Quilts and More Quilts

Last Tuesday we had two volunteers help catalog some of our quilts. Each quilt was a surprise as we unrolled them for the first time. One even ended up being a woven coverlet instead.
We all admired the time and patience it took to make these hand sewn quilts.

This quilt was made by the Ladies Aid Society of the Algoma Methodist Church of Oshkosh in 1892. Each square features 10 names. Do any of them look familiar?

The volunteers were very helpful in identifying the patterns and fabric used. Scraps and silk pieces were most common. Unfortunately we found that some of the silk has disintegrated.

We have a lot of crazy quilts in our collection. I think this is one of the craziest.

Speaking of quilts...

Hi Curator Deb here! A big thanks Marillyn and Sandra for lending Katrina their expertise on the quilts. As you can see above, they had a great day making discoveries.  

It was quilt week here at the museum because I too had a meeting with the planners of the Lakeside Quilters 2014 conference.  I am very excited to be representing the museum and showing off some of our quilts and their history at the event.  One of the quilts we looked at was this child's size made with a pieced basket and appliqued berries and foliage.

We are also thinking of presenting a quilt square challenge as part of the event and using a pattern from one of the museum pieces. One option looked at was the below block with pattern pieces cut from an old mail order catalog. Do you know the name of this block pattern?  My guess would be "Waste Not, Want Not" after the colorful pattern pieces used.

Keep watching as our quilt projects progress.

Unique Item: Flight Helmet

One of my jobs is to look through the collection and record the scope and condition of the objects. Sometimes I get pleasant surprises when I open boxes. Today I am sharing two of those surprises, which happen to fit the steampunk theme. 

These two WWII aviator helmets may be later than Queen Victoria's reign, but they would fit right at home on the head of a steampunk airship pilot.

 

An A-11 flight helmet by Mondl Manufacturing Corporation of Oshkosh. The built-in radio headset is missing. Inside the helmet, the former owner wrote in the date: Feb. 15, 1945. 

A second A-11 flight helmet that has an electrical cord attached to a receiver  The date April 3, 1945 is written on the inside. 

Both helmets don't completely conform to the standard A-11 helmet. They may have incorporated changes made near the end of the war or were prototypes that were not mass produced.

These make me want to jump into the nearest hot air balloon, zeppelin, or biplane and go on an adventure.

Happy flying!

Katrina

A Wrinkle in Time

Our two steampunk costumes have been waiting patiently for their exhibit debut. In case you missed it, I previously showed a sneak peek of the dresses and Deb's repair work. By putting them on dress forms a few weeks ahead of time, the dresses can begin to relax their wrinkles.

Today we are giving them a little extra help.

Deb, following the advice of the textile conservator at Midwest Arts Conservation Center in Minneapolis,  brought a new Ultrasonic cool humidifier. Using a long tube we can direct the "steam" to parts of the dress that need attention. The silk dress has not lost its wrinkles from being stored in acid-free box storage, even though acid-free tissue used to soften the folds.

"Steam" reaches the tube's end and not only gently de-wrinkles the fabric without harming it, but also adds some needed moister back into the delicate fabric.  The process takes a while, but the results are worth it.

Deb and I are both excited to display these fantastic dresses.

Transitions

Here at the museum we are putting away the Oshcars exhibit to make way for Steampunk. The gallery doors are closed and not much appears to be happening. However, the transition between exhibits is one of the busiest times at the museum. Items need to be taken down and put away from the ended exhibit and new objects installed correctly yet interestingly for the new. Everyone behind the scenes is super busy. 

We are also in another transition: spring! The weather is getting warmer and the sun is making welcomed appearances. In celebration of this, I decided to search the collection for the biggest hats I could find. These hats don't disappoint. They are a classy way to block the sun.

This lovely hat is adorned with spring accessories, perfect for those summer tea parties.

Brim span: 19 inches

A black velvet hat for the more somber occasions, dressed up with feathers.

Brim span: 20 inches

A delicate straw hat with flowers. This is the largest hat I could find, hidden away in a box.

Brim span: 21 inches

Perhaps this will inspire you to transition from your winter to summer clothes, or remind you of all the things that need to get done. Whatever the case may be, I hope your transitions go smoothly. 

Happy transitions! 

