Fancy fashions to be displayed

[Freehold Resident]

Fancy fashions to be displayed

A new museum exhibition, "Dress Up!," will open at the Monmouth County Historical Association, Court Street, Freehold, on Sept. 19 and run through July 2007. Drawn from the association's own extensive textile collections, the show will feature about 50 special occasion dresses, suits and personal accessories such as shoes, hats and jewelry.

In addition, a selection of portraits, photographs, advertising cards and ephemera that illustrate fashion will be on view. Fashion mavens and history buffs alike will enjoy this opportunity to view rare examples of period clothing that reflect trends in style over time.

Among the clothing that will be included in the exhibition are: an amethyst brocade gown worn by a Monmouth County woman to a reception honoring William Tecumseh Sherman after the Civil War, and a dress of pale pink silk worn by a young Monmouth County girl to her first formal dance in 1840. The exhibition will bring guests into the 20th century with a Rudy Gernrich dress from the early 1970s.

The MCHA thanked Impact Unlimited Inc. of the Dayton section of South Brunswick for its assistance with the exhibition.

The Monmouth County Historical Association's Museum and Library is at 70 Court Street, Freehold. Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The library is open Wednesday through Saturday. For membership or admission fees and further information, call [phone] or visit www.monmouthhistory.org.

[Marc LeVine]

The Monmouth County Historical Association's Museum and Library is at 70 Court Street, Freehold

[admin]

The Monmouth County Historical Association is a very under utilized gem in our county. I urge all people to visit their sites.

The Museum and library is fantastic. I had to do some research on a local town many years ago and the information that I found in the library was top notch. They had more that I could go through in one afternoon.

[Marc LeVine]

Clothing in exhibit to change

The exhibition "Dress Up!" has been on view at the Monmouth County Historical Association's museum and library at 70 Court Street, Freehold, since September. Now it is time to rotate a new set of historic costumes into the exhibition.

According to a press release from the historical association, proper care of historic textiles dictates that they only be subjected to light for a few months, then they need to be given a rest. So, at the beginning of February, curator Bernadette Rogoff will begin to change the period clothing displayed on the mannequins in the Washington Gallery.

By Feb. 24 a whole new selection from the association's extensive costume and textile collection will be on view. Some of the highlights will be: an emerald green silk fringed day dress from 1865, an 1815 empire ball gown shown with an embroidered shawl made in Paris, and a red velvet evening dress from the mid-1930s.

A display case in the front hallway features season themes. Right now there is a mini-exhibition of valentines from the association's archival collection. In March and April, a theme of gardening will be presented showing early seed packets and gardening tools.

The Monmouth County Historical Association's museum and library is at 70 Court Street, Freehold. Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The library is open Wednesday through Saturday. Call [phone] or visit at www.monmouthhistory.org.