UNDERGRADUATE INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC PEER-REVIEWED PRESENTATIONS
Woodson, G.E. (2022, April 22-24). Beta Testing a Digitized Condition Report Using Handheld Technology in a Fashion Collection [paper presentation]. Fifteenth International Conference on The Inclusive Museum. Philadelphia, PA.
Kearney, A.K., Leidner, M.C., & Igou, M.E. (2022, April 22-24). Developing and Beta Testing a Digital Records System and Logistical Task Stream for The Fashion Archive Using Retail Management Inventory Strategies and E-commerce Product Categorization [paper presentation]. Fifteenth International Conference on The Inclusive Museum. Philadelphia, PA.
Kearney, A.K., Leidner, M.C., & Igou, M.E. (2022, April 22-24). Developing and Beta Testing a Digital Records System and Logistical Task Stream for The Fashion Archive Using Retail Management Inventory Strategies and E-commerce Product Categorization [paper presentation]. Fifteenth International Conference on The Inclusive Museum. Philadelphia, PA.
TIDEtalks 35
An Underrated Research Tulle : Flipping the Script of The Fashion Archive
Gracey Woodson
Anthropology (Class of 2024) Dr. Marcy L. Koontz, Faculty Advisor |
|
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA UNDERGRADUATE & CREATIVE ACTIVITY PRESENTATIONS (URCA)
Maryon Pittman Allen's Technological Legacy: Streamlining Preservation in The Fashion Archive
Juliana Ogden & Gracey Woodson
Art History & Anthropology (Class of 2026 & 2025)
Dr. Marcy L. Koontz, Faculty Advisor
Art History & Anthropology (Class of 2026 & 2025)
Dr. Marcy L. Koontz, Faculty Advisor
ABSTRACT
Maryon Pittman Allen, former US Senator from Alabama, posthumously donated a capsule collection to The Fashion Archive in 2018. Using an original digital condition report form created with Adobe Acrobat, each of the collection's 18 objects from the 1900s-1940s were examined. Reports were completed on an iPad with Adobe Acrobat, Apple Pencil, and GoodNotes app, following ICOM terminology. This presentation highlights Maryon Pittman Allen's forward-thinking donation and the use of technology to streamline object condition reports. A refined fillable PDF form facilitated tasks such as photographing, measuring, degradation documentation, and data entry. The 18 completed forms were instantly accessible via cloud storage and linked to the collection database. Although a moratorium on donations to The Fashion Archive was established in 2018, this documenting process will be required for all future accessions and applied to previously accessioned objects. This approach preserves Maryon Pittman Allen's legacy and contributes to the preservation of The Fashion Archive's collection. |
Preserving Elegance: The Meticulous Rehousing and Conservation of the Judith Leiber Handbag Collection
Gaby Aldridge, Ashley Morris, & Sophia Ratkovic
Apparel Design & Fashion Retailing (Class of 2025)
Dr. Marcy L. Koontz, Faculty Advisor
Apparel Design & Fashion Retailing (Class of 2025)
Dr. Marcy L. Koontz, Faculty Advisor
ABSTRACT
This presentation meticulously details the rehousing process of a distinguished Judith Leiber handbag collection generously donated by Elizabeth Warner in 2003. Conservation efforts were comprehensive, incorporating techniques such as vacuuming and the use of magnification goggles and tweezers to delicately remove tiny fibers from each crystal bag. These efforts were directed towards addressing the varied materials and styles of the handbags, with a dual focus on ensuring both structural stability and longevity. In the final stage of the project, a preservation organizational plan was created and executed within the high-density storage unit. This methodical arrangement improves accessibility, allowing for a clear and chronological examination of the historical evolution of Judith Leiber's iconic handbags. These findings significantly contribute to the ongoing preservation and conservation initiatives for valuable collections and provides valuable insights into student engagement through experiential learning in archival practices. The study effectively highlights the symbiosis between preservation, conservation, and student involvement, ensuring the enduring legacy of the Judith Leiber handbag collection in The Fashion Archive. |
Unveiling a Hidden Jewelry Collection in The Fashion Archive
Anna Liebbe & Emma Estill
Apparel Design (Class of 2025)
Dr. Marcy L. Koontz, Faculty Advisor
Apparel Design (Class of 2025)
Dr. Marcy L. Koontz, Faculty Advisor
ABSTRACT
