IUPUI University Library creates robust 3-D online repository of Conner Prairie’s historical clothing collection
INDIANAPOLIS- IUPUI University Library's recent partnership with the Conner Prairie Interactive History Park resulted in the creation of both the library's and history museum's first ever comprehensive three-dimensional (3-D) digital online repository exhibiting the museum's historical clothing and accessories. The digitization project was made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services and includes over 100 3-D images of original and replicated textiles; a re-enactment video; a chronology of American fashion from 1795 to 1910; and downloadable K-12 cultural diversity and social studies learning activities, plus a resource bibliography. To tour the online collection, visit http://ulib.iupui.edu/digitalscholarship/collections/CPClothing. The IUPUI/Conner Prairie Historic Clothing Digitization project offers a glimpse of Indiana's proletariat class' social history, especially those Hoosiers living in rural Indiana. This online repository seeks to serve a diverse audience from educators and students to professional historians in Indiana and beyond. The photographic images and attendant metadata is what make this a rich and valuable historical research tool. Prior to the digitization project, Conner Prairie limited its collection's access to scholars and researchers. The digital collection's searchable database has over 100 rotating 3-D images featuring an array of work clothes, "Sunday best", wedding and special occasion apparel worn by women, men and children living in Indiana during 18th and 19th century. The site's advance navigation tool makes it possible for patrons to narrow their search by category or era. A one-minute character video entitled Getting Dressed captures a Conner Prairie facilitator's dialogue as he begins his transformation, dressing in early American attire, to assume his role as Seamus O'Donovan, an Irish immigrant who came to America in 1828. Also included in the digital collection is Conner Prairie Interactive History Park Online Clothing Exhibit an essay written by Ericka Mason Olsen. The composition is a chronology of American fashion from 1795 to 1910 and talks about the intended use of textiles and fashions influence on economics and industry, politics and morality. Mason Olsen is a nationally known historic clothing expert who previously served as Historic Clothing Manager at Conner Prairie and has lectured on historic clothing at the Smithsonian Institute and the New York Historical Society. Finally, the education Resource entitled Social Studies Educational Resources for Use with Conner Prairie Historic Clothing Collection - Study of Culture and Cultural Diversity was created in partnership with the IU School of Education at IUPUI and complements the Conner Prairie textile collection. The resource tools included were developed with primary and secondary educators in mind. The online resources include downloadable learning activities and resource bibliography for K-12's cultural diversity and social studies curriculum. This resource was written by IU School of Education graduate student Shannon White. "Clothing exhibits, both in museum and online settings, tend to focus on "fancy fashions" or "high style clothing" donned by the elite, while eschewing the garments worn by everyday Americans. The Conner Prairie clothing collection literally covers head to toe clothing and highlights undergarments and accessories items worn by average Hoosier from late 1700s to the early 1900s," says Tim Crumrin, Conner Prairie's deputy director of museum experience. The University Library has also digitized Conner Prairie's collection of quilts, coverlets and samplers and will create a 3-D online collection of the museum's traditional craft collection featuring pottery making, arms making and blacksmithing. This repository is expected to be available online in summer 2010 and will include over 80 artifacts, educational materials and videos, and K-12 lesson plans. Over the past 10 years, the University Library has received digitization funding to produce more than 40 unique collections. The library has created an online digital repository for nonprofit organizations such as IPS Crispus Attucks Museum, Indiana State Archives, Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, Indiana University Geography and Map Library, Indiana Historical Society, Hancock County Public Library and Riley Old Home Society. The University Library continues to explore new ways to use digital technology to provide for the long-term preservation and accessibility of information and educational resources in a variety of formats for a broad audience via the Web. For more information about this collection, contact Jenny Johnson at jennajoh.edu or call 317-278-6709. Located at 755 W. Michigan Avenue in the heart of the IUPUI campus, the University Library is a public library, serving the people of Indiana as well as the university population. ### |
