Winter Hibernation

Life as Curator Cat of the Harrison House can be tough . . .

It’s that time of year, when coziness is especially enticing. But while the Harrison House has plenty of quilts to choose from, Frankie is only really allowed to snuggle under this one. It’s his personal quilt, one that was never part of the RHS collection!

But even in our collection, there are distinctions. Some things are “working collection,” which means that they can be used—usually for demonstrations or handling, not necessarily for snuggling. Examples might include cast iron cookware and certain tea sets. Curators choose “working collection” items carefully: they have to be sturdy enough to survive many visitors and programs, or they have to be plentiful enough that it’s okay if one gets broken.

Frankie’s not too keen on “working” of any variety this week, with the chill in the air. But all the same, we’re grateful for all the artifacts we have here at the Harrison House!