This collection is comprised of oral history interviews with prominent twentieth- and twenty-first-century fashion industry businesspeople, designers, and artists, as well as members of the FIT faculty and staff.
UntitledThe Soul Club Oral History Project is an initiative of the FIT Library, inspired by the Soul Club fashion shows’ exuberance, positivity, dynamism, and joy. For this oral history project, FIT alumni and faculty members are interviewed about their participation and experience in the Soul Club. The goal of this project is to explore FIT’s rich and diverse history and uplift, amplify, and publicly share the stories of Black fashion students and faculty members as told by the community members themselves.
Taur Orange, interviewer, is the head of Educational Opportunity Programs at FIT.
UntitledSigned release forms for oral histories conducted
This collection includes the records for the annual day long Fashion and Textile Studies: History, Theory, Museum Practice Symposium. Each year a theme is selected and the graduate students present papers relating to the theme. Included are students papers, print version of their presentations, advertising materials for the symposium, and schedule of events. Further accruals are expected.
UntitledIn this interview, Karen Trivette interviews fashion illustrator Steven Stipelman about his career as a fashion illustrator and his work at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
UntitledThis series includes publications from the office of the president, such as Inside FIT.
UntitledThe Integrated Service-Learning Project is an extension of the Interior Design Relief Project which was founded in 2013. It aims to integrate the efforts of like-minded interior designers, architects, and contractors who believe that the design of the physical environment matters, shapes lives, and can empower people. Documents relate to projects conducted with FIT Interior Design students and various New York and New Jersey area organizations including the Bowery Mission Women’s Center in the renovation of their laundry room, the Community of Friends in Action of Leonia, NJ, the Leonia Presbyterian Church, and Hug-it-Forward, to build a “bottle school” in Guatemala, presented proposals for the renovation of the communal kitchen at Hephzibah House in New York City and Living Waters Community Center in Brooklyn, Restore NYC during the Spring semester and moving on to summer with The Bowery Mission Men's Center and St. Paul's House and more. These projects became part of the curriculum and the content is now taught in the 6th semester in liaison with New York Cares
The records of Joyce F. Brown include correspondence, speeches, and written works as well as documents regarding the Diversity Council and Sustainability Council.
UntitledVideo and web material that discusses leadership in social justice, diversity, corporate responsibility, and innovation in the fashion industry. Students, faculty, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs, from FIT and numerous other institutions, discuss emerging trends, network with peers, and share innovative solutions for a sustainable future.
This folder includes digital video presentations and the symposium invitation graphic delivered by the Fashion Textiles Studies Symposium 2021: Wiggle Room - The Lived Experience of Dress, which occurred completely online due to restrictions placed upon students and faculty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic.
Presentations include
- “I Was a Mighty Dressed Up Bride”: Wedding Dress in the WPA Narratives by Kenna Libes;
- “Hippety-Hop, I'm a Bunny”: An Examination of the Objectification of the Female Body Through the Bunny Costume by Ellen Greene;
- Building the Wardrobe that Lasts: The Aesthetic Formula of 1970s Fashionable Anti-Fashion, by Alina Osokina;
- Afropunk: A Carnival of Fashion Consciousness by Christianna Rice
Documents describing the planning, formation, and implementation of various oral history projects administrated by the FIT Library and other FIT departments. Includes meeting minutes, class documents from John Touhey's oral history studies, histories, and documentation. Bulk of the content relates to the Oral History Project of the Fashion Industries series within the Oral History collection.
This folder includes digital copies of the papers and presentations delivered at the 2020 Symposium, which occurred completely online due to restrictions placed upon students and faculty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, 2020. The names of the presenters and the title of their presentations contained in this folder are:
- Bobbi Wall - "Ruth Reeves’ Lasting Imprint on Modern American Fashion"
- Anna Lucia Uihlein: "Louella Ballerino: Fashioning California"
- Brynnea Irvine: "The Fall of Luxury: The Forgotten History of Farquharson & Wheelock"
- Molly Hartvigsen: "Tobé-Coburn School for Fashion Careers"
- Brigid Gerstenecker: "Elizabeth Hawes: Mass Production for the Millions?"
The Museum at FIT records are arranged into six (6) series; they are Administrative records, Exhibition records, Promotional material, Symposia records, Correspondence, and Fashion Culture records.
This series includes official copies of any literature or other material made available to the public such as college catalogs. This series may also include detailed course descriptive information, including background materials and supporting documentation.
