Photo provided by the Suffield Woman’s Club
Suffield Historical Society Treasurer Gary Mandirola holds a big check representing the $7,200 grant the society received from the Suffield Woman’s Club for a project to preserve the large collection of antique garments in the collections of the society’s King House Museum. Also pictured in the museum’s North Chamber are, from the left, curatorial consultant Stacy Danielson, project manager Anne Borg of the society, and Woman’s Club President Lisa Pepe.
The Suffield Woman’s Club (SWC) proudly presented the Suffield Historical Society with a $7,200 donation to preserve the garments in the attic at the King House Museum. The SWC first learned about these garments from Pam Baldini, who did a presentation at a Club meeting last year. Ms. Baldini had been working on a catalogue of the garments for her degree at UConn. The project was researched by the SWC Giving Committee, who determined that the project would benefit the many visitors to the museum and future generations, and it would be devastating if these garments were lost. The Club members agreed by voting to donate the funds. SWC members are also working with the King House project manager, Anne Borg, in making specially padded and wrapped hangers to support the garments as well as assisting museum curatorial costume consultant Stacey Danielson with cleaning, numbering and organizing the items. Among the items is a Revolutionary War jacket, an 1820’s housedress, a World War II uniform, a 1920’s sequin dress, a butler’s jacket and many hand-made bodices and skirts.
The Suffield Woman’s Club is a 501c3 nonprofit and a proud member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, an international organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others. For more information contact Jean Neagle at 860-668-1876, visit gfwc/ct.org and gfwc.org.