From: "Peggy Derrick" <lchscurator@centurytel.net> Subject: RE: Listserve - weddng dresses, etc Date: Wed, 31 Jul 2013 16:08:13 -0500 Message-ID: <007e01ce8e32$1247fde0$36d7f9a0$@net>
You only have two wedding dresses? Wow--count yourself lucky. Most
societies have way too many. If you only have two, and they have good
provenance AND the donor is still an active member, I'd say you should
keep them.
However, these are textiles: restoration is usually not feasible or
possible. The best you can hope for is stabilization and conservation.
Most of the time discoloration is irreversible. Attempts to remove it
will do more damage than good. Do what you can (acid free storage, no
light) to conserve them, and accept that they are historic artifacts,
not shop window displays. And collect photos of the dresses being worn
as documentation--it's the stories that make them important.
Peggy Derrick, Curator
La Crosse County Historical Society
P.O. 1272
La Crosse WI 54602
608-782-1980
-----Original Message-----
From: localhistory-request@listserve.uwec.edu
[mailto:localhistory-request@listserve.uwec.edu] On Behalf Of
nokelley@hshistoricalsociety.org
Sent: Friday, July 26, 2013 6:40 PM
To: Listserve
Subject: Listserve - weddng dresses, etc
Hi Listserve members,
I would like to hear from some of you on these issues. First of all, do
you accept wedding dresses and bridesmaid dresses that are old and have
been stored in plastic bags for years so they all yellow? If you do, how
do you get them cleaned and the yellow removed?
We have two wedding dresses. They are from a member and also her
mother. Both are yellowed. Looks like the mother's dress had been
cleaned years ago but the member's dress had never been cleaned.
I am sure that many have dealt with this issue and can give me some
words of advice.
Thanks,
Nancy O'Kelley
President
Howard-Suamico Historical Society