Historic

"I Can't Remember Ever Seeing Her in a Hat": Anomalies in a Southeastern University Costume Collection

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Abstract

This research aimed to uncover the history of a southeastern university fashion collection, learn more about its founder, and understand how she shaped the collection during its formative years. A multi-methodological research approach was used. Historical documents relating to the collection and the founder were examined, and artifact analysis was conducted on the 345 artifacts donated by the founder. Data from the artifact analysis were triangulated with historical documents about the collection, and oral histories were collected via interviews with individuals who knew the founder. The findings of this study revealed that although the founder focused on building volume while establishing the collection rather than adhering to a specific mission or policy, the founder's collection symbolizes the history of the university's clothing and textile department and the founder's contribution to the field of clothing and textiles.

Keywords: Collecting practices, Material culture, University collections

How to Cite:

Smith, D. C., Zeeman, M. & McMahon, S., (2022) “"I Can't Remember Ever Seeing Her in a Hat": Anomalies in a Southeastern University Costume Collection”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 79(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.15865