WILLIAMSBURG— Colonial Williamsburg will be hosting an inaugural symposium on Historical Dress, Nov. 14-16 with scholarships available for students and immerging professionals.
Offered both virtually and in-person, Colonial Williamsburg says this conference celebrates the connections between collections of historic clothing, their collectors, and the studies made possible through the preservation and care of dress and related artifacts.
Colonial Williamsburg states John Styles, author and historian, and Titi Halle, a leader in the field of textiles and costume, will deliver guest keynote addresses. More than 25 accepted scholarly papers with topics spanning the 17th-21st centuries will be presented, including: “Inferring Material Culture in Marginalized Populations: Portraying Cherokee Women in four decades,” (Lisa & Lara Neel), “Growing Flax, Processing Linen, and Making Clothes: A New Hampshire Fiber Staple for a Sustainable Future” (Kimberly Alexander), and “The Yellow Dress Project: A Collaborative Reconstruction of an 18th Century Silk Gown” (Hilary Davison).
The symposium will also celebrate several Colonial Williamsburg milestones including:
- The opening of the Mary Turner and Clinton R. Gilliland Gallery at the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg and the inaugural exhibit, Elegance, Taste & Style: The Mary D. Doering Fashion Collection
- 90 years of historical dress and costumed interpretation at Colonial Williamsburg (1934)
- 70 years of the Margaret Hunter Shop, which was the first curated exhibit of clothing and accessories at Colonial Williamsburg (1954)
- 40 years of mantua-making in the Dept. of Historic Trades (1984)
Neal Hurst, Colonial Williamsburg’s curator of textiles and historic dress, will explore the history of historic dress at the Foundation during his opening keynote, and the milliners and mantua-makers of the Department of Historic Trades and Skills will share a clothing-illustrated history of the 70 years of the Millinery Shop, highlighting its evolution from a retail shop and museum space to the active trade shop it is today.
A limited number of in-person and virtual attendance scholarships are available to students, emerging professionals, and self-taught historians in relevant positions or programs. The deadline to apply is July 1, and can be done online.
In-person registration is $300 per person through Sept. 1 and includes presentations, opening reception, coffee & refreshment breaks, and a closing dinner at Shield Tavern. Virtual-only registration is $100 per person and includes access to all presentations through the conference streaming platform.
Both in-person and virtual-only registration include a seven-day ticket voucher to Colonial Williamsburg’s Art Museums and Historic Area, valid for redemption through May 2025. Registration and payment in full are required by Nov. 1 for in-person attendance and Nov. 14 for virtual attendance.
Colonial Williamsburg says to register and view the full conference agenda, visit colonialwilliamsburg.org/historical-dress. Unless otherwise noted, all presentations will take place at the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg. Special pre-conference programs are available for in-person attendees only, as are special room rates at Colonial Williamsburg hotels for conference registrants.
