News
Find out what’s going on at Victoria Mansion and learn more about the collection in these posts and by joining our mail and e-newsletter lists.
Featured Articles
Victoria Mansion Upcoming Annual Meeting
Victoria Mansion members are invited to join us at the Cumberland Club on Wednesday, April 26, 2017 for our Annual Meeting. The evening will commence at 5:00pm with refreshments and mingling, followed by a business meeting and the election of officers for the 2017-2018 fiscal year. Following the meeting, we will be treated to a presentation by Gianfranco Pocobene, Principal of Gianfranco Pocobene Studio in Malden, MA. Mr. Pocobene has worked on several projects at the Mansion in the past and also serves as Head of Conservation at the Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum. He is leading the team of conservators currently working [...]
Alice Dwyer Ross Retires from Museum Shop
On behalf of Victoria Mansion staff, volunteers, and friends, we would like to express our deep thanks to Alice Dwyer Ross, who served as Museum Shop Manager and later Museum Shop Buyer for 13 years. Alice is responsible for spearheading a campaign to change the direction of Victoria Mansion's gift shop, turning it into an attraction almost as important as the museum itself for some visitors! Alice is known for her impeccable taste, which will continue to be reflected in the merchandise you see in the shop. She will be sorely missed by all and we wish her the best!
Architecture History Adventure Day Camp
On Tuesday, April 18, from 1:00-4:00pm Victoria Mansion and Maine Historical Society will be leading a History Adventure for students grades 7-12. This program is an afternoon-long exploration of some of Portland's most well-known buildings as well as some that are rarely given a second glance but have a lot to say. Participants will take part in walking tours, study historic maps and blueprints, and discuss the importance of different types of architecture in the city of Portland. At only $25, this program is a great value for students interested in architecture and design, or who just love the [...]
Volunteer with Victoria Mansion!
It's the time of year when we start preparing to open our doors on May 1st. That means we're looking for new faces to join the ranks of Victoria Mansion docents! If you love the Mansion and wish you could spend more time here, this is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the house, architecture, design, and the history of Portland. Our volunteers come from a wide range of professional and academic backgrounds, and we provide extensive training. It's also great fun! For more information contact Director of Education, Lucinda Hannington at lhannington@victoriamansion.org or 207.772-4841 ext. 104.
Conservation Technician Harper Batsford Gets the Mansion in Tiptop Shape
A lot happens behind closed doors in the off-season! Since last year, the Mansion has been lucky to retain the services of Harper Batsford, a trained Collections Maintenance Technician. Harper has been going from room to room, intensively cleaning the hard to reach nooks and crannies of the house, including the intricate perforated frieze work cornice in the Library. Harper also recently spotted a signature on the Library cornice from one of the original craftsmen in 1860! Harper has trained with Arts Conservator Siobhan Lindsay and Curator Arlene Palmer Schwind and works as a Collections Maintenance Technician at the Tate [...]
Dress from Mansion’s Collection featured in Maine Historical Society Exhibit
Victoria Mansion is pleased to have a pure-dye silk taffeta dress and jacket ensemble from our collection featured in the Maine Historical Society's current exhibition, World War I and the Maine Experience. The exhibition, which opened February 3 and runs through early June, celebrates the centennial of America's entrance in World War I, specifically honoring Maine's role in the Great War. Although little is known about the dressmaker, the ensemble is one of three known surviving examples made from silk manufactured at the Haskell Silk Company, which operated in Westbrook from 1874 to about 1930. The dress originally belonged to [...]
School Tours at the Mansion
Closed to the public doesn't mean that there's down time here at the Mansion. This off-season over 550 students from area schools will be coming to participate in the Mansion's interdisciplinary programs, free of charge. This year elementary students in Scarborough, Windham-Raymond, Cape Elizabeth, Portland, and the Levey Day School will benefit from A Century of Change, which teaches students about different facets of the Victorian era, including technology, immigration, and etiquette. In order to keep these school visits free for students, we are currently seeking corporate or individual underwriting in the amount of $5000. For more information on our [...]
March Reception Suite Conservation Update
Conservators are now finishing the cleaning and stabilization of the Reception Suite ceiling. Next they will coat the surface with a removable barrier varnish to protect the original paint while also allowing for future conservation efforts to take place. Once the varnish is in place, in-painting of areas with damaged paint can begin. Many of the thin canvas roundels on the walls and ceiling have been cleaned with synthetic erasers and the room's original chestnut shutters have been conserved and finished with a UV inhibiting varnish to minimize damage from sunlight. We await paint analysis to determine how to proceed [...]
Completion of IMLS Textiles Storage Room Project
The Mansion recently completed a major project of creating a dedicated textiles storage and study room. A prestigious grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, awarded in 2014, helped fund the project to transform the former third-floor trunk room into a modern space where our unique collection of original textiles can be stored to conservation standards and readily examined by staff and scholars. Unique in the nation, this vast and challenging 600-piece collection chiefly consists of passementerie-- ornamental trims such as tassels, tiebacks, festoons, edging, and fringe that were part of the original ca. 1860 window treatments. The collection [...]
A Victorian Sampling: Historical Food Tasting at the Maine Irish Heritage Center
On Tuesday, March 14, Victoria Mansion and the Maine Irish Heritage Center will present A Victorian Sampling, a special 19th century tasting event for members only. Small bites of breads, appetizers, soups, and desserts, along with beverages, will be accompanied by a brief history of each dish and insight into why our ancestors ate the way they did. Tickets are $20 per person and are expected to move quickly. For more information or to register, contact Director of Education Lucinda Hannington at (207)772-4841 ext. 104.
February Reception Suite Conservation Update
Conservators continue to clean the painted walls and ceiling of the Reception Suite, with its elaborate combinations of flat and molded plaster, canvas paintings and woodwork. The paint is water-based, so no aqueous substances can be used in cleaning. As the conservators proceed with the careful dry cleaning process, using only vinyl erasers and synthetic sponges, the masterful hand of artist Giuseppe Guidicini becomes more apparent with each layer of grime that conservators remove. For example, the image on the right shows small, iridescent bubbles blown by a cherub, which had been impossible to see previously. In a similar [...]
Partnering Up With Maine Girl Scouts
Victoria Mansion is pleased to serve as a Girl Scouts of Maine Community Partner. Girl Scouts are able to visit the Mansion for specially tailored tours and activities that will help them on their way to completing their Journeys and receiving patches and badges. Programs are available for Daisies, Brownies, and Juniors. Seniors interested in working with the Mansion for their individual projects are also invited to reach out to learn about further opportunities. For more information on any of these programs please contact Lucinda Hannington at lhannington@victoriamansion.org.