Includes the papers and presentation delivered at the 2019 Symposium. The names of the presenters and the title of their presentations contained in this folder are: Anna Muller "Counterculture, Craft, and Feminine Power: Crochet from 1966-1976" ; Monica Geraffo "DIY-stopia: Archizoom's 'Dressing Design' and 'Dressing is Easy' and the Paradox of Hand Sewing in Technological Utopias" ; Megan Gillen "The Honeycomb Stitch: Smocking on Garments from 1887 to 1910" ; Faith Cooper "Punk of the 1970s: Crafting an Image and Identity" ; Emily Nissen "Identifying Out: WLW T-shirts in the Post Stonewall World" ; Andrea Moreno "Decorating the Body: French Art Nouveau Jewelry" ; Avery Novitch "The Woman's Institute: Crafting a New Approach to Home Economics" ; Jessica Sachs "May Morris: Designer, Embroiderer, Educator" .
Undergraduate catalogs provide information about the college's academic programs, including curricula and course descriptions. The catalogs also include information about admissions, tuition, and scholarships as well as academic calendars. In addition, the catalogs document the college's history and mission, its campus and facilities, the members of its administration and faculty, and its student life. Some of the catalogs also include images of the college's campus and community, especially from the 1970s to the 2000s. There are normally three (3) copies of each catalog.
Graduate catalogs provide information about graduate academic programs, including curricula and course descriptions. Graduate catalogs also provide information about admissions and tuition as well as the general history of the college and its campus. Some of the catalogs also include academic calendars, information about student life, information about internships or career options, lists of graduate faculty, and application materials.
This folder is comprised of finished and colored design sketches from 2013 to 2018.
Includes the papers and presentation delivered at the 2018 Symposium "Behind the Designer" on Saturday, May 12, 2018. The names of the presenters and the title of their presentations contained in this folder are: Caela Castillo "Armored in Ivory: The Bold Style and Soul of Nancy Cunard" ; Carson Poplin "Establishing a Legacy: Charles James & Millicent Rogers" ; Carol McLennan "Embracing the In-Between: Comme des Garçons, Butoh, and Ma" ; Lauren Bilodeau "Photographing Schiaparelli" ; Raissa Bretaña "The Dog Behind the Designer: Model, Mascot, and Muse" ; Laura E. Peluso "A Well-Edited Style: Jane Trahey's Fashion Advertising Campaigns" .
This collection is comprised of original sketches and photographs, business and promotional materials, and materials related to the fashion career of George Simonton as well as his work at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
UntitledThe commencement programs document the order of exercises and the names of graduates, including which graduates received honors or awards. Starting in 2003, the programs also include a history of the academic costume, and starting in 2011, the programs include a letter from the current president of the college, the history of the college and its commencement traditions, and a message from the office of alumni relations. From 2011 to 2015, the programs include short biographies of the guest speakers and honorees. In 1946, commencement included the student fashion show.
Commencement programs from 1947-1951 and 1953-1955 are not included.
This series is comprised of in-progress design sketchbook pages ranging from 1982 to 2018, some undated. The folder also includes draft sketches, final sketches, published sketchbooks and oversized sketches.
Includes the papers and presentation delivered at the 2018 Symposium "Behind the Designer" on Saturday, May 12, 2018. The names of the presenters and the title of their presentations contained in this folder are: Jennifer Pronesti "Basket, Bones and Biomorphism: Beneath the Surface of Ralph Rucci's Process" ; Bethany Gingrich "The Temple of the Muses: Max Meyer and the New York Museum" ; Darnell Lisby "Azzedine Alaïa and Naomi Campbell: Like Father and Daughter" .
Commencement records include commencement programs.
Includes the papers and presentation delivered at the 2017 Symposium "Dressing New York" on Saturday, May 13, 2017. The names of the presenters and the title of their presentations contained in this folder are: Lucy Carey "The Great Divide of 1960: Norman Norell's Coulotte" ; Sarah Jean Culbreth "'Who Are the Mystery Girls?': Deconstructing the New York Doll's Image ; Loggans "Fantaies of Opulence: Racial Dynamics of Drag Balls in New York City, 1890-1969" ; Daniel Gustina "Depression Era New York: Dress & Photographs of Fashionable Society" .
Annual reports describe the college over the past academic year. Each annual report often includes a letter from the current president, highlights from the previous year, a list of donors, financial data, demographic information, and members of the current administration.
