With assistance by Mary Goebel and Luecella, they have been uncovering collections of textiles lovingly boxed for years by library patrons whose names are lost to history. The project, funded by the Newtown Friends of the Library, includes a digital archival record and photographs as well.

Booth Library has announced that in the fall, the first of many exhibits will be on display, starting with a collection of nightcaps from the home of Mary Hawley.

Ms Thomas, who has a passion for fabrics and history, discovered the trove of antique gowns and other fabric-based items in the library’s attic when she took on the curator position in 2009. The collection includes gowns (some worn by famous local figures such as Grace Moore and Mrs Ezra Levan Johnson), children’s clothing, scarves, bedding, rugs, quilts, and other fabric pieces dating from the mid-18th Century.