Remember waitresses with hankies peeking out from their uniform pockets?… Or children with a days-of-the-week hankie? …Or getting a special message written on a stationary hankie?
Annette is holding a handcrafted handkerchief quilt hanging sent to her by the Oregon Historical Society in thanks for a donation of hankies that were used in similar projects as a museum fundraiser. Along side are a doll made from hankies and a cat themed hankie that advertises fragrances probably from the 1950’s era.
Annette Zweig Donham has been collecting these and other handkerchiefs since she was a child. Allergic to paper tissues, she used cloth hankies and became a connoisseur of al the many styles, forms and categories that exist. The result is a collection of over 6,000 handkerchiefs, the earliest dating from c.1860.
Handkerchiefs may seem like frivolous exhibit items, but in fact, the huge breadth of their topics and informative social history leaves a fascinating trail of our culture.
Annette estimates at least 39 categories in her collection. Categories include: the Japanese World Fair ( in fact, many World Fairs), Masonic and fraternal organizations, Queen Elizabeth, nudes, presidents, astrological, state centennials, World War II, mourning, vaudeville, movie themes and many many more.
Annette will talk about her fabulous collection on Tuesday, June 24 at 7:00 at the Steilacoom Museum upper exhibit level where a sample of her collection is on display.
For further information, please contact the Steilacoom Museum at 253-584-4133.