Downton Abbey Farewell - an Exhibit of Hats, Shoes and Accessories of the Downton Abbey Era

Tompkins County Public Library is hosting many events to celebrate the final PBS series Downton Abbey as well as presenting a special exhibit in the Avenue of the Friends during February, 2016.

Drawing from the Cornell Costume and Textile Collection, as well as the History Center in Tompkins County and the Lansing Historical Association, this exhibit extends our glimpse of life at Downton Abbey, capturing a variety of moments from the popular PBS series. Horseback riding,strolling the estate, dressing and being dressed…

The majority of the items on display are from the wardrobe of Gertrude Heim Remey, thoroughly documented and donated by her husband, Cornell alumnus Charles Mason Remey,to the Cornell Costume and Textile Collection. The Remeys resided in Washington DC but the wardrobe is comprised of pieces from home and abroad, picking up on European trends familiar to the women of Downton Abbey. We are fortunate to also include items donated by local individuals to the History Center of Tompkins County and the Lansing Historical Association, bringing the exhibit closer to home.

These are the material items of daily life, a privileged life but residual pieces from dialogues pased upstairs, downstairs, and the spaces in between.  Pieces that accompanied important conversations surrounding courtship, business, and schemes (sometimes one and the same).

The exhibit opens on Friday, February 5 and will be on display through the end of the month.

This exhibit has been made possible through the generosity of the Cornell Costume and Textile Collection in the Department of Fiber Science and Apparel Design with thands to Denise Green and Helen McLallen for their help.  Special thanks go to Catherine K. Blumenkamp whose expertis and invaluable help selecting and cataloging and displaying the items made the exhibit possible.  For further information please refer to 
Cornell Costume and Textile Colletion
The History Center in Tompkins County
The Lansing Historical Association