• a docent’s perspective
• an object to carry 
• a small bag for money
• how to date a purse 
• storage conditions & materials
• display

As a history museum docent , I was taught that objects are useful in telling stories because they are unbiased. They are objects without a point of view… As a collector there are many things of interest

• Beauty / Look 
• the Materials it is made of
• the condition
• construction techniques
• how it reflects the time/era in which it was made
• the economy of where / when it was made
• the status of the first owner
• what it was designed to hold / and why
• the level of industrialization of the society
• how it holds it value
• the prestige associated with it
• its size and shape 
• uniqueness of its function
• provenance
• where /how it was found
• and more …. 

• there are no rules except
• collect what you love

• restoration
• some collectors restore their purses
• others do minor repairs / leave as found

Hard to find: American Leather Postcard Purses, are a fun find. Dating is easy because there are often copyrights on the card. The leather postcards were mailed and often contain both the stamp and postmarks . This makes it a useful reference for design techniques and styles of the period.

Protecting the Past: A study of Acetic Acid OffgassingJan 17, 2014 — “Proper protective housing is the first line of defense in the preservation and sustainability of library and archive collections” For textiles, acid free unbuffered tissue paper and other archival products should be considered. 

No Plastic bags. There are ‘clear bags’ that are acid free and considered archival. They can be considered for short term use. For very fine antique purses you should check with with archival storage specialty companies.

Excessive heat, light, and humidity are all factors to be considered when displaying and storing antique treasures.  

Light can cause fading on beads and fiber. Heat can cause dry rot. Humidity  can cause oxidation on older purse frames 

INSECTS can be a problem for old textile purses, especially old wool. In most cases, you will be able to put your purse in an appropriate storage bag and put it in the freezer for a couple of weeks.

Displaying is fun. Be creative. There are some challenges: dust, heat, humidity, and light. Purse construction and weight are also factors. ‘French Steel’ beaded purses should hang.