Introduction
CD:"We use gloves to protect these old boots."

Why do museum workers wear gloves?

The short answer is so that oils from our hands don't get on the objects and attract dirt and dust, which can hurt them. Old objects, especially fragile ones like leather shoes, require careful handling. However, wearing gloves is just part of what we do to preserve objects like these boots for the future.

History Museums collect artifacts which can tell us about the past. An artifact is any object that was made or used by people. At the Early American Museum we collect artifacts that tell us about what life used to be like in Central Illinois. These boots came from the Sholem Shoe Store and can tell us a lot about what life was like in the past.

Click the image of the store to learn more
about the store and the history of the shoes.