The Fashion Archive acquired a significant jewelry collection between 1995 -1999 from three donors. Since its acquisition these objects have remained in relative obscurity and were never photographed or properly cataloged limiting their visibility and scholarly potential. The Fashion Archive moved to Drummond Lyon Hall in August 2023, and throughout the fall semester, a transformative project was undertaken to bring this jewelry collection into the digital age. Once organized, photographed and digitally cataloged the items were carefully placed in drawers lined with archival mats within museum-standard cabinets. These cabinets are housed within a light, temperature, and humidity-controlled environment, which were key components of this effort. This comprehensive effort goes beyond visual documentation, ensuring that each object was formally cataloged, facilitating both easy data retrieval and object retrieval from storage. The adoption of modern archival practices not only safeguards the preservation of the collection but also enhances its accessibility for future research and exploration. This endeavor demonstrates a dedication to safeguarding cultural heritage and promoting active involvement in both academic and public domains. |
Preserving History, Step by Step: The Rehousing Journey of a Women's Shoe Collection in
The Fashion Archive
The Fashion Archive
Kaylen Ruffin, Jamie Papazis, & Paige Becwar
Fashion Design, General HES, & Fashion Design (Class of 2025, 2024,2025)
Dr. Marcy L. Koontz, Faculty Advisor
Fashion Design, General HES, & Fashion Design (Class of 2025, 2024,2025)
Dr. Marcy L. Koontz, Faculty Advisor
ABSTRACT
This poster delineates the meticulous rehousing of a historic women's shoe collection within The Fashion Archive, which was relocated to Drummond Lyon Hall in August 2023. The project involved careful unboxing, conservation techniques encompassing vacuuming and the use of archival-grade pastes, oils, and misting, creation of acid-free tissue mounts, and strategic organization of shoes by decade in state-of-the-art storage units. Conservation techniques targeted the diverse materials and styles, ensuring structural stability and longevity, with acid-free tissue mounts applied as needed to prevent further potential damage. The project's concluding stage involved creating and executing a preservation organizational plan, categorizing each pair of shoes by decade for placement in a high-density storage unit. This systematic arrangement will enhance accessibility, facilitating a cohesive and chronological exploration of the historical evolution of women's footwear. These findings contribute to the broader discourse on student engagement through experiential learning in archival practices, preservation, and conservation efforts for valuable collections. |
The Fashion Archive @ UA Goes Digital: Creating and Testing a New Records System for a Historic and Contemporary Fashion Collection
* Third Place / Humanities
* Third Place / Humanities
Anna Kearney, Madeleine Leidner, & Morgan Igou
Fashion Retailing & Commerce and Business Administration Students (Class of 2023)
Dr. Marcy L. Koontz, Faculty Advisor
Fashion Retailing & Commerce and Business Administration Students (Class of 2023)
Dr. Marcy L. Koontz, Faculty Advisor
ABSTRACT
Radical changes have been taking place in a collection of historic and contemporary objects of dress established by Miss Henrietta Thompson in the 1930s, currently housed in Mary Harmon Bryant Hall. A new curator was appointed in spring 2018, who has implemented professional procedures and practices to ensure that this collection, now known as The Fashion Archive, continues to thrive. One of the many challenges has been the inconsistency in record keeping. There have been various faculty member curators over the decades, which resulted in a variety of guidelines and methods of object documentation.The resulting data, however, has never been verified, and missing or incorrect information has never been rectified. This poster examines the reconciliation process of 276 records in the collection, and the development and testing of a concise, standardized, easy to use system from which the data can be cleanly and verifiably migrated to a collections management system. The process included the following: architected, designed, and developed a spreadsheet, identified and digitized various types of documents, and developed a logistical system for identifying the location of objects within the high-density storage unit. This project was conducted as part of the inaugural intern program in The Fashion Archive during the 2021-2022 academic term. Once complete, the depth and breadth of this collection will finally be known, and more importantly, it will ensure that all the information for each object, from its donor to its precise location within storage, is accurately recorded and accessible from a digital device. |
