Fashion Collection Finding Aids; The Research

5.28.24

2 hrs.

Ensuring access to resources is a top priority for the Texas Fashion Collection. To enhance research capabilities, the team is considering creating a finding aid for the collection. Since finding aids are typically designed for manuscript-type materials, creating one for fashion garments may have unique challenges and be different from the norm. Specific search and authorized terms may not be available, and the items are not organized in boxes or series.

I will email the team with a few additional questions. Nevertheless, today, I began to conduct some research on apparel or costume finding aids to gather inspiration and ideas about what is out there. I initially looked into FIT in NY and also found a few other potentially useful resources through a basic Google search, depending on the specific goals and desired outcomes of the finding aid for the TFC. More to come.

5.30.24

.5 hrs.

Zoom meeting with Ailie Pankonien, TFC Collection Manager

6.1.24

3 hrs.

This week, I had a brief meeting with Ailie to discuss the goals of the finding aids in more detail. One of the objectives is to increase traffic to the repository by creating finding aids for various designers in the collection, which will be available on their upcoming blog. I mentioned earlier that there is also interest in researching the vocabulary of various cultural topics that are important to the TFC. The Library of Congress sets the standard for authorized vocabulary. However, during my studies, I discovered that some of the terms are outdated and do not accurately or culturally reflect the subject matter. The TFC recently acquired a collection of drag performance costumes, which raises the question of whether the Library of Congress has appropriate terminology for use in creating finding aids. Ailie kindly shared a few articles with me to help me understand the research conducted on this topic.