Conversations with a Curator: Understanding and Caring for Aged Textiles and Clothing

If you’ve ever been handed down an old piece of clothing or discovered such a treasure in an attic or closet, you’ve probably had a variation of this thought: “What is one to do with an interesting textile or an intriguing and maybe wearable relic?”

Alda G. Kaye, who became the curator of a large university historic costume and textile collection, has worked with faculty, students, museums, and other institutions for almost thirty years. She’s even been knighted for her work at a Newport, ...