Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's mother, Zilpah Longfellow, owned this gold silk walking jacket when she was 49 years old and living on Congress Street. The short-waisted spencer style was seen in fashion magazines of the period. Zilpah's jacket was likely made around 1827, as indicated by handwriting inside the jacket stating: "1827/Mrs. Z.W.L."

The front of the jacket is decorated with 25 covered buttons with golden thread, and the back features a pleated ruffle. The item is pictured with a substitute muslin slip, used for the purpose of photographing the jacket.