Kennedy Martin
IAD Costume Pattern Time Line
Cora Parker, Sun Bonnet, c. 1939, watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil on paper, Index of American Design, 1943.8.1050
Entering year two of my internship, I extended my previous project placement from 2023 to 2024. Under the supervision of textile conservator Julia Burke and digital research officer Matthew J. Westerby, I continued our collaborative research involving unpublished costume patterns from the Index of American Design (IAD). Previously, we had documented the quality of the costume patterns and digitized the accompanying project notes. As we moved forward with the project, we began to prioritize the time line of the costume patterns, the history of the IAD, and associated figures. In the time line, we are collecting resources such as oral histories, archival records, and information on major historical events, which contextualize the project. For example, we’ve been identifying the various people who have had notable influence on the development of the IAD, such as Ruth Reeves (1880–1967) and Romana Javitz (1903–1980). In delving into these personal histories, we want to create a narrative within the time line that educates, encourages exploration, and challenges people to question long-standing beliefs concerning the IAD and what its history entailed.
Fine Arts major with a concentration in Fashion Design, Howard University
Howard University Undergraduate Intern, 2022–2024