RCHS's Collections Care: Quilts and Women's Clothing
Over the course of several months, the women's textiles and all quilts were evaluated based on condition, inventoried, photographed, rehoused, and stored appropriately. This included textiles in boxes, on a make-shift clothing rack, in drawers in the gallery, and textiles kept at the Alexander Faribault House.
For the hanging pieces, they added a new clothing rack, made padded hangers, and selected the most stable and appropriate items to be hung. More than 100 items which had previously been on wire hangers and wedged tightly on the one rack was moved into boxes.
Several of the textiles that were shoved into cramped boxes and stored in trunks are stunning pieces of Rice County's past. Amazing construction and beautiful detail that speak to the people that lived in this county more than a century ago.
The grant also enabled them to purchase the photograph nodule of PastPerfect and have photos taken, the information gathered was then added to their computer records.
(b) Statewide Historic and Cultural Grants. (i) $2,250,000 in 2010 and $4,500,000 in 2011 are appropriated for history programs and projects operated or conducted by or through local, county, regional or other historical or cultural organizations; or for activities to preserve significant historic and cultural resources. Funds are to be distributed through a competitive grants process. The Minnesota Historical Society shall administer these funds using established grants mechanisms, and with assistance from the advisory committee created herein.