Whether it is family christening gown handed down from generation to generation, or a quilt
recently purchased at an antique shop, the heirloom textiles in your possession require special
care. Join professional textile conservator Kate Tarleton to learn about the best methods for
preserving, exhibiting and caring for your precious textile treasures at home. Participants are
encouraged to bring a textile about which they need conservation advice for the Q&A session
following the lecture.

Kathryn Tarleton is a recently retired textile conservator. She was co-owner of ConText Inc,
which she and Charlotte Hamlin co-founded in 2001. For over 20 years she worked with both
private and institutional clients, offering comprehensive conservation services for historic
textiles, costume, and contemporary fiber art, from full collection surveys to the conservation
treatment of family heirlooms. Kathryn began her textile education at Boston University where
she studied theatrical costume design and construction and received a BFA in Fibers from the
Program in Artisanry. She later earned an MS in Historic Costume and Textiles from the
University of Rhode Island. In addition to her conservation work, she has extensive experience
in historic clothing construction, hand weaving, surface design techniques and a range of textile
embellishment methods. She has lectured on textile conservation and textile history and led
workshops on collections care throughout the New England region.