On November 7, the Joseph H. Plumb Memorial Library in concert with the Friends of the Library hosted an informative presentation by textile conservator Kate Tarleton. The Tri-town area hit the jackpot when Tarleton came to the area bringing with her years of expert knowledge on best practices for preserving heirlooms from quilts to dresses, hats to lace, and so much more.
Tarleton not only assists in the understanding of how to care for fabrics, she has first-hand hands-on experience in rehabilitating pieces the belong to our collective history.
Consider the massive Grand Panorama of the history of whaling that was expertly repaired and conserved by the New Bedford Whaling Museum. Tarleton was a member of the team that completed that preservation. Imagine the challenges faced when confronting 1,275 feet of aging paint on canvas. The immense work of art was done by Benjamin Russell and Caleb Purrington between 1841 and 1844. Now tucked into the conference space at the library, Tarleton addressed preservation and conservation issues faced by the average person.
The biggest problems were referenced as “agents of degradation.” Those are temperature and relative humidity, pollution and airborne soiling, insects, rodents and pets, light, and inappropriate materials.
Tarleton explained that high temperatures, humidity, and poor air circulation are the perfect environment for mold and mildew growth. She warned that it is nearly, if not completely impossible to remove staining from these fungi and further is dangerous to people’s health. Swelling occurs from these damaging agents, weakening the fibers and impacting dyes.
Dirt and dust, known as particulate soils, can come from cigarette smoke, wood smoke, perfumes, dust, and even hairspray. Tarleton said to control these, vacuuming is recommended. In fact, several times throughout her presentation she recommended careful vacuuming to remove dust and other forms of dirt.
And then there are the creepy crawlies: insects, rodents, and yes, the beloved family pet.
Insects attack natural fibers such as wool, silk, and textile finishes. Tarleton recommends inspecting textiles, especially before adding them to a collection and not placing them in storage containers directly on floors. As for the pets, she cautioned that pet hair and bodily fluids are difficult to remove. Insects and rodents can eat textiles and leave stains from excrement. The threats are multiple to textile keepsakes.
Light presents its own set of issues to saving and preserving fabric items. Light exposure can have a cumulative irreversible impact. UV radiation from sunlight and fluorescent lights cause the most damage, Tarleton explained. Also, light can cause materials to become brittle and powdering.
Tarleton spent some time discussing how to store textiles versus how not to. She said to always use acid free boxes and tissue paper and to steer clear of cedar chests. “I know everyone likes the smell and thinks they protect textiles…. but that is not the case.” She said that overtime, oils in the wood damage fabrics.
Audience members were invited to share pieces from their private collections. Tarleton offered advice on how to store items and how to display delicate fabrics. One interesting historical article of clothing recently donated to the Rochester Historical Society was a nurse’s cape and hat. Society members Connie Esbach and Susan LaFleur said the cape had belonged to Katherine Church. Tarleton offered to assist the society in evaluating several newly donated articles of clothing, including a wedding dress in the coming weeks.
Friends of the Joseph H. Plumb Memorial Library
By Marilou Newell