|
 The NNA helps organisations record their textile holdings. In 2004 we began to record all the textiles belonging to WIs throughout England, Wales and the Islands. These textiles had never been recorded before and it soon became apparent how many of the banners, table covers, costumes and other WI related items had been lost over the years. As well as recording the textiles currently owned by WIs, the NNA are actively trying to find ‘lost’ WI items.
We have currently recorded over 9000 artefacts from approximately two thirds of the 6800 WIs in 70 Federations. The recording project is on-going and the NNA will continue to build and maintain the textile records of the NFWI. The project received no external funding and all the work at the NNA and in local WIs and Federations has been done entirely by volunteers.
In addition to the documentary records, the NNA keeps a collection of WI textiles from closed WIs, and items no longer required by current WIs and Federations. The intention is to keep WI textiles together in a dedicated collection which will reflect the history, both of the WI movement and of textile development. We are always glad to receive or hear about WI textiles, or any documents relating to them. WIs who deposit items with the NNA are able to borrow them back for special occasions, as can suspended WIs if they reform (contact the NNA for further details).
To mark the first three years of this project, the NNA and the NFWI have arranged a touring exhibition ‘The Textile Treasures of the WI’ which can be seen within the ICHF sewing shows detailed below. The exhibition features 300 beautiful and representative items from the 90 years of the WI movement. A book is available featuring all of the items in the exhibition together with historical background and old photographs. The book is available at the exhibitions or by post direct from the NNA. The cost is £14.99 plus £2.90 p&p. Cheques for £17.89, made out to the National Needlework Archive, should be sent to our Southampton office.
|
