American Textile History Museum facts for kids
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| Established | January 1960 |
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| Dissolved | June 14, 2016 |
| Location | Lowell, Massachusetts |
| Public transit access | MBTA Lowell |
The American Textile History Museum (ATHM) was a special place in Lowell, Massachusetts. It was started in 1960 and helped tell America's story. It showed how textiles, which are fabrics and cloths, were made. The museum closed its doors in June 2016.
Contents
History
How It All Started
In 1958, a woman named Caroline Stevens Rogers found her father's old collection. He had over 50 spinning wheels and parts of old looms. Caroline's husband, Horatio Rogers, helped fix many of these pieces.
Caroline wanted to share her father's collection. She decided to add it to the North Andover Historical Society. In 1959, J. Bruce Sinclair became the first Director there. He thought it would be a great idea to create a museum just for textiles. He wanted it to focus on wool and collect items from all over the Merrimack Valley.
In January 1960, a group met and agreed to create the Merrimack Valley Textile Museum (MVTM). They decided the museum should not be limited to just one area or time period. Instead, it would focus on important textile stories.
Plans for a new building began in May 1960. It was finished by the summer of 1961. The building had 18,000 square feet of space. This space was used for exhibits, a study collection, and offices. The museum staff also grew, with a secretary, curator, and librarian joining.
What the Exhibits Showed
The first exhibits at the MVTM told the story of how wool was made. They showed how things changed from hand tools to machines. Visitors could see examples of each step, from sheep-shearing to dyeing cloth. The exhibits used artifacts, photos, and models.
Some of the machines on display included a wool picker and a carding engine. There was also a large spinning machine with 200 spindles. Different types of looms were also shown.
Growing and Changing Names
In 1971, the MVTM became officially recognized by the American Alliance of Museums. This showed it was a high-quality museum. In 1973, Walter Muir Whitehead took over from Caroline Stevens Rogers. By this time, the museum's focus had grown to include textiles from all over the United States up to 1950.
The museum also got bigger. A library wing was added in 1967. In 1971, a large building called Machinery Hall was completed. It had 30,000 square feet to store tools and machines.
In 1984, the museum's leaders decided to change its name. They wanted a name that showed its wider focus. So, on September 1, 1984, it became the Museum of American Textile History (MATH). Around this time, the museum also started to include man-made and modern materials.
The museum soon realized its buildings in North Andover were not big enough. Machinery Hall was full, and it was hard for the public to get to. The leaders started looking for a new home. They wanted a place that was easier to visit and had room for future growth.
They first thought about moving to Lawrence. But the cost was too high. The search continued, and in 1992, the museum bought an old building in Lowell. This building, called the Kitson Shop, was built in the 1860s. It used to make textile machinery. Moving to Lowell made sense, as it was a historic center for textile manufacturing.
MATH moved to Lowell on April 27, 1997. In Lowell, the museum changed its name again to the American Textile History Museum (ATHM).
The Museum's Final Years
The ATHM closed in 2007 for renovations. This led to a big fundraising effort that raised over $4 million. In 2008, the museum introduced its mascot, Lulu the Lamb.
The ATHM reopened in June 2009. It had new, interactive exhibits for both kids and adults. It also became a member of the Smithsonian Affiliations. This meant it could work with Smithsonian Institution museums.
In 2011, Jonathan Stevens became the museum's President and CEO. He had a strong background in the textile industry.
Sadly, in June 2016, the museum announced it was closing for good. This was due to major problems with the building.
What Was Inside?
The Osborne Library
The Osborne Library was an important part of the ATHM. It had a huge collection of books, pictures, and old papers. Many different people used the library, like weavers, designers, and architects. You could visit the library by making an appointment.
Cool Exhibits
The main exhibit at the ATHM was called "Textile Revolution: An Exploration through Space and Time." It showed how textiles are changing our world. You could see examples like special protective clothing for firefighters and soldiers. It also featured "shark skin" swimsuits worn by Olympic swimmers.
Honoring Textile Heroes
The ATHM started the American Textile Hall of Fame in 2001. This honor recognized people, companies, and groups who made big contributions to the textile industry. It also celebrated those who helped people appreciate textiles in America. A special committee chose who would be honored each year.
Class of 2001
- Roger Milliken
- Duke Power
- Samuel Slater
Class of 2002
- Frederick Dent
- Whitin Machine Works
- DuPont
- J. Spencer Love
Class of 2003
- Draper Corporation
- Dalton McMichael
- The men and women of the American textile industry
Class of 2004
- American Viscose Corporation
- W. Duke Kimbrell
- Jack Lenor Larsen
- National Cotton Council
Class of 2005
- Robert C. Jackson
- Saco-Lowell Shops
- Scalamandr`e
Class of 2008
- Levi Strauss & Co.
- Gordon Osborne
- Pendleton Woolen Mills
- James S. Self
- Edward B. Stevens
Class of 2009
- Cotton Incorporated
- Cranston Print Works
- W. L. Gore and Associates
Class of 2010
- Malcolm G. Chace III
- Hugh Wadsworth
- Crawford, Jr. and Stevens Linen Works
- Allen E. Gant, Jr. and Glen Raven, Inc.
- Shaw Industries Group, Inc.
