The Conservation of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton’s Personal Clothing, 2022-2023
A collection of ‘relics’ belonging to Mother Seton was slated for a new exhibition and museum at the Seton Shrine and Museum in Emmittsburg, MD. A delicate c 1800 cotton voile christening dress, her c 1800 silk satin dancing slippers, her silk woven shawl, and her iconic black linen bonnet. Each was very fragile and thoughtful discussions ensued about permanent display vs limited display of originals and production of facsimiles. In the end, everything was done! To open the new museum, the originals were beautifully displayed. Now they are being switched out, so that replicas are on permanent display and the precious ‘relics’ are stored carefully for the long term.
CFT treatments were extensive – careful re lining of the fragile linen bonnet and silk shawl with a fine new lining; cleaning, numerous repairs, relining, and full slanted display mount for the christening dress; humidification, re shaping, surface cleaning, design and fabrication of non-visible slipper mounts for display, custom storage boxes and supports. CFT is so grateful to work on the personal items of the first American saint, and a remarkable woman and educator.
Fannie Criss, Turn of 20th c Dressmaker and Designer on Display at the MET Museum NYC, 2022
In America, An Anthology of Fashion, was a sensational celebration of American couturiers, many not well known, like Fanne Criss Payne. CFT devoted a year++ to conserve a suite of Fannie Criss dresses, belonging to the Valentine Museum in Richmond. The conservation had to address extensive loss, degradation, fragility, and conserve each ensemble so that they not only looked sensationally beautiful and authentic to the original maker, but structurally sound enough for 3-dimensional mannequin display, in period cinematic vignettes.
The conservation of one dress by Kaitlyn Seymour, took over 300 hours. This project was a great source of pride for CFT, knowing that the extensive documentation, research, and hand reconstruction and conservation work shines a light on a significant American modiste.
The Valentine (Richmond, VA) 2015-Present
Over the years CFT has done extensive conservation treatments on many historic costumes, for the Valentine’s expressive exhibitions. Exhibits include: Pretty Powerful, Our Hearts on Our Sleeves, and The Virginia Man: Respect, Responsibility, Rebellion. We also conserved the unique coronation ensemble of Lady Astor (read the Washington Post article here) and a gown worn to a ball thrown in honor of General Lafayette’s 1824 tour of the new country of America.
Fredrick Douglass National Historic Site National Park Service (Anacostia/Washington DC) 2016-Present
It is a great privilege to conserve the intimate household textiles and clothing of Fredrick Douglass, renowned abolitionist, writer, and orator. Among the artifacts are his Panama hat, leather shoes, kid gloves, handkerchief, suspenders, shirt, vest, and a quilt – all conserved and prepared for display in his Anacostia home. Ongoing projects include the treatment of more personal clothing and a second quilt.
National Park Service (Manassas, VA) 2018
This magnificent flag saw and survived the Second Battle of Manassas 1862. Treatment included humidification, alignment, cleaning, and a full lining carefully hand stitched to the back of the flag. The flag was pressure mounted and framed by Archival Art Services and hangs in the park’s visitor center.
National Museum of African American History and Culture (Washington, DC) 2016
Several famous textiles were prepared for the inaugural exhibits. Very exciting artifact was the workout robe and headgear worn by the only boxer who could ‘float like a butterfly and sting like a bee’, Muhammad Ali, Curt Flood’s St Louis Cardinal’s baseball jersey, Althea Gibson’s Wightman Cup blazer, and a fabulous fur pimp coat worn in the movie The Mack.
Women’s Equality National Monument (Washington, DC) 2015
These empowering suffragette banners, more important today than ever, were conserved for an exhibition at the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center, at the Brooklyn Museum of Art.
National Museum of the Marine Corps (Quantico, VA) 2018
This darling child’s WWI uniform and beautiful tulle embroidered 1920’s dress were conserved and dressed for display on custom-made forms, for the newest exhibit at The National Museum of the Marine Corps
