Papers of Karen Finch OBE DLitt FIIC FRSA, 1921-2018, textile conservator and founder of the Textile Conservation Centre, London, England

• Diaries;
• Correspondence;
• Lecture notes and teaching;
• Conference programmes & papers;
• Publications, including articles, translations and reviews;
• Textile research files;
• TCC files, including plans and press cuttings;
• Photographs.

Karen Finch was a leading advocate for textile conservation worldwide, transforming the profession through her teaching, workroom practice and writing. Karen (née Møller) was born on a farm in Rødding, Denmark on 8th May 1921, daughter of Soren Møller and Ellen Sinding. She attended Kunsthåndværkerskolen (Art Handworkers’ School) in Copenhagen where she trained as a weaver and textile designer, and moved to London in 1946 after marrying Englishman Norman Finch. She worked restoring textiles at the Royal School of Needlework and the Victoria and Albert Museum, where she experimented to develop new techniques of textile cleaning and first began to train students and began her long career of training and mentoring textile conservation students.

In 1959, together with her sister-in-law Greta Putnam, Karen set up her own workroom at her home in Ealing where they took commissions, along with young people eager to learn textile conservation skills. She taught textile technique, history and conservation to museum staff and Courtauld History of Dress students before founding the Textile Conservation Centre (TCC) in 1975. The TCC was opened in grace-and-favour accommodation at Hampton Court Palace with Finch as Principal.

In 1976, Karen was appointed OBE for her services to conservation. She retired from the TCC in 1986 and remained active in textile conservation, continuing to give papers at conferences, provide conservation advice, to translate papers, participate in learned societies and mentor mid-career colleagues. In 1987 she received an award from the National Art Collections Fund for ‘Lifetime Service to the Arts’. In 1999 the University of Southampton awarded her an honorary DLitt. In 2000 friends and colleagues contributed to a volume of essays dedicated to her.

Karen joined the International Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works (IIC) in the 1950s and was elected a Fellow in 1962. She was a member of the Council of the Leather Conservation Centre and the ICOM Costume Committee and a founder member of the Costume Society and the Friends of Fashion (Museum of London). She was also honoured by life membership of The National Trust and emeritus membership of the Embroiderers’ Guild. She was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Karen died at home on 15th April 2018, aged 96. She is remembered for her huge contribution to the establishment of the field of textile conservation in the UK and worldwide.

Sources:

• Karen Finch website;
• Obituary by Philip Sykas.

Arranged in original order following receipt from the Library Research Annexe.

Access to certain records within this collection is restricted in accordance with data protection legislation as they contain information about potentially living individuals. Please email Archives and Special Collections for advice: library-asc@glasgow.ac.uk

Deposit : Textile Conservation Centre : 7 Nov 2013 : ACCN 3810

See also University of Glasgow Collections

Draft file list available. Please email Archives & Special Collections to request a copy: library-asc@glasgow.ac.uk

No known copies

Applications for permission to quote should be sent to the Archivist. Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use and condition of documents.

To be appraised.

Held by Karen Finch and the Textile Conservation Centre prior to acquisition by the University of Glasgow after the creation of the Centre for Textile Conservation and Technical Art History. Collection held at the University of Glasgow Library Research Annexe before transfer to Archives & Special Collections.

Accurals expected.

GB 248 ACCN 3781, Records of the Textile Conservation Centre

This material is original