Kent State University Museum: Textiles

The Kent State University Museum has in its collection textiles from as far back as the 14th century. Many of the numerous textile fragments came to the collection through the costume and textile dealer and collector Cora Ginsburg. Several Museum exhibitions through the years have been devoted to textiles.

In 1988, founder Shannon Rodgers organized the exhibition "The Lure of Lace" to display the most important lace pieces from the Museum's collection. In 1994, Museum Director Jean L. Druesedow curated the exhibition "Costumes, Quilts and Coverlets: Continuing Traditions" to showcase recent acquisitions such as the Elizabeth Hobbes Keckley/Mary Todd Lincoln quilt. Museum curator Anne Bissonnette created "Wrapped in Splendor: The Art of the Paisley Shawls" in 1997.

This piece of early 18th century silk comes from a series of notebooks of fabric samples ranging from the 17th through the 19th century donated to the Museum by Cora Ginsburg. Her friendship with founders Shannon Rodgers and Jerry Silverman and her knowledge and fine eye informed their purchases and helped make the Kent State University Museum's costume collection among the most outstanding in the world.

Gift of Cora Ginsburg,
KSUM 1995.56.125

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This view shows a detail of a duchesse lace stole made of linen thread and produced in Europe in the 19th century. This style of lace, a variety of guipure, is made without a net ground and is said to have been named for the Duchess of Brabant, who later became Queen of Belgium. The stole was worn by Mary Arter Taft.

Gift of Sally Boggs Taft, KSUM 1995.30.10

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According to American quilt historian Ruth Findlay, this quilt was made by Elizabeth Hobbes Keckley from scraps of Mary Todd Lincoln's dresses. Mrs. Keckley, an African American, was Mrs. Lincoln's dressmaker and lived in the White House with the Lincolns for four years. She had previously bought her freedom with money earned by dress-making.

Gift of Ross Trump in memory of his mother, Helen WattsTrump,
KSUM 1994.79.1

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KECKLY QUILT PHOTS

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