{"id":7826,"date":"2021-11-23T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-22T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistoryrevealed\/?post_type=purple_issue&p=7826"},"modified":"2022-01-07T14:04:02","modified_gmt":"2022-01-07T13:04:02","slug":"my-life-in-history-shelley-tobin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistoryrevealed\/2021\/11\/23\/my-life-in-history-shelley-tobin\/","title":{"rendered":"My life in history: Shelley Tobin"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

MY LIFE IN HISTORY<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
MEET THE PEOPLE BRINGING THE PAST TO LIFE<\/span><\/h5>\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

Costume curator<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

Shelley Tobin<\/h3>\n\n

How did you become a costume curator for the National Trust? <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

I held several positions at local authority museums before I joined the National Trust. is included a job at the Fashion Museum in Bath (one of my first paid roles, nearly 40 years ago!), followed by working with the fashion collections at The Royal Pavilion, Art Gallery & Museums in Brighton.<\/p>\n\n

After working in Brighton for seven years, I saw that the National Trust was advertising for the position of costume curator at the 18th century Killerton House in Devon. I was keen to go back to university and do an MA in the History of Textiles and Dress, so I took up the post part-time in conjunction with my studies. I still work part-time for the Trust, in tandem with my role as assistant curator at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter. I love being able to keep one foot in a local authority museum, while also working at a lovely place like Killerton. It\u2019s the best of both worlds.<\/p>\n\n

\"\"
Pauline Joran – the American-born soprano andmother of Paulise de Bush, who donated herextensive fashion collection to Killerton in the 1970s<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
What does your job entail? <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

Pre-pandemic, much of my time was spent preparing Killerton\u2019s annual fashion exhibition, which mostly draws from the 20,000-plus objects we have stored here. Starting out with items gathered by Paulise de Bush \u2013 an enthusiastic collector of both theatrical and historical costumes \u2013 it is the largest dress collection owned by the National Trust and has grown considerably over the years.<\/p>\n\n

Although I am now planning a new exhibition for 2023, I am also working on the digital face of our collection: writing for our website and preparing items for social media. On top of this, I am producing articles that will inform our volunteers about the collection, so that they can share its stories with visitors.<\/p>\n\n

What does your curatorial work involve?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

Curatorial work usually involves collections management: researching, recording and auditing objects, and preventive conservation \u2013 making sure they are properly packed and stored. I commission conservation treatment for objects, which is a really important part of caring for the collection.<\/p>\n\n

Doing this makes it easier for us to ensure the items are accessible to all \u2013 not just for the visitors who come to Killerton in person, but those who visit our public-facing database. For example, I recently worked through a large collection of shoes \u2013 mostly from the wardrobe of one individual \u2013 in order to enhance our records. Many of our pieces have great stories to tell, so hopefully we can excite and inspire people about the collection and our work.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

What costumes does the collection have? <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

The collection at Killerton concentrates on Western European fashionable dress and accessories, along with examples of textiles, patterns, needlework tools and equipment. The clothing for men, women and children mostly represents typical dress for day, evening and special occasions from the 18th century to the mid-1970s, but we also have some occupational clothing, such as agricultural workers\u2019 smocks and nurses\u2019 uniforms.<\/p>\n\n

In terms of strengths, the collection features some excellent examples of 19th and early-20th century dress, as well as important 18th-century silks and mid-20th century ready-to-wear and designer clothing.<\/p>\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"
A silk satin coat with black chiffon lining, dated c1940 \u2013 one of the many luxurious items found in Killerton\u2019s fashion collection <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
A blue taffeta evening dress dating from the 1820s. All items on public display are placed on a special mount to ensure they are properly \u2018supported\u2019<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
What is your favourite item? <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

There are so many wonderful pieces. Some are gorgeous, luxurious and representative of great skill, while others are less beautiful, but with amazing stories to tell. One of my favourite items is a patchwork and appliqu\u00e9 coverlet made in 1810, depicting objects that would have surrounded the (probably) young makers in their everyday lives: shoes, bonnets, fans, needlework tools and a \u2018Game of Geography\u2019. It very much reflects a girl\u2019s education at that time.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cThere are so many wonderful pieces \u2013 gorgeous, luxurious and representative of great skill\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n

