Thanks for reminding people what they are dealing with. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Margaret Geiss-Mooney" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2000 11:06 PM Subject: Re: Baby Clothes Cleaning Caveats > Please consult with a costume conservator first before doing anything! > It may be too fragile to immerse in a water solution and could come > apart as aged natural fibres are much weaker in water than when dry. > Plus there was no mention of any coloured components that must be tested > for fastness first. Please no exposure to sunlight! This museum artifact > only has a certain amount of time - don't increase it's rate of > deterioration by blasting it with sunlight (whoa! way more than the > recommended 5 footcandles!). Please don't decrease or increase its pH by > applying lemon juice or ammonia - remember that low and high pH are to > be avoided because (start the chorus here) it increases the rate of > deterioration also. Don't use Woolite - it contains perfumes that will > be left behind which will (start the chorus again!) increase the rate of > deterioration. > To locate a costume conservator in your area, please contact the > American Institute of Conservation for a free (yes, free!) referral > (their website is http://aic.stanford.edu - click on Selecting A > Conservator); phone (202)452-9545. And remember that the best course of > action for this christening gown may be to take no action (except to > handle, store and display it correctly). > Meg Geiss-Mooney > Costume/Textile Conservator > Professional Associate, AIC > Northern California > > Laura Pelton-Sweet wrote: > > > > I forgot - for that strange yellowed look that comes with age: > > > > This may be the result of the original owner using bluing to clean the > > garment. To remove the yellow caused by bluing, lemon juice and salt work > > well. I'd mix either one with water and then apply to the garment. Rinse > > well. If you feel comfortable sun-drying the dress (spread out flat) for a > > short period, that would help too. > > > > Laura > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Christine Dwyer <[log in to unmask]> > > To: <[log in to unmask]> > > Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2000 12:02 PM > > Subject: Baby Clothes > > > > > Hello All, > > > > > > We have a baby's christening gown, circa 1850, made of cotton and lace. > > The > > > cotton is quite thin and has yellowed. Any suggestions on how to clean > > it? > > > Many thanks. > > > > > > > > > Christine M. Dwyer, Director > > > Stanly County Museum > > > & Historic Preservation Commission > > > 245 East Main Street, Albemarle, NC 28001 USA > > > (704) 986-3777 (704) 986-3778 fax > > > www.co.stanly.nc.us/Departments/Museum/index.htm > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ========================================================= > > > Important Subscriber Information: > > > > > > The Museum-L FAQ file is located at > > http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed > > information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message > > to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" > > (without the quotes). > > > > > > If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to > > [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff > > Museum-L" (without the quotes). > > > > > > > ========================================================= > > Important Subscriber Information: > > > > The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). > > > > If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes). > > ========================================================= > Important Subscriber Information: > > The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). > > If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes). ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).