Almira Belknap
Almira "Myra" Belknap, 1852-1912
Almira "Myra" Belknap, along with Lydia Bird, ran a dressmaking and millinery shop, Bird and Belknap, in Ithaca. Bird and Belknap brought women's ready- to-wear clothing to Ithaca. At one time they employed twelve women.
| Year | Name | Relation to Head | Address | Age | Race | POB | Marriage | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | Belknap, Almira E | Daughter | 66 S Cayuga St | 34 | White | New York | Single | Millinery Dress Mkr |
| 1900 | Belknap, Almira | Daughter | 416 N Cayuga St | 56 | White | New York | Single | Dressmaker |
| 1910 | Belknap, Elmira A | Sister | 416 N Cayuga St | 66 | White | New York | Single | Dressmaker |
| Name | Relation to Head | Address | Age | Race | POB | Marriage | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belknap, Horace | Head | 66 S Cayuga St | 60 | White | New York | Widowed | Cooper |
| Belknap, Lovilla | Daughter | 66 S Cayuga St | 30 | White | New York | Single | Shirt Maker |
| Belknap, Emma G | Daughter | 66 S Cayuga St | 25 | White | New York | Single | Keeping House |
| Belknap, Charles M | Son | 66 S Cayuga St | 23 | White | New York | Single | Shirt Cutter |
| Name | Relation to Head | Address | Age | Race | POB | Marriage | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belknap, Horace D | Head | 416 N Cayuga St | 80 | White | New York | Widowed | Cooper |
| Belknap, Mary L | Daughter | 416 N Cayuga St | 49 | White | New York | Single | Seamstress |
| Belknap, Gertrude | Daughter | 416 N Cayuga St | 45 | White | New York | Single | None |
| Name | Relation to Head | Address | Age | Race | POB | Marriage | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belknap, Lovilla M | Head | 416 N Cayuga St | 61 | White | New York | Single | Shirtmaker |
| Belknap, Gertrude E | Sister | 416 N Cayuga St | 54 | White | New York | Single | Dressmaker |
| Belknap, Horace D | Father | 416 N Cayuga St | 90 | White | New York | Widowed | None |
Bird & Belknap from Gazetteer and Business Directory for Tompkins County for1868, 163
Advertisement for Bird & Belknap's "New Stores and New Goods," from the Ithaca Daily Journal, April 13, 1880, p4.
Store moved from 15 E State St (115 E State St) to 21 E State St (121 E State St)
"The Ithaca Directory for 1868 lists the firm of Bird (Lydia) and Belknap (Myra) dressmaking and millinery. This was Miss Belknap’s sister who was located in the eastern end of Atwater’s Store. Miss Burrit was another milliner here then and these were the only three.
Later Mr. Dobrin came and located on Aurora Street next to the Ithaca Hotel. He manufactured hoopskirts and later sold women’s underwear.
Miss Belknap and Mrs. Bird used to go to New York City three times a year and on one occasion a salesman there urged them to take some women’s ready-to-wear dresses and muslin underwear back with them. They decided to try it though they were doubtful. This new line was very successful and sold well and thus Bird & Belknap may be credited with first introducing ready made women’s clothing to Ithaca.
Eventually the firm broke up as Mrs. Bird was getting old and Miss Myra Belknap went by herself and continued until her health failed.
At one time they employed twelve girls in their establishment.”
Interview with Gertrude E. Belknap, 416 N Cayuga St, Ithaca, NY, April 1935, WPA Oral History Biographies, V16-1-7, courtesy The History Center in Tompkins County, Ithaca, NY.
1935
Gazetteer and Business Directory of Tompkins County, N.Y., for 1868, Syracuse, N.Y.: Journal Office, 1868.
Ithaca General and Business Directory, Ithaca, N.Y.: Norton & Conklin, Publishers, 1880.
Daughter of Horace D. and Asenath C. Belknap.