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.

.
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