Why and I doing this?
[This was supposed to be the first blog post but I already uploaded The Golden Troupe photos and I'm too lazy to just start over. So just scroll on down if you want to get right to The Golden Troupe].
Here we go.
Costume exhibitions were so hard to find in the past and they only last a very short time. I am so glad that there is a renewed interest in costume history and sewing and I'm hoping that the funding and respect this field needs will grow. Sadly, I'm hearing of a lot of cutbacks when material culture storage and research labs are being taken over and repurposed for other things such as one University in the UK and the big changes with the V&A. Then both the UK and the US having problems with educational funding for material culture. Just as things looked like they were starting to improve, funding gets cut. Even though fashion/costume exhibitions are big draws to museums! I maybe a bit biased but I believe the most valuable objects in the world are materials. It only takes being outside in 100* or 10* with no shoes or clothing to understand how valuable clothing is!
*My disclaimer if any museum/university needs anything that needs to be taken down I will gladly remove it! My goal is to inspire and be a jumping off point for anyone doing research or for people just interested in costume or local history.
*My other disclaimer is forgive the grainy dark photos! I'm digging through my years of costume exhibitions (back to the 2000’s), and it was before we had phones that took better photos than digital cameras! I'm trying to clean them up the best I can. I do not use flashes in museums to protect the objects so photos will be darker than usual. It is a quick reference so objects can later be found at the museum that houses them for further study.
*Also, my grammar really sucks. Apologies. I was busy writing pen pals all over the world in English class because I was bored. Regrets for that now but not for writing cool people all over the world!
[This was supposed to be the first blog post but I already uploaded The Golden Troupe photos and I'm too lazy to just start over. So just scroll on down if you want to get right to The Golden Troupe].
Here we go.
Costume exhibitions were so hard to find in the past and they only last a very short time. I am so glad that there is a renewed interest in costume history and sewing and I'm hoping that the funding and respect this field needs will grow. Sadly, I'm hearing of a lot of cutbacks when material culture storage and research labs are being taken over and repurposed for other things such as one University in the UK and the big changes with the V&A. Then both the UK and the US having problems with educational funding for material culture. Just as things looked like they were starting to improve, funding gets cut. Even though fashion/costume exhibitions are big draws to museums! I maybe a bit biased but I believe the most valuable objects in the world are materials. It only takes being outside in 100* or 10* with no shoes or clothing to understand how valuable clothing is!
*My disclaimer if any museum/university needs anything that needs to be taken down I will gladly remove it! My goal is to inspire and be a jumping off point for anyone doing research or for people just interested in costume or local history.
*My other disclaimer is forgive the grainy dark photos! I'm digging through my years of costume exhibitions (back to the 2000’s), and it was before we had phones that took better photos than digital cameras! I'm trying to clean them up the best I can. I do not use flashes in museums to protect the objects so photos will be darker than usual. It is a quick reference so objects can later be found at the museum that houses them for further study.
*Also, my grammar really sucks. Apologies. I was busy writing pen pals all over the world in English class because I was bored. Regrets for that now but not for writing cool people all over the world!
The Golden Troupe New Harmony, Indiana
When a local friend learned of my love of history and fashion they encouraged me to look up The Golden Troupe through the Indiana State Museum for information for any upcoming exhibitions. Growing up in the small town near this historic town it was one of the more exciting things in our area. I had my first Theatre Stitching job at the New Harmony Theater so it is always dear to my heart. New Harmony also has a bit of magic or lore to it. It was always fascinating to me to visit the old log cabins and hear the story of the Harmonists and run around the Hedge Harmonist Labyrinth. There are now many more labyrinths in town and it is one of the coolest towns you've probably never heard of. Of course, any field trip we had when I was a kid, it seemed to be on the most humid day of the year! I do still enjoy visiting the town as an adult and looking at the antique shops, art gallery and eating some of my favorite pizza from Yellow Tavern. There was a beloved pizza/sub shop in Mount Vernon that burned down years ago and the Yellow Tavern now has Dean's pizza's style of pizza! It's one of the most unique pizzas I've had and each city I've traveled I always find my favorite pizza place. I have been known to order one on my way out of town after visiting family and enjoy it on the long drive back home!
Back to The Golden Troupe! I feel like these videos and blogs will better explain their history than me!
Video and Blog on The Golden Troupe from the Indiana State Museum.
The most AWESOME thing is most of the collection is photographed and online to view!!! Here is direct link.
Some more artifacts maybe held at the Working Men's Institute Museum & Library in New Harmony.
Some more links:
Facebook post about Frances Golden
Facebook post on the annual rotation of costumes at the Thrall Opera House.
Indystar news article with great photos!
An auction with items that may not be in the museum and in a private collection.
Below are my photos from an exhibition that was in the Thrall Opera House. I contacted the museum directly and the lovely curator at the time met me there to let me in to see the exhibition. I can't remember her name and if I do remember of find the email will update it! I think she was in the area when I was so we had planned to meet there. It seems that they do change out the exhibition yearly and you can see it during one of the tours.
Back to The Golden Troupe! I feel like these videos and blogs will better explain their history than me!
Video and Blog on The Golden Troupe from the Indiana State Museum.
The most AWESOME thing is most of the collection is photographed and online to view!!! Here is direct link.
Some more artifacts maybe held at the Working Men's Institute Museum & Library in New Harmony.
Some more links:
Facebook post about Frances Golden
Facebook post on the annual rotation of costumes at the Thrall Opera House.
Indystar news article with great photos!
An auction with items that may not be in the museum and in a private collection.
Below are my photos from an exhibition that was in the Thrall Opera House. I contacted the museum directly and the lovely curator at the time met me there to let me in to see the exhibition. I can't remember her name and if I do remember of find the email will update it! I think she was in the area when I was so we had planned to meet there. It seems that they do change out the exhibition yearly and you can see it during one of the tours.
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