An illustrated conference paper, first presented at the 2008 ALHFAM conference in Ottawa and revised in 2022. It surveys lace types (bobbin, needle, tambour, knitted and crocheted, and mixed techniques) and asks how lacemakers can stay faithful to both their craft and historical accuracy in living history museums. It tells the story of Margaret Weir (1808-1895), a Scottish tambour lacemaker who emigrated to St. Marys, Ontario, and covers early lacemaking in French Canada and American lace history, including Ipswich. It closes with practical suggestions for museum interpretation and costuming, plus references.

Slide deck presented at St. Marys Museum (Ontario, Canada) on March 1, 2024, by Pam Glew and Andrea Wilson on lace and its interpretation in museums. It surveys bobbin, needle, embroidered, knitted and crochet laces, then focuses on Scottish tambour lace maker Margaret Weir (1808-1895), who emigrated to St. Marys in 1843, with photographs of her lace, family and house. It also touches on early Canadian lacemaking, the Ipswich (Massachusetts) bobbin lace industry, lace schools, and suggestions for using lace in exhibits, costuming, storytelling and programs.