Includes the papers and presentation delivered at the 2017 Symposium "Dressing New York" on Saturday, May 13, 2017. The names of the presenters and the title of their presentations contained in this folder are: Chelsea Payne "A Fading Custom: The Reluctant Disappearance of Dressmaking in New York" ; Hannah Benson "Hickson: Unraveling a New York City Fashion House 1914-1923" ; Harper Franklin "Eternally Ladylike: Sophie of Saks, 1929-1969" ; Lily Fehler "Protest and Professionalism: Dress of Early Female Doctors who Chose Reform Costume or Masculine Attire" .
Includes the papers and presentation delivered at the 2017 Symposium "Dressing New York" on Saturday, May 13, 2017. The names of the presenters and the title of their presentations contained in this folder are: Nancy MacDonell "'A Good Designer Need Not Breathe the Air of Paris.' Lois Long on Elizabeth Hawes and Muriel King" ; Blair Lenz "Through the Glass: A Look at New York City Window Dressing, 1935-1950" .
Includes the papers and presentation delivered at the 2016 Symposium The names of the presenters and the title of their presentations contained in this folder are: Elisa Koizumi "Imagining a Revolution: a case study, The Black Panthers" ; Taylor Elyse Anderson "Tragedy, Sensationalism, and Cloth: A Theoretical Look at Jacqueline Kennedy's Pink Suit" ; Ilene Hacker "Jacques Estrel's 1971 Collection and the Gender Crisis of the 1970s" ; Doris Domoszlai-Lantner "Constructing A Soviet Narrative: Jean Paul Gaultier's Russian Constructivist Collection, 1986" ; Naomi Sosnovsky "I Gave Gold for Iron: Theme of Patriotism in Berlin Ironwork Jewelry" .
This folder is comprised of miscellaneous press clippings dating from 2008 to 2016.
Includes the papers and presentation delivered at the 2016 Symposium The names of the presenters and the title of their presentations contained in this folder are: Rebecca Love "Economic Crisis and the Bloomingdale's Experience" ; Samuel Neuberg "Dressing for Revolution: An Analysis of Dress in 'The Memoirs of Madame de la Tour du Pin'" ; Laura Donovan "New Women, New Clothes: Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Fashion Photography, and World War II" .
FIT commencement programs.
UntitledIn this interview, Rebecca Arnold interviews Gavrik Losey about his mother, American fashion designer Elizabeth Hawes.
UntitledIncludes the advertisitng flyer, schedule of events, papers, and presentations delivered at the 2015 Symposium "Acts of Fashion: Inspiration, Imitation, Appropriation" which occurred on Saturday, May 9, 2015. Eleven Graduate Students from the Department of Fashion and Textile Studies: History, Theory, Museum Practice delivered presentations. Each presenter's paper and presentation is represented. Panelists Sass Brown, Ariele Elia, and Lucille A. Roussin presented as part of a council, but their presentations are not included in the files. The names of the presenters and the title of their presentations contained in this folder are: Hannah Adkins, "Le Vrai et le Faux Chic: Translation and Interpretation;" Sarah Finley, "Paris in Ohio: An Analysis of a Poiret Personal Print;" Jennifer Nieling, "Imitation and Innovation: Rayon's Identity Crisis as Artificial Silk; "Joy Davis, "Majo Splendor: Inspiration from an Iberian Subculture;" Christine Hopkins, "Guilty Kilts and Plundered Plaid: The Appropriation of Tartan in Fashion;" Kristine Engemann, "Fighting with Pretty: Violence, Appropriation, and Mardi Gras Indian Dress."
Includes the papers and presentation delivered at the 2015 Symposium "Acts of Fashion: Inspiration, Imitation, Appropriation" which occurred on Saturday, May 9, 2015. The names of the presenters and the title of their presentations contained in this folder are: Jade Burger Macnee, "Dress and Art: An Anthropophagic Study;" Christina Frank, "Homeless Chic? Appropriation and Inspiration in Fashion;" Chloe Chapin, "Tuxedos Transformed women's fashion inspired by male evening dress;" Ingrid Wetzel, "Ignore the Violence: Hells Angels, Highway to the Runway;" J. Leia Lima Baum, "Imitating the Familiar: Normcore and the End of Postmodernism in Fashion."
Official minutes and hearing proceedings of governing body or board, commission or committee thereof including all records accepted as part of minutes. Most hard copies of minutes from 1987, 1988, and 1989 are missing. Beginning in the 1990s, minutes from the Staff Housing Authority meetings and Student Housing Authority meetings began to be intermingled with the Board meeting minutes. Also, one will find among the Board minutes copies of the Bylaws, Strategic Plans, and press clippings.