Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1964, bulk 1980-1989 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1.25 linear feet of sketches and photographs
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Born Roy Halston Frowick in 1932 in Des Moines, Iowa, the fashion designer who was better known as simply 'Halston' moved to Chicago in 1952 where he took a job as a window dresser for the Carson Pirie Scott department store. In 1958, he moved to New York to work for the preeminent milliner Lilly Daché before taking a job designing millinery for Bergdorf Goodman. In 1966, Bergdorf Goodman sponsored Halston's first ready-to-wear clothing line which had its own boutique within the store. He left Bergdorf in 1967 and launched his own line the following year, which was an immediate success. He won COTY Awards in 1969, 1971, and 1972. In 1973, Halston signed licensing deals with Norton Simon. Halston and menswear lines were launched in 1975.
During this period, Halston was at the epicenter of a glittering social circle, frequently attending the Studio54 night club beginning in 1977 with Andy Warhol, Liza Minelli, Mick and Bianca Jagger, and his coterie of models dubbed "The Halstonettes."
Halston diffusion lines were launched with J.C. Penny's in 1983 and the following year, Halston unsuccessfully attempted to buy his company back from Norton Simon; Halston Originals closes in 1985 and the following year Halston learned that he was HIV positive. Halston passed away from AIDS-related complications in 1990.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
This collection was given to the FIT Library unit of Special Collections and College Archives by The Museum at FIT (MFIT) in 2013. According to MFIT curator Fred Dennis we have duplicates of photos held by the Museum as part of their Halston archive, which also contains patterns, and business and personal correspondance.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This collection is comprised of 121 black marker millinery sketches and photographs.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
There are two series in this collection: a set of millinery sketches and a set of 8x10" color photographs of runway presentations.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Access is open to researchers by appointment at the Fashion Institute of Technology Library, Department of Special Collections and College Archives. If you have any questions, or wish to schedule an appointment contact us at fitlibsparc@fitnyc.edu or call (212) 217-4385.
Conditions governing reproduction
The unit of Special Collections and College Archives does not own copyright for all material held in its physical custody. It is the researcher's obligation to abide by and satisfy copyright law (http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#108) when copying or using materials (including digital materials) found in or made available from the department. When possible, the department will inform a researcher about the copyright status of material, the researcher's obligations with regard to such material, and, wherever possible, the owner or owners of the copyrights. Any and all reproduction of originals is at the archivist's discretion.
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
The Library of the Fashion Institute of Technology, unit of Special Collections and College Archives, 27th St. at 7th Ave., NY, NY , USA, 10001
Existence and location of copies
Duplicates of the photographs are housed in The Museum at FIT.
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
AAT; ANSI; DACS; DCMI; ISAD(G); ISO; LoC; NISO; etc
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
- Latin
Sources
Archivist's note
Arrangement, description, and/or archival processing by April Calahan in December 2014, FIT, NY, NY, USA.