Handkerchiefs as Memorabilia at the Crystal Palace (1851): Addressing Gaps in Museum Object Descriptions

Museums continue to face challenges in maintaining collections as digital offerings expand. Embracing object-based analysis prompts museums to reflect on gaps in object descriptions. This article focuses on two commemorative handkerchiefs from the 1851 Great Exhibition in London, England held in the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) online collections. Recommendations include describing the history of textiles manufacturing in England as well as the use of imagery on commemorative handkerchiefs symbolic of control, unity, and loyalty to the British Crown at this event. This research fills a gap in existing literature on memorabilia at the international exhibitions during the mid-nineteenth to early twentieth century. It also highlights how prioritizing research in online collections management and improving transparency regarding institutional challenges can bring renewed focus to online record-keeping and educational opportunities.