Bush House Museum Textile Conservation Project

FAIN: PG-50380-08

Salem Art Association (Salem, OR 97302-6203)
Sara Swanborn (Project Director: May 2007 to May 2010)

Hiring a preservation consultant to conduct a conservation assessment of the Bush House Museum's textile collection, reflecting the history and culture of Salem, Oregon. The collection includes bedspreads, towels, sheets, pillow covers, tablecloths, curtains, and quilts; men's, ladies', and children's clothing; and decorative wall hangings and needlework samplers.

The Textile Conservation Project is a multi-phase project that starts with an evaluation of the Museum's 1,500-item textile collection by a professional textile conservator. The evaluation will result in a written report and recommendations for conservation, long-term storage, and proper display of collection pieces. Subsequent phases of the project include staff training in storage and display techniques and the purchase of materials for appropriate long-term storage as recommended by the conservator. The project is based on a 1991 Conservation Assessment Report in which the museum was encouraged to "seek funding for a variety of projects enabling Bush House to implement preservation efforts for the collection. Consider projects such as providing baseline condition data, treatment priorities and preventative conservation." With textiles accounting for a significant portion of the museum's collections, textile conservation is a logical priority for the museum's preservation efforts.