Should These Clothes Be Saved?

Richers, Katherine

 

Friedman, V. (2019, 29 April).  Should these clothes be saved. The New York Times. Retrieved from

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/29/fashion/smith-college-clothing-collection.html

 

Summary

Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts has a collection of 3,000 pieces women’s clothing that’s unusual because most of it is not designer or from anyone famous. The collection has recently come under scrutiny for its purpose and value.  Many pieces are stained and have been donated by alumnae or were purchased at auction by the professor who started the collection. English, history, anthropology and math classes have studied the collection. The dresses are considered important by students and by staff because they belonged to everyday women. However, at this point it’s not a formal collection and what could happen to it without funding and institutional support sounds dismal. Moving the collection to another institution has been suggested.

 

Evaluation:

I chose this because it spoke to me on collection weeding. This isn’t even a formal collection but it’s become a valued part of a college. I wouldn’t know what to do. I like the idea of moving the collection somewhere else but the staff students seem to really like it and find it useful. The professor who started it has a point; why shouldn’t a women’s college study the clothing of ordinary women? At the same time, a museum might increase the audience.