LOWELL (October 10, 2007) – More than 40 area people related to the U.S. textile industry attended a reception for the American Textile History Museum (ATHM) on Friday evening, September 28th at the Hope Club in Providence to acquaint them with plans for renovating the Museum's Textiles in America core exhibition.
Pictured from left are George W. Shuster, Karl H. Spilhaus, James S. Coleman,
J. Craig Huff, Jr.
The evening, hosted by Cranston Print Works Chairman and CEO George W. Shuster, National Textile Association President Karl H. Spilhaus, and Hayes Pump, Inc. Chairman Emeritus J. Craig Huff, Jr., featured a presentation by ATHM President and CEO James (Jim) S. Coleman on the Museum’s collections and programs, and the exciting changes planned for its core exhibition, Textiles in America.
“Our vision for the future of the Museum is to make it interactive, up to date, and just plain fun,” said Mr.Coleman. “We would like to see this museum be the kind of place where a family can come, enjoy themselves, interact with a variety of textiles, and hopefully learn a few things.”
According to Mr. Coleman, displays of cutting edge textiles will include a glove designed for use by astronauts that won a contest held by NASA, 21st century biomedical textiles, nano textiles as well as conductive items, sports based products and textiles used by the military for shelter, protection of our soldiers and armor for Humvees. Visitors will have the opportunity to walk through a herd of faux sheep, a field of cotton and take a simulated parachute jump.
During the evening Mr. Coleman presented Messrs. Huff, Shuster, and Spilhaus, who are ATHM trustees, with a Distinguished Service Award for their efforts on behalf of the Museum.
Mr. Spilhaus said that “As President of the NTA and a Trustee of the Museum, I am very pleased to see the Museum moving forward towards fulfillment of its goals and solidifying its future. It is an important place for textiles and for American history.”
The Museum temporarily closed to the public in July to begin removing exhibition objects for the renovation project, and is expected to have a grand reopening in late Spring 2008.
Mr. Coleman said that funding for the project comes from a $3.9 million Campaign for the American Textile History Museum, Stories of the Past…Visions of the Future which also includes $1 million dollars to strengthen the endowment, and $1.4 million towards operating costs. “The campaign has raised more than $3.4 million to date,” he said. “Funds are still needed for the renovation project and to fund operations for the next several years.”
The American Textile History Museum collection is the most significant textile history collection in North America, with an extraordinary library and one of the world’s largest and most important publicly held collections of tools, spinning wheels, hand looms and early production machines. Its collections include more than 5 million textile prints, fabric samples, coverlets and clothing. During construction, the Museum’s Administrative offices are open; Collections department and the Osborne Library are open by appointment, and selected school and scout programs are available. For information, call 978-441-0400, or visit www.athm.org.
