Montclair History Center

Due to the summer heat, our museum will be closed July 15th through September 7th and will reopen on September 8th! We look forward to seeing you in the museum in September!

Tomorrow is the last day of the Nubian Heritage Quilters Guild exhibit! Be sure to stop by tomorrow 12pm-3pm to check out these amazing quilts one last time!

There are still openings for weeks 1 and 2 of Farm Camp, which starts next month! Click the link in our bio for more information and to register. https://buff.ly/4dM6A7h

We're digging deep on today's Montclair Artifact Spotlight - deep into the ground! In anticipation of an archaeological dig happening onsite in a couple of weeks, we wanted to highlight some pieces from our collection discovered during a previous dig. When the Crane House & Historic YWCA moved from Glenridge Avenue to Orange Road in 1965, various pieces of ceramics, glass, and pottery were found. These pieces very well could have been used by Israel Crane and his family when they lived in the house from 1796 to 1901. During the early years of the Montclair History Center (then called the Montclair Historical Society), these archaeological finds were displayed on panels. Pictured here is the first of these panels, showing four types of ceramics: Early Staffordshire, Enoch Wood, Sandwich Glass, and Ironstone. Early Staffordshire: Staffordshire ware is a form of pottery that was made from the 17th century onwards in the English county of Staffordshire. The style and patterns often echoed the taste and enthusiasm of ordinary people. Enoch Wood: Named after Enoch Wood who created the style and established Enoch Wood and Company in 1784. After 1818 his company produced large quantities of blue and white transfer-printed tableware in earthenware, much of which was exported to America. Sandwich Glass (Peg Lamp): Made between 1825 and 1888. Produced in the town of Sandwich in Cape Cod, MA by the Boston & Sandwich Glass Company. The company focused on quality glass pieces. By the 1840’s, they had perfected the process of removing imperfections and began to focus on the production of the most fine and delicate pieces possible. Ironstone: Patented in 1813 by Charles James Mason and produced primarily in France, England, and the United States. Prized for its durability and ease of manufacture, these pieces are also often subject to be transferware, in which designs are transfer-printed onto glass to mimic authentic Chinese porcelain. Commonly used for cups, bowls and plates that belonged to common people. Fun fact! Some pre-1970 Ironstone ware glazes contain lead, so if your ironstone at home is showing signs of deterioration, don't cook or eat off it! Be sure to stop by the current site of the Crane House & Historic YWCA at 110 Orange Road during the week of July 15th to see some present-day archaeology!

Wishing all a happy and safe Fourth of July! In honor of Independence Day, take a look at this prize winning float from the 1914 Independence Parade!

The Second Annual Fall Fest is happening this September 28th….Save the date!!

Isn't it ~crazy~ that it's almost the end of June?? Well to round out our Montclair Artifact Spotlight posts on quilts this month, we're featuring this crazy quilt from our collection made towards the end of the 19th Century. The term "crazy quilt" refers to the seemingly random pieces of fabric and the asymmetry of the design. This type of pattern was popular in the Victorian era and used luxurious fabrics such as velvet or satin and attached them to fabric blocks. The benefits of a crazy quilt is that the maker can show off their skills, use all types of stitching, and embroider random designs such as hearts and spiderwebs, as is the case with this one. And while the patterns and design might appear random, the quilter often uses the fabric in precise ways to make a beautiful and brilliant work. Don't forget to check out the quilts we have on display in the Crane House & Historic YWCA every Sunday from 12-3pm through Sunday, July 14th! Click the link below for more information! https://buff.ly/4e5fXz7

The Nubian Heritage Quilters Guild's co-founders Glendora Simonson and Carolyn Davis sat down with communications intern Claire Labady to talk about the Guild’s history, their inspirations, and quilting techniques. Watch the interview here: https://buff.ly/4cAirUI Learn more about the Guild and their exhibit on view at the Crane House & Historic YWCA here: https://buff.ly/4cxCN1r

This year, the Montclair History Center presented its Hortense Tate Scholarship to Montclair High School senior Katharine Baney-Giampoala. Katherine’s essay describes the history, values and community of the Montclair Quaker Meeting house which her family has attended since she was young, and how its lessons of peace and equality have inspired her. We think Mrs. Tate -- who inspired so many through her work at the Glenridge Avenue YWCA – would be proud of Katharine’s commitment to improve the future. Learn more about the Hortense Tate Scholarship and read Katharine Baney-Giampoala's essay online here:

In honor of the Nubian Heritage Quilters Guild's exhibit on display at the Crane House & Historic YWCA now through July 14th, we're highlighting some quilts from our collection during this month's Montclair Artifact Spotlight series. We have quite a few quilts in our collection (have you seen the quilts on our digital collections page?), ranging from the 18th Century up through the late 20th Century. This piece here was made in between those time periods, some time during the 19th Century. It is rather unique in that in addition to quilting that was done by hand, it also features stenciling. We believe the stenciling would have used plant-based dyes, making a brilliant, colorful image which has faded over time. The stenciling is done so fine that one would think it's a patchwork quilt from far away, possibly the intention of the quilter! Click the link below for more info!