The Clothes On Their Back

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by Pottsgrove Manor.

Pottsgrove Manor will present “Fashioning a New World: A Symposium on Clothing and Textiles in Early America” at the West Campus of Montgomery County Community College in Pottstown on Saturday, July 19, 2014 and Sunday, July 20, 2014 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Pottsgrove Manor is pleased to offer this program of engaging lectures from experts in the study of historical costume and textiles.

Scheduled presentations include: 

• “Textiles in America: Dispelling the Myths” by Linda Eaton, Director of Collections and Senior Curator of Textiles at the Winterthur Museum; 
• “Had on When She Went Away: American Runaway Advertisements, 1750-1790” by Rebecca Fifield, Collections Manager for the Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas at the Metropolitan Museum of Art; 
• “Fit for a Child: Fashions Thought Suitable for Children in 18th Century America” by Lynn Edgar, independent researcher; 
• “With the Genteelest Taste and Newest Fashions: The Three Piece Suit 1660-1800” by Neal Hurst, Journeyman Tailor and fellow at the Winterthur Museum; 
• “Put Your Best Foot Forward: Footwear of Early America” by Brett Walker, Journeyman Boot at Shoemaker at Colonial Williamsburg.

There will be optional sewing workshops offered on Sunday afternoon. 

Attendees can sign up for one of the following workshops: 

• “Construction of an 18th Century Infant/Toddler Jacket” with Lynn Edgar; 
• “An 18th Century Embroidered Needlebook” with Lynn Symborski, Pottsgrove Manor’s
  
  museum educator; 
• “The Basics of Death Head Buttons” with Wendy Moyer, historical seamstress; or 
• “Sewing a Gentleman’s Neck Stock” with Neal Hurst.

This program is being held in conjunction with Pottsgrove Manor’s current exhibit of both reproduction and original 18th Century garments, “To the Manor Worn: Clothing the 18th Century Household,” a tour of which will be included as part of the symposium.

The cost of the symposium is $75 per person, which includes Saturday and Sunday lunches; the optional Sunday afternoon workshops require an additional materials fee of $15 per person. 

Spaces are limited. Registration and payment is required by July 11, 2014. A registration packet can be downloaded from Pottsgrove Manor’s website: www.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor.

The “To the Manor Worn” exhibit can also be toured during regular museum hours through November 2, 2014: Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

Tours are given on the hour. The last tour of the day begins at 3 p.m. 

The site is closed Mondays and major holidays. Groups of ten or more should pre-register by calling 610-326-4014.

Pottsgrove Manor is located at 100 West King Street near the intersection of King Street and Route 100, just off Route 422. 

Pottsgrove Manor is operated by Montgomery County under the direction of the Parks, Trails, and Historic Sites Division of the Assets and Infrastructure Department. 

For more information, please call 610-326-4014, or visit the website at www.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor. Like Pottsgrove Manor on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pottsgrovemanor.