Most households contain at least one historic textile such as your grandmother’s christening dress or an old family quilt. Textiles and clothing are also the most numerous items found in small museum and historical society collections. Museums collect and exhibit textiles because of their intimate connection to people’s lives.

Textiles are often made from organic plant and animal fibers, and can be heavily used during their active lifetimes. The very location that a textile is displayed or stored within a building can accelerate its deterioration. If you have a textile hanging in direct light, or stored in a basement or attic, you should take action immediately before it is too late.