Athenaeum presents gift to Perkins House

A donation from Athenaeum Club to the Perkins House made it possible to cover the costs of framing a very special infant shirt in the collection of the Whitman County Historical Society. In 1840, the mother of James Perkins, founder of Colfax, hand stitched a tiny shirt for James, who was born in 1841. Because the shirt is so adorable, volunteers at the Perkins House wanted to display it, and Athenaeum Club stepped in with their donation. The matting and framing were done with archival materials, so the shirt will be preserved. It is now on display in the "baby's room" at the Perkins House. Seen here, from the left, are Phyllis Kincaid, Athenaeum Club president; Nancy Rothwell, co-coordinator for the Perkins House, and Sharon Helmick, civic improvement chair for Athenaeum.