Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- circa 1920-1959 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
8 linear feet of documents and photographs including press clippings, scrapbooks, press releases and promotional materials
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Joseph Whitehead always wanted to be a designer. He was born in Norfolk, Virginia but moved to New York after his High School graduation when a high-end retailer invited him to join on a buying trip. Whitehead's first job was working at the Corbeau, Inc. garment factory for $8 a week. Over seven years, Whitehead was able to convince his employers to take his designs seriously and produce them under the Corbeau label. In 1933, Whitehead along with Charles White, a Corbeau employee, teamed up with Joseph Brenner and formed Brenner, Joseph & White. 3 years later, the company was renamed Joseph Whitehead, Inc. after the death of Joseph Brenner. The fashion brand focused primarily on evening wear and were noted as to creating the first dinner-at-home dress. The company closed its doors in 1942.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This collection contains sketches, photographs and scrapbooks pertaining to the career of fashion designer Joseph Whitehead.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
This collection is comprised of 3 series: sketches, photographs and scrapbooks.
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 Department 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, Department of Special Collections and College Archives, 27th St. at 7th Ave., NY, NY , USA, 10001
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- White, Charles (Subject)
- Brenner, Joseph & White (Subject)
- Brenner, Joseph (Subject)
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