CPA grant Final Report Hist No Aug 2019 Costume for MIOMSt-1.pdfNorthampton Community Preservation Grant
Project Title: Historic Costumes and Textiles: Preservation and Preparation for
“Making it on Main Street” exhibition at Historic Northampton
Final report narrative, August 13, 2019
The project was completed on June 20, 2019 with the opening of the new exhibit, “Making it on
Main Street.” Costume historian consultant Lynne Bassett prepared the clothing, hats, and
textiles for the exhibit, using preservation materials paid for by this grant. In addition, Ms.
Bassett reviewed label copy for the texts in cases and for the hands-on activities.
On display (with object selection and texts reviewed by Ms. Bassett) are household textiles, a
reproduction of al late 1700s shirt made of blue check linen, an 18th-century red wool cloak,
and an 1881 two-piece silk dress made by the firm of Mary Ferry and Mary Dickinson on Main
Street. The goal was to preserve them while they were on display.
Quinn Burgess sewing the
edging on a reproduction of
Historic Northampton’s 18th
century cloak. Lynne Bassett
oversaw Ms. Burgess’s work
and reviewed all texts for
accuracy. Visitors can try on
this reproduction, thereby
preserving the original.
Lynne Bassett putting the 1881 dress on the mannequin which she modified so that it fit the
dress perfectly, without straining or damaging the dress.
The dress in the exhibit case. Ms. Bassett identified another dress to replace this one after six
months; each dress should not be exposed to light for a long period of time.