Clothing, ca. 1871 (or older)
Submitted by: Ruth
Why is it important to you?: It is shown in a photo of my great-grandparents, being worn by my great-uncle, circa 1875
Expert Advice: (Provided by Brittany Contratto) When I took a closer look at the pictures, the stitching indicates that it was hand sewn. I agree with your statement that it is likely cotton, linen, and/or wool. Other than a few small holes and small stains, it seems to be in good, stable condition. Here are my recommendations:
STORAGE MATERIALS
I highly recommend unbuffered, acid-free tissue paper. Here’s an example product of the tissue paper. Depending on where you purchase acid-free tissue from, consider a tissue size of 11” x 14” or larger. The example tissue paper packet has 100 sheets, so you can overlap tissue to accommodate the 24” size.
I also would suggest an archival box instead a cardboard box. I recommend a polypropylene/Coroplast box. Here’s an example product of the box or this example, and you can pick the 24” long one to accommodate the clothing’s length. These boxes are acid-free, moisture-resistant, strong, and inert, so it will be very safe your clothing piece.
If you only purchase one storage item, I strongly encourage you to purchase the acid-free tissue paper. You can wrap the clothing with the tissue to provide a barrier from the acidic cardboard.
STORAGE PACKING
When packing the clothing, here’s some suggested steps:
Work on a flat, dry, & clean surface such as a bed or table that is free of food or liquid residue.
Only use the acid-free tissue paper – no tape, rubber bands, or other materials go in the box.
Prepare the clothing by carefully unbuttoning buttons, but don’t force them to unbutton if they are tightly in place. Unbuttoning will reduce stress on fibers around the button.
Lightly pad the inner sleeves and inner shoulders with tissue to give support. To pad, slightly crunch and shape paper to be about .5” to 1” high and gently place in clothing.
To fit in the box, fold at the armhole of the sleeves. If possible, try to carefully fold the sleeves across the front of the bodice, so they make an X. Although we want to store your clothing with as little folds as possible, you may need to fold the sleeves again or fold the bodice to make it fit in your box. Don’t force a fold if the clothing isn’t taking the fold well. Add .5” to 1” high tissue padding between the folds for support.
Before placing the folded clothing in the box, place the box next to the clothing and line the box with a layer of overlapping tissues. Then, carefully lift and place the clothing into the box.
Gently adjust it as needed. Overlap tissues on top to cover clothing. Before putting the lid on, make sure no clothing or tissues will get caught on the box’s edge.
STORAGE AREA
I read it is stored in a closet which is good, because it keeps it away from light and daily activities and movement. Make sure not to store the box in a basement or attic, since those environments fluctuate more. If not already done, keep it on a shelf that is at least 4 feet from the ground. Don’t place any other boxes or materials on top of this box.
HANDLING
When handling it, don’t wear any jewelry as rings, bracelets, and even long necklaces since they can easily snag the clothing fibers.
Before you or anyone else handles the clothing, wash your hands with soap and water. You don’t necessarily need gloves to handle it, but if you are more comfortable with gloves, use powder-free nitrile gloves.
Try to minimize handling so you reduce the risk of accidental damage. If you’d like to show it to family or friends, you can show it from within the box.
OTHER SUGGESTIONS
Be sure to keep a look out for pest such as cloth moths. Periodically (every 4-6 months), you can inspect to make sure it is safe. Here's a link to learn more.
Never attempt to clean, wash, repair, or vacuum it – seek a professional textile conservator for those tasks.