Rehousing Strawbery Banke Museum's Textile Collection

FAIN: PG-50263-08

Strawbery Banke Museum (Portsmouth, NH 03802-0300)
Kimberly Alexander (Project Director: May 2007 to April 2010)

The purchase of cleaning equipment and storage materials for the museum's textile collections. These collections include decorative textiles; household items, such as blankets, bed linens, and towels; and costumes and accessories including baby clothes, dresses, shirts, and pants. The textile collections help to document the early history and culture of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and communities along the Piscataqua River.

Strawbery Banke Museum (SBM) is requesting support to rehouse a portion of its significant textile collection. SBM had packed a large percentage of its collection in "acid free" boxes with "acid free" tissue paper. These materials were sold as "acid free" by a reputable museum supplier. However, because these materials were not "lignin" free, the residual lignin has decomposed over time and become highly acidic. Because of this, SBM must immediately rehouse its textile collection. We have requested funding for new acid free boxes, and packing supplies. Further, SBM is requesting funding for padded hangers, and two Nilfisk HEPA vacuum cleaners--one vacuum cleaner for cleaning the textiles on exhibit in its nine furnished houses and the other vacuum cleaner for cleaning textiles in the new Carter Collections Center.