Rug and Textile Appreciation Morning: George Hewitt Myers: Ambassador for Textiles

In celebration of The Textile Museum’s centennial year, researchers and historians reflect on the life, collecting philosophy and lasting impact of founder George Hewitt Myers  (1875-–1957). His lifelong commitment to textile studies and his creation of a world-class collection laid the foundation for the museum’s enduring legacy — one that continues to shape the field of textile scholarship 100 years later. 

When George Hewitt Myers purchased a small group of late 19th-century Turkish and Caucasian village rugs in the 1890s, he could not have anticipated that he would go on to assemble several thousand textiles over his lifetime. Guided by a discerning eye, a deep commitment to learning and the advice of knowledgeable experts, Myers explored new areas of collecting with curiosity and care. He founded The Textile Museum in 1925; by the late 1930s, the depth and diversity of his holdings had gained international recognition.

By the time of his death in 1957, The Textile Museum housed 3,100 textiles from Asia and Africa and 1,500 from the Americas. Today, The Textile Museum Collection has grown to encompass more than 21,000 textiles from across the globe. 

Join us in person or online as we honor George Hewitt Myers and reflect on the collecting vision that continues to inspire The Textile Museum’s work as a global center for textile studies.    

Panelists
Carol Bier, former curator
Sheridan Collins, researcher
Thomas Farnham, historian
Sumru Belger Krody, chief curator, The Textile Museum Collections (moderator) 

How to Participate

This program will be in a hybrid format. You can join us in person at the museum or watch the livestream online. Please register in advance and choose how you would like to participate. We will email virtual attendees a link and instructions for joining via Zoom. When you register, you can also request to receive a reminder email one day before the program with the link included.