Lessons in History: Preserving the Past – The Conservation of Katherine Wilson Curtin’s Dress – In Person

Lessons in History: Preserving the Past — The Conservation of Katherine Wilson Curtin’s Dress
Saturday, March 21 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

The National Civil War Museum is proud to present our March Lessons in History program exploring the remarkable conservation of a rare garment belonging to Katherine Wilson Curtin, wife of Pennsylvania’s Civil War Governor Andrew Curtin. Representatives from the Daughters of Veterans of the Civil War, 1861-1865, Katherine Wilson Curtin tent will discuss their conservation efforts.

This elegant French-made purple velvet and silk dress, dating to the late nineteenth century, offers a rare and intimate glimpse into the personal life of one of Pennsylvania’s most important wartime families. More than a beautiful artifact, the dress tells a story of status, mourning customs, craftsmanship, and the social world surrounding the Commonwealth’s wartime leadership.

During this program, guests will learn how historians and textile conservators stabilized and preserved the fragile garment so it could safely be exhibited and studied for future generations. The presentation will examine the challenges of conserving historic clothing, the techniques used to protect delicate fabrics, and what such artifacts reveal about the people who lived through and shaped the Civil War era.

Join us as we look beyond the battlefield and into the domestic and social history of the Civil War through one extraordinary piece of material culture.

Free public lecture. Regular Museum admission applies for gallery access.

Centre County Historical Society KWC Dress article Winter 2025