Inspirations for Steampunk Costumes

Last post we showed hints of the costumes that will be featured in the steampunk exhibit. However searching through the collection, Deb and I both found other items that reminded us of steampunk fashions. This time we can show you the whole garments since they won't be on display.

First up is my choice. When I opened the box I was captivated by the black velvet and braided detail (called passementerie). I can imagine a Victorian lady wearing this dark and mysterious cape.

 

Dolman capes were popular among the fashionable women of the 1870s and 1880s. 

An up-close view of the fantastic passementerie detail.

Next up is Deb's choice. She spotted this fancy bodice heavily decorated with beads, lace, and velvet. This piece really dazzles and would be a hit at any high class Victorian event.

This piece comes all the way from London, made by Garnier et Cie Confections. 

Thousands of beads adorn this piece. Just imagine the hours it took to complete!

So which one do you think is more steampunk: the velvet cape or the beaded bodice?

Either way, they both are marvelous Victorian Era costumes.

Sneak Peek: Steampunk Costumes

Here at the Oshkosh Museum, everyone is excited for our upcoming exhibit: Steampunk. Deb and I are especially excited to see all of the artwork, gadgets and costumes come together. For our contribution we picked out a few historical costumes that look like they would fit right at home in the steampunk genre. Before we can set them on display, each costume's condition is carefully recorded and repairs are made.

Deb's tools to make sure the clothing is in tip top shape for the exhibit. 

A side view of one of the Victorian costumes. The royal blue chenille trim needed repair.

Rich gold taffeta with pinstripes makes this bustle stand out.

Part of our menswear costume. The button stands in wonderful contrast to the dark velvet.

If you wish to see these items and more, come visit the exhibit this summer, June 8-September 8. 

The fantastical world of steampunk awaits you. 

Katrina

Getting the Picture B"Gosh

Oshkosh, the city, is often confused with OshKosh B' Gosh, the overall (and later children's clothing) company. We are two different entities, even spelled differently.

However, the Oshkosh Public Museum does have some OshKosh B'Gosh overalls in their collection. Check out this sweet pair originally worn by donor (Marjorie Miller, pictured below) when she was a child of 6 years, circa 1918;  then worn by her son (Robert Larson) and nephew (Richard Zahn) in the 1940s.

                                                

Playing Tetris

Our first challenge was to create a work space in the textile room. We wanted a large table area to examine the larger items. However, the room is small and crowded with metal racks and shelves. It also doesn't help that some of the walls angle at 45 degrees, further reducing the amount of storage space.

So we put our thinking caps on and brushed up on our Tetris skills, finally figuring out a solution that created more space. However, more space means less room to maneuver and get at the items. While its not the ideal set up, it will work for now.

The fantastic new work area.

Behind the quilt racks are hanging garments, an unfortunate side effect of the rearrangement.

The good news is that the work area will give us plenty of room to catalog the collections and find better ways of storing them in the future.

What's in the Box?

One challenge for many museums, including our own, is getting the collections cataloged  About 85% of our items are not in the system. This is an obstacle to our textile project. In order to determine the best storage and space needed, the number of items must be known.
Cataloging items takes time and people. Last year I started out as a volunteer cataloging shoes and fans. It is a simple process, but can seem never ending due to the amount of items. Thus volunteers are very important.

I recently started working on a box of handkerchiefs. I was met with layers and layers of silk and cloth, some folded, others flat. Along with cataloging them, I want to get ideas on how these items should be stored. Their current location isn't the ideal.

Peeling back the layers revealed pleasant treasures. It's always an adventure discovering what's in our many boxes.

If you are interested in volunteering, or working with a specific collection, contact Deb or myself. We would love the help.


Katrina

Unique Item: Trick Fan

This year, the spring in Spring Break seems to be missing. But soon enough, the weather will turn warm and we'll have to break out the shorts and flip flops to stay cool. Another fun summer accessory is the fan. They come in all shapes and sizes. Over at the museum our fan collection features colorful scenes, lace and ivory, even fabric and feathers. One of the more interesting fans is hiding as something else.

This may seem like the average cigar, however pull the end to reveal a hidden surprise. 

This trick fan dates from the late 1800s to early 1900s. 

While these three young men pose for a picture, the one on the right holds a similar fan, showing that fans were't just for the ladies.

Novelty fans are a fun way to beat the heat or start a conversation. Even our ancestors knew how to make great gimmicks. 

