The Museums of Tusculum College have been awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to conduct a preservation assessment of their textile collections.
A $6,000 National Endowment for the Humanities Preservation Access Grant has been awarded to the Museums of Tusculum to fund the preservation assessment of textile collections in the two museums on campus, the Doak House Museum and the President Andrew Johnson Museum and Library.
The collections in the two museums include items owned by President Johnson and his family, objects related to the history of Tusculum College and textiles created by notable East Tennessee women.
In addition to the assessment, the consulting conservator will also hold a workshop on the care and preservation of textiles for museum staff, volunteers and students in the museum studies, history and public history programs at Tusculum. Remaining funds will be used to purchase supplies to improve collections care.
“We are honored to be the recipients of this grant and are looking forward to working with an expert in textile care,” said Museums Director Dollie Boyd. “Items made from cloth and other wearable materials can be notoriously hard to care for and preserve long-term. This is a great opportunity to insure that our one-of-a-kind pieces will be given the very best treatment going forward.”
Boyd is working the college’s museum studies and history programs to schedule the conservator’s visit this spring.
The Doak House Museum and the President Andrew Johnson Museum and Library are operated by the Department of Museum Program and Studies of Tusculum College. In addition to the museums, the department is responsive for the College Archives and offers one of the few undergraduate Museum Studies degree programs in the country. The two museums are also part of the National Historic District on the Tusculum campus. Follow the museums on Facebook and Twitter to learn the latest news and upcoming events or visit www.tusculum.edu/museums to learn more about the variety of programs offered at the museums.
The Museums of Tusculum College have been awarded a National Endowment for Humanities Preservation Access Grant for an assessment of their textile collections, such as these quilts housed at the Doak House Museum.