Conserving a stage-worn hat owned by one of America's first child stars скачать в хорошем качестве

Conserving a stage-worn hat owned by one of America's first child stars

What's so special about an old, flat hat in a box and how did it get its shape back? Elsie Leslie, one of America's first child stars, was only eight years old when she wore the hat in the 1890 stage adaptation of Mark Twain's The Prince and the Pauper. Her mentor, the famed actor Edwin Booth, had given her one of his beaten-up costume hats to use for the role of the pauper and she distressed the hat further for her performance. Flash forward a century later and the hat was falling apart. Conservators at the Ransom Center worked to stabilize the hat while preserving its iconic rough appearance. Dr. Eric Colleary, Cline Curator for Theater and Performing Arts, discusses the history of this unique stage-worn survivor, and contracted objects conservator Meaghan Perry discusses how she treated and reshaped the hat to preserve it for future generations.