IU's Class of 1879, one of just a few women graduates.

Indiana University student Ida Belle Kenney wore this tiered beige wool and crimson silk dress the day of her 1879 graduation. It is part of the Elizabeth Sage Historic Costume Collection.

The bottom of the dress donated to the university's Elizabeth Sage Historic Costume Collection in the 1980s. This wool-and-silk dress was worn by IU alumna Ida Kenney when she graduated with IU's Class of 1879, one of just a few women graduates.

A crimson swath adorns the bottom of the Ida Kenney's graduation dress, which was donated to Indiana University's Elizabeth Sage Historic Costume Collection in the 1980s. Kenney graduated from IU in 1879.

Ida Kenney's 1897 graduation dress features 12 bone buttons up the back from the waist to the neck. It is part of Indiana University's Elizabeth Sage Historic Costume Collection.

Crimson stripes on the sleeve of the dress donated to the university's Sage Collection in the 1980s. This wool-and-silk dress was worn by IU alum Ida Kenney when she graduated with IU's Class of 1879, one of just a few women graduates.