MCI Project Summaries 2008 - Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of African-American History and Culture
MCI 6070.2 Black Fashion Museum Costume Collection Phase II Rehousing
MCI Staff: Mary W. Ballard, Cathleen Zaret, Elizabeth Shuster, Micaela Sousa,
Lauren Sturdy, Sara Gillies
During FY2009, the documentation and photodocumentation was reorganized and
streamlined as more than 150 garments were accessioned, examined, and evaluated for
condition. With the consent of the curator, basic treatment was carried out to stabilize the
specimen for storage. The records are now filed electronically as soon as its photography or
documentation is completed. The records are accessible remotely and in a timely manner. For
some garments, the documentation was a serious undertaking because the construction was so
complex. For others, complex stain removal and wet cleaning treatments (Ann Lowe sari dress,
pillow, drapery, coatdress) were completed with the permission of the curator. Finally, a few
needed careful mending and repair of losses or tears. Examples are included here to describe the
range of the collection and treatments carried out. All together, eleven storage units of processed
material were transferred to NMAAHC storage at Pennsy Drive.
Glinda the Good Witch’s costume was
designed by the director of The Wiz, Geoffrey
Holder. Worn by DeeDee Bridgewater for the
opening Broadway run, the nylon 6,6 net gown
had been repaired in several places, primarily
on the back. As a net tricot, tears that had not
been repaired, curled around itself. In this
instance, conservation treatment involved
gently unrolling the curl and persuading the
tricot to lie flat while being secured to a
polyester net of a similar tone. Prior repairs
were left in place, as part of the history of the
use of the costume. These treatments stabilize
the costume, allowing it to be photographed
with a greater uniformity of tone. Other
costumes designed by Geoffrey Holder were
also donated to the Black Fashion Museum,
including the Tin Man’s.
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