Season 2, Episode 20 (Episode 46)

Conserving Historic Needlework: An Interview with Gretchen Guidess and Jackie Peterson-Grace (17 June 2021)

  • Gretchen Guidess
  • Jackie Peterson-Grace
  • Gretchen and Jackie in the Textile Conservation Lab.


  • “Quilt, White Stuffed Work,” c. 1830, made in France but used in Williamsburg, Virginia, Colonial Williamsburg. This is the quilt wet cleaned by Gretchen and Jackie in 2019.


  • “Embroidered Raised Work Casket,” 1674, England, Colonial Williamsburg.
  • Detail of casket showing castle and stag that have lost their top layer of stitching.


  • Sampler by Mary Welsh, c. 1770, Boston, Massachusetts, Colonial Williamsburg.


  • Sampler by Mary Chicken, Goose Creek, South Carolina, 1745, Colonial Williamsburg.
  • Appliqued album quilt by multiple makers, Baltimore, Maryland, 1830s-40s, Colonial Williamsburg.
  • Ask A Conservator Day each November — We hold Ask a Conservator Day in November in remembrance of the flooding of Florence on November 4th, 1966, which damaged priceless cultural heritage. However, in response to the catastrophe, incredible efforts were made—and are still being undertaken—to conserve the items impacted by the flood. Our department has participated in the last 2 so watch our social media accounts this November.
  • American Institute for Conservation (AIC) site — Learn more about who, what, why, and where of conservators at one of our preservation membership organisations: https://www.culturalheritage.org/
  • CW Blog — This blog is about how the costume collection is studied and how one suit (1964-32a & b) was reproduced for one of our Nation Builders to wear in the Historic Area: https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/learn/deep-dives/creating-embroidered-coat-george-washington/
  • Colonial Williamsburg’s eMuseum: https://emuseum.history.org/collections
  • Come visit Colonial Williamsburg! — The Museums of Colonial Williamsburg have 2 dedicated textile galleries (Len and Cyndy Alaimo Gallery and Foster and Muriel McCarl Gallery) soon to be joined by the Gilliland Costume gallery to become 3 dedicated textile galleries: https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/explore/art-museums/?from=navexplore
  • The Historic Area has ongoing interpretation of various needle trades, including milliners, tailors, shoemakers, leather artificers, bookbinders, and wig makers: https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/explore/historic-trades/
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