\"\"
A patchwork and appliqu\u00e9 coverlet from the early 19th century. It depicts fashion items associated with young women of the period, such as bonnets and fans which opened shortly before the Covid-19 pandemic. A new display is planned for 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
What has been your favourite exhibition to curate?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

I\u2019m a Strictly Come Dancing <\/em>fan, so Shall We Dance \u2013 an exhibition of some of our more glamorous ballgowns and evening dress \u2013 has to be one of my favourites. I also enjoyed planning our 2018 displays celebrating women\u2019s suffrage, as well as our more recent exhibition, Tree of Life, which not only enabled us to explore designs inspired by trees, but also to demonstrate how trees, wood and their products have been used to make clothing. For the latter, we displayed a selection of items for visitors to handle. It was great to reveal that all of the had been made from tree bark or wood pulp.<\/p>\n\n

\"\"
Swimwear on display in Killerton\u2019s current exhibition, Active Minds and Busy Bodies, which opened shortly before the Covid-19 pandemic. A new display is planned for 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
How are the costumes preserved? <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

When funds allow, objects are treated by a professional textile conservator. My colleague Charlotte ensures that each item is meticulously condition-checked before going on public view, with a special mount prepared to display it. is not only ensures the item is properly supported, but that it shows the correct period shape.<\/p>\n\n

Preventive conservation is an important part of our work. is includes monitoring for insects such as moths and carpet beetles, which can damage objects both in storage and on display. A basic knowledge of entomology can be a useful curatorial skill!<\/span><\/p>\n\n

<\/p>\n\n

\n\n

Shelley Tobin <\/strong>is a costume curator at the National Trust, based at Killerton, Devon. For more information about Killerton\u2019s fashion collection, visit nationaltrust.org.uk\/killerton\/the-fashion-collection<\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

PICTURE CREDITS: NATIONAL TRUST IMAGES, MALCOLM JARVIS X4, WENDY ALDIS<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We speak to the costume curator at the National Trust\u2019s Killerton House<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":8254,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ub_ctt_via":"","purple_page_number":"14","purple_custom_meta_purple_page_number":"14","purple_seq_number":"1","purple_custom_meta_purple_seq_number":"1","purple_source_article":"article_14-1.xml","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_article":"article_14-1.xml","purple_source_issue":"Christmas-2021","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_issue":"Christmas-2021","purple_external_id":"Christmas-2021-14-1","purple_custom_meta_purple_external_id":"Christmas-2021-14-1","purple_issue_code":"|0000090391||","purple_custom_meta_purple_issue_code":"|0000090391||","purple_android_product":"com.im.historyrevealed.102","purple_custom_meta_purple_android_product":"com.im.historyrevealed.102","purple_ios_product":"com.im.historyrevealed.102","purple_custom_meta_purple_ios_product":"com.im.historyrevealed.102","purple_web_product":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_web_product":"","purple_publication_id":"a2288b80-d22c-492c-8b11-acb0804789ee","purple_migrated":"","kt_blocks_editor_width":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"2021-12-06T14:16:42Z","apple_news_article-theme":"","apple_news_api_id":"ded442a2-e9f5-44ce-82f5-a4e8f5a5d649","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2022-01-07T13:04:08Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQ==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/A3tRCoun1RM6C9aTo9aXWSQ","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":true,"apple_news_is_preview":true,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_article_theme":"","apple_news_sections":"[]"},"categories":[16],"tags":[55],"apple_news_notices":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2021\/11\/Shelley-Tobin.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistoryrevealed\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"6","apple_news_title":""},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2021\/11\/Shelley-Tobin.jpg",2000,1334,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2021\/11\/Shelley-Tobin-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2021\/11\/Shelley-Tobin-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2021\/11\/Shelley-Tobin-768x512.jpg",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2021\/11\/Shelley-Tobin-1024x683.jpg",800,534,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2021\/11\/Shelley-Tobin-1536x1025.jpg",1536,1025,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2021\/11\/Shelley-Tobin.jpg",2000,1334,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistoryrevealed\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"We speak to the costume curator at the National Trust\u2019s Killerton House","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistoryrevealed\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7826"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistoryrevealed\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistoryrevealed\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistoryrevealed\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistoryrevealed\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7826"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistoryrevealed\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7826\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8914,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistoryrevealed\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7826\/revisions\/8914"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistoryrevealed\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8254"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistoryrevealed\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7826"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistoryrevealed\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7826"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistoryrevealed\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7826"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}