Textile Cataloging and Rehousing

One short term impact expected was new knowledge of the collection could inform new exhibits. Staff have already used items from the collection to interpret county historical narratives in an upcoming exhibit to interpret the 1970's decade.(see photo) The staff is planning a new exhibit for the main temporary hall for the first half of 2017 on "The Victorian Era Revisited on the Frontier." This will access some of the amazing textiles discovered from the 1870's through 1920. Many of the items for that exhibit will be on display for the first time.
Another intermediate goal has already been realized in the short term. Two donors recently visited to find and see articles their family members had donated many years ago. Rather than dig through piles or racks, taking several hours or even days, staff were able to pinpoint the garments' locations in PastPerfect and retrieve them in minutes, to the delight of the donor families. This project has created goodwill in the community through the fact they see artifacts being properly cared for. Donations for future projects have been received by the Historical Society.