Unique Item: Bicorne Hat

The bicorne hat, or more commonly called the cocked hat, came into vogue in the 1770s and lasted up until WWI. It is mostly associated with Napoleon Bonaparte, who wore it with the brims to the sides. However, it is mostly worn with the brims to the front.

This bicorne hat belonged to General William Blake as part of his uniform during the War of 1812. 

Its made of paperboard, coppery alloy, and cotton covered with fur chapeau.The eagle and stars are brass with a banner that reads "E Pluribus Unum."

William Blake was born in Vermont in 1793. His parents died 16 years later, leaving him an orphan. He enlisted in 1813 at the age of 21 and became a Private in Captain Thomas Biddle's Artillery Company, 2nd US Artillery. His obituary states that he was wounded three times at the Battle of Lundy's Lane in Ontario, at least once with a bayonet. In October 1814 he became a prisoner of war in Quebec and was released in March 1815. A New York hospital pronounced him unfit for service, so he was discharged. 

After the war Blake returned to Vermont and started a family. They moved to Norfolk, New York in the 1830s where he was elected town supervisor and Major General in the New York Militia. In late 1845 they moved again, this time to Fox Lake, Wisconsin (then called Waushara). The Wisconsin Militia commissioned Blake as a general, and he lived out the rest of his days as a farmer. He died August 18, 1868.

I always thought these hats looked silly. But after researching them, they have grown on me. However you won't catch me wearing one of these anytime soon.

Rolled Storage

In order to create even more space, we decided to condense one of the rolled textile racks.

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Here is the rack with most of the textiles off. We will get rid of this bulky rack, creating space and reducing floor weight.

We transferred the textiles onto two other racks. We had to adjust the spacing in between rolls. Instead of two rolls, three fit comfortably with plenty of breathing space on a bar.

Here I am posing with the full rack.

When this project is completed there will be so much more space to work in. And space is a wonderful thing.


Katrina

Unique Item: Bulletproof Vest

This may look like the average 1930s wool suite vest, however add 15 pounds of metal inserts and you have a Dunrite bulletproof vest. These were popular among gangsters as they are inconspicuous and light enough for a quick getaway. However they offer minimal protection.

John Dillinger's gang used bulletproof vests, usually stolen from police stations. A Dunrite vest was found in Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker's Ford V8 with a few bullet holes.*

This vest was manufactured by Detective Publishing Co., Chicago. The front and back are connected by snaps at the shoulders and elastic straps on the sides which can be adjusted for size. This vest is a good example of the different materials we have in the collection. It combines wool, metal and plastic. Caring for items with more than one material can be a challenge. Through the textile project we hope to find the best storage for unique items like this.

Bulletproof vests have come a long way since the 1930s, but I think these look classier. 

Donated by Roger and Beverly Rose

*Dary Matera, John Dillinger: The Life and Death of America's First Celebrity Criminal, (New York: Caroll & Gaff Publishers, 2004), 392.

Getting The Picture

Getting The Picture Series
It is always a great day when an actual object in the museum's collection can be matched up with a photograph of the original owner or their descendants wearing or using the object. This not only documents the donor's claims  but provides illustrations for an exhibit storyline. (Plus it is just plain fun to see who wore what when). Every once and a while I will be adding some of these images along with the associated artifacts to Katrina's blog. We would love to hear your comments, so please, do not be shy!  CuratorDeb

The white furry coat was worn by Margaret Crowner Sell, the taller girl in the photograph taken on March 29, 1915. Next to Margaret is her sister, Helen, in a matching coat.

Great Beginnings

The museum is very excited about our textile project and having such a great intern as Katrina head it. We look forward to sharing our "forgotten gems," uncovering of new details and making discoveries with you. Please send us your comments.

Introduction

The Oshkosh Public Museum has a wonderful collection of textiles  ranging from hats and shoes to dresses  and quilts. However, the storage room on the third floor is getting a little crowded. That's where I come in.

I will be working with curator Deb Daubert and dedicated volunteers to reorganize and catalog the extensive collections as well as research the best ways to care and store the items. We are always looking for volunteers, especially those with textile experience.

We will be showing the progress being made, taking a look at behind the scenes action and showing interesting treasures we find along the way.


I hope you join us as we dive into fabric and feathers!


Katrina