The petite dresses and clothes were owned by Anne Renwick, the second wife of Dr Thomas Renwick, who founded the Marlborough town of the same name.
Ms Airey, a professional historian, knew the clothing was at the museum and said it was "very special" to see them for the first time.
"It tells you she liked clothes with colour and detail," she said.
Ms Airey met Mrs Renwick when she was a baby.
The clothing ranges from day frocks to evening wear and is, according to museum textiles collection manager Pam Saunders, in "very good condition".
Ms Airey was in Blenheim yesterday helping the museum index about 700 letters as well as photos, most of which related to the Renwick family.
The letters had been scanned and she was reading them to find who wrote them, and who they were written to.
Eventually the index would be a resource for people wanting to research the Renwick family or early life in Marlborough.
Museum chief executive Steve Austin said the clothing was rarely displayed because textiles could be degraded in light and it was difficult to find suitable mannequins.
"The body shape of people now is a lot different to the body shapes of people from the 19th century."
Mrs Renwick died in Nelson in 1937, aged 93.
- The Marlborough Express
SIMON WONG
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