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Spanning generations and cultures, textiles and clothing bind us to our identity, our landscape, and one another. In honor of the acquisition of the library and archives of the American Textile History Museum, whose mission had been to “tell America’s stories through textiles,” Cornell University Library is hosting a series of exhibits to weave a more global and inclusive narrative. Highlighting library and archival material from the American Textile History Museum, existing items from Cornell’s collections, and original artwork, Threads of History: Textiles at Cornell honors the storytelling, history, and artistry of textiles, and those who labor to create them.



Textiles at CUL Planning Committee Members


Kofi Acree (Africana)
Carole Atkinson (Asia)
Kate Carlin (RMC)
Marcie Farwell (Kheel Center) (organizer)
Eveline Ferretti (Mann)
Prof. Denise Green (CF+TC)
Jenny Leijonhufvud (Mann)
Marcus Reed (Management)
Lenora Schneller (Music)
Martha Walker (FAL)



Exhibit Locations, Themes, and Openings


CF+TC (Location: HEB Display Cases and HEB Lobby Entrance) "Threads of Life, Love, and Loss: An HIV/AIDS Story"  (August 15 - December 2, 2022)

Music "Songs to Leave You in Stitches: the story of the ILGWU's musical Pins & Needles (September 23 - December 2022)

FAL (in Olin): "Outside In" Olin (October 2022-February 2023)

RMC: "Social Fabric: Land, Labor, and the World the Textile Industry Created" (October 27 2022-September 1, 2023)

Kheel "A More Perfect Union!: Crystal Lee Sutton and J.P. Stevens boycott" (Fall 2022)

Asia (Textiles of Asia (Title TBD), November 1, 2022 - )

Music "Iconic Ensembles: Performers and their Costumes: " (January - April 2023)

Africana: "Precious Scraps: Toni Morrison and the African American Quilting Experience  (February 18 - June 12, 2023)

Mann: "A New Book of Instruction" (March 2023-June 2023)

Music "Drop the Needle: Fabric and Textiles in Song" (April - July 2023)

Management: "Culture of Business" Dress (April 2023-June 2023)


Panels and Symposiums, Themes, and Dates (suggested)

CF+TC Reception and film screening (October 2022)
RMC Opening Panel/Speaker (October 27, 2022)
Mann Opening Panel/Speaker/Event (March 2023)
Speaker (sponsored by Kheel) (April 2023)
Reunion/Closing Speaker (June 2023)

Deadlines

  • Create look for "Threads of History": July 2022
  • Launch "Threads of History" WordPress page: July 2022
  • Create digital signs and posters for "Threads of History: August 2022
  • Chronicle article material for launch: July 2022

Check List for Exhibits


  • Decide on title for overall title by March 1, 2022
  • Decide on themes for exhibits by meeting on February 9, 2022



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