Open Forum

Hello,
I am posting on behalf of a neighbour (Arlington, VA) who's trying to find a good home for some family garments. would you know if any museum is interested in acquiring?
I dont know much about textile but they look beautiful (sorry the pic are not great!)

Thanks for help!

Nadine

Hi Nadine,
Most museums that collect textiles and costume are awash with material of this kind, so your neighbor may have a difficult time placing it--unless it's from a prominent family or is connected to a well-known historic figure. If that is the case, then the DAR Museum in Washington, D.C. might be an option, or perhaps the Textile Museum, which is now allied with GWU.  If,however, there is no family or personal provenance of interest, and these pieces are originally from the Arlington area, then I would suggest that your neighbor start by contacting the nearest local history museum or historical society, or a nearby college or university that maintains a teaching collection of historic material.

------------------------------
Melissa Leventon
Principal
[Curatrix Group]
San Francisco CA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 04-07-2017 09:46 AM
From: Nadine Boksmati-Fattouh
Subject: Need home for 1870 wedding chemise and 1790 baby bonnet

Hello,
I am posting on behalf of a neighbour (Arlington, VA) who's trying to find a good home for some family garments. would you know if any museum is interested in acquiring?
I dont know much about textile but they look beautiful (sorry the pic are not great!)

Thanks for help!

Nadine

Thanks Melissa! Indeed, it turned out to be very callenging, but she finally manged to find interst in a local museum and she seems to be happy.
best,
nadine

------------------------------
Nadine Boksmati-Fattouh PhD
Consultant
Kingdom of Bahrain, Ministry of Culture
Manama
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 04-10-2017 12:01 PM
From: Melissa Leventon
Subject: Need home for 1870 wedding chemise and 1790 baby bonnet

Hi Nadine,
Most museums that collect textiles and costume are awash with material of this kind, so your neighbor may have a difficult time placing it--unless it's from a prominent family or is connected to a well-known historic figure. If that is the case, then the DAR Museum in Washington, D.C. might be an option, or perhaps the Textile Museum, which is now allied with GWU.  If,however, there is no family or personal provenance of interest, and these pieces are originally from the Arlington area, then I would suggest that your neighbor start by contacting the nearest local history museum or historical society, or a nearby college or university that maintains a teaching collection of historic material.

------------------------------
Melissa Leventon
Principal
[Curatrix Group]
San Francisco CA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 04-07-2017 09:46 AM
From: Nadine Boksmati-Fattouh
Subject: Need home for 1870 wedding chemise and 1790 baby bonnet

Hello,
I am posting on behalf of a neighbour (Arlington, VA) who's trying to find a good home for some family garments. would you know if any museum is interested in acquiring?
I dont know much about textile but they look beautiful (sorry the pic are not great!)

Thanks for help!

Nadine

Hi Nadine, 

You may want to contact the local historical societies in your area or the area your neighbor's family was from to see if any of the societies manage collections or a museum. At our museum, we review all collection offerings monthly in a committee and discuss what each object or objects offers to the collection. What story does it tell, could it be used in a future exhibit or research. Our collection policy is also very focused to our region of Michigan, therefore our collection objects now are usually from Kalamazoo/SWMICH either made or used in. While most museums may have large fabric and textile collections, not all do, it is worth calling and or emailing around to see what you can find. Good luck!

Megan

------------------------------
Megan O'Kon
Coordinator of Interpretation
Kalamazoo Valley Museum
Kalamazoo MI
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 04-07-2017 09:46 AM
From: Nadine Boksmati-Fattouh
Subject: Need home for 1870 wedding chemise and 1790 baby bonnet

Hello,
I am posting on behalf of a neighbour (Arlington, VA) who's trying to find a good home for some family garments. would you know if any museum is interested in acquiring?
I dont know much about textile but they look beautiful (sorry the pic are not great!)

Thanks for help!

Nadine

Thanks Megan. I was surprised at the reaction to neighbours. Lots of people offered to help and eventually she found a small local museum.
All the best, nadine

------------------------------
Nadine Boksmati-Fattouh PhD
Consultant
Kingdom of Bahrain, Ministry of Culture
Manama
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 04-11-2017 11:04 AM
From: Megan O'Kon
Subject: Need home for 1870 wedding chemise and 1790 baby bonnet

Hi Nadine, 

You may want to contact the local historical societies in your area or the area your neighbor's family was from to see if any of the societies manage collections or a museum. At our museum, we review all collection offerings monthly in a committee and discuss what each object or objects offers to the collection. What story does it tell, could it be used in a future exhibit or research. Our collection policy is also very focused to our region of Michigan, therefore our collection objects now are usually from Kalamazoo/SWMICH either made or used in. While most museums may have large fabric and textile collections, not all do, it is worth calling and or emailing around to see what you can find. Good luck!

Megan

------------------------------
Megan O'Kon
Coordinator of Interpretation
Kalamazoo Valley Museum
Kalamazoo MI
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 04-07-2017 09:46 AM
From: Nadine Boksmati-Fattouh
Subject: Need home for 1870 wedding chemise and 1790 baby bonnet

Hello,
I am posting on behalf of a neighbour (Arlington, VA) who's trying to find a good home for some family garments. would you know if any museum is interested in acquiring?
I dont know much about textile but they look beautiful (sorry the pic are not great!)

Thanks for help!

Nadine