By Olivia Trees
The theatre department has a collection of vintage and antique garments that has been donated over the years that are too fragile for use on the stage but are fantastic for student historical study. We have one dress that appears to be from the mid 19th century and everything else from throughout the 20th. The highlights of our collection are a c.1905 ballgown and a few 1920s evening dresses, though we also have numerous daywear examples from the 1930s-1970s. It is rare to be able to examine such antique garments outside of a museum setting. Aside from the chance to see an example of how a dress was constructed 100 or 150 years ago, it is also an interesting opportunity to see what happens to garments and fibers over time as they inevitably decay. Museums tend to display garments that show very little wear, but we have the chance to become anthropologists as we peek into the story of the person who once wore these garments. Every stain, tear, or perhaps lack thereof, tells a little more of their narrative. At some point in the future, I hope to make some repairs to a few of our garments so they may be displayed for the public.
Images Courtesy Laura Michelle Diener
