Pedagogy and Professional Development

Reinvigorating a Historic Dress Teaching Collection: A Case Study

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Abstract

This case study examines efforts to reinvigorate a historic dress teaching collection at a small Northeast university. After a break in institutional memory and the loss of electronic records, the new faculty collections manager undertook a two-year process of rebuilding the inventory, stabilizing digital data, and reintroducing artifacts into the curriculum. Using Creswell’s case study approach and multiple data sources, two dominant themes emerged: surprise, as both faculty and students rediscovered overlooked or unknown artifacts, and students at the helm, reflecting increased student agency through artifact selection, analysis, and independent studies. Reorganized documentation, targeted communication to faculty, and new pedagogical integrations have expanded awareness and use of the collection. While cataloging remains ongoing, the collection has begun reconnecting with its mission to support teaching and research, with future goals including wider faculty engagement and a publicly searchable online catalog.

Keywords: object-based learning, collections management, student engagement, curatorship

How to Cite:

McCracken, A., (2025) “Reinvigorating a Historic Dress Teaching Collection: A Case Study”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 82(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.21587