The Fashion Archive @ UA Goes Digital: Creating and Testing a New Records System for a Historic and Contemporary Fashion Collection
Gracey Woodson
Anthropology (Class of 2024)
Dr. Marcy L. Koontz, Faculty Advisor
Anthropology (Class of 2024)
Dr. Marcy L. Koontz, Faculty Advisor
ABSTRACT
When an object is accessioned into a museum collection the first step in the process is to perform a complete examination of its condition. This vital data is essential for ensuring the proper conservation and care of the objects in perpetuity. There are no known object condition reports conducted on any of the thousands of objects in storage prior to 2018 in The Fashion Archive. The collection of historic and contemporary dress at The University of Alabama, established by Miss Henrietta Thompson in the 1930s, has had many curators over the decades who instituted a variety of documentation methods and procedures which have never been reconciled. This poster showcases how using a tablet, pencil, and apps can effectively and efficiently streamline the time-consuming process of conducting an object condition report. The sample for this study included a small capsule collection containing 19 objects donated in fall 2018. The objects range in date from the 1900s-1940s and are constructed from a variety of materials. A fillable PDF form was beta tested and refined throughout the process which included the following steps: photographing the front and back of the object in a flat position, accurately measuring the object, using a color coding system to document any degradation, and entering all associated data including donor information. To date, eight forms have been completed and were instantly made accessible via cloud storage and linked to all corresponding documents in the database. A moratorium was placed on all donations to The Fashion Archive in 2018 and when it is removed, all future objects accessioned into the collection will go through this condition reporting process. In the interim, these reports will continue to be conducted on each of the thousands of previously accessioned objects. |
The Rise & Fall of the Paper Caper
* First Place / Fine Arts
* First Place / Fine Arts
Tommie Quinlan
Fashion Retailing & Honors College
(Class of 2022)
Dr. Marcy L. Koontz, Co-Faculty Advisor
Fashion Retailing & Honors College
(Class of 2022)
Dr. Marcy L. Koontz, Co-Faculty Advisor
ABSTRACT
In1966 Scott Paper Company began producing and selling paper dresses, marketed as “The Paper Caper” (Scott Paper). This research aims to understand where the trend of paper dresses came from, why we no longer have them currently, and how they could be reinterpreted with non woven materials today. Three paper dress prototypes were created in half-scale and one put into production to see how non woven materials (such as Tyvek) could work as a fashion garment. Tyvek proved to be a recyclable material that has potential to be carried forward in fashion innovative design. |
Operation Monkey Coat: A Fashionable Material Culture Approach to Object-based Research in Dress
John Pace
History & Economics
Blount Scholars Program, Honors College, & Randall Research Scholars
(Class of 2022)
Dr. Marcy L. Koontz, Faculty Advisor
History & Economics
Blount Scholars Program, Honors College, & Randall Research Scholars
(Class of 2022)
Dr. Marcy L. Koontz, Faculty Advisor
ABSTRACT
In the 1930s, Miss Henrietta Thompson, a faculty member in the Department of Clothing, Textiles & Interior Design, started collecting garments for use in classroom instruction and study. Today the collection contains thousands of dress and related objects dating from the 15th century to present day. In the spring of 2018, it was renamed The Fashion Archive and a restructuring plan was introduced which included the development and implementation of professional curatorial procedures, practices and management. This poster focuses on an object-based research project developed to examine the first woman’s coat donated to the collection to determine its date, construction and materials as well as its design, style and the era’s zeitgeist. The process followed a material culture methodological approach of systematic object study in three stages with specific hypotheses for inquiry: observation, reflection and interpretation. This framework was adapted by scholars Ingrid Mida and Alexandra Kim using the work of Jules Prown and others to provide a more specific and useful pathway for object-based research in dress. In addition, fiber samples were extracted from each of the eight materials used in the construction and design applications of the coat and were analyzed using a TESCAN LYRA3 FE-SEM microscope. |