the fashion archive DRUMMOND LYON HALL

The Fashion Archive

The collection was started in the 1930s by Miss Henrietta Thompson. Over the decades it has grown and contains thousands of objects dating from the 15th Century to present day.

The oldest objects are European textile fragments located in the Comer European Textile Collection which was acquired in the 1940s from The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

In 2018, a new curator was appointed, leading to the implementation of a restructuring plan aimed at incorporating essential professional standards, procedures, and practices. Consequently, the collection underwent a name change to become The Fashion Archive.

FREEZER NOOK

When an object is accepted for accessioning into The Fashion Archive the first step in the process is to wrap and seal it in polypropylene plastic and place it into a freezer for two weeks. This will kill any living organism. This essential step ensures the permanent collection stays insect and fungi free.

AUXILIARY STORAGE / 0012

Contemporary fashion will be housed in this storage space on covered rolling racks. Currently about 1,500 women's hats are located in the white and gray boxes.

0004 STORAGE

Associated props and archival supplies are housed in this closet.

PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO / 0011

This space is for shooting individual collection objects for the database as well as editorial photographs for online exhibitions and collection-based videos.

0006 STORAGE

This is the mannequin and dress form storage closet.

CONSERVATION LAB / 0010

This lab is equipped with a fume hood, wash table, washer and dryer, eye wash, and shower. Basic conservation procedures will be performed on objects in this space.

Note:

Preservation is defined as ensuring an object is stored using the best archival materials available within a space that is humidity, temperature, and light controlled.

Conservation is defined as the practice of performing procedures needed to stabilize or repair an object which can be reversed in the future if needed.

WORKROOM / 008

Most of the activities related to The Fashion Archive will take place in this space. It is equipped with articulating fume exhaust arms which can be placed directly over objects during any cleaning or conservation work. Each arm is connect to the fume hood exhaust system in the Conservation Lab.

A library will be located in the back nook.

COLLECTION STORAGE / 007

Objects in the permanent collection are housed in this temperature, humidly, and light controlled space within the mobile storage unit.

There are a variety of ways to organize the unit including time, designer, color, etc. This collection will be organized by length to maximize space and each carriage section with have two hanging bars.

Ideal Temperature: 70° F + 4° F

Ideal Humidity: 45% RH + 8% RH

STORAGE UNIT

The storage unit is hermetically sealed and when a row is opened the lights for that particular row will turn on. The lights will turn off when the row is closed or after a specific time.

If the sprinkle system is engaged, water collected on the top of the storage unit will be captured and funneled to the outside.

To operate storage unit:

Locate the nearest red reset button on the touch pad located at the end of a row and tap it.

Next, tap the green move button.

Handbags

Handbags will be stored in the glass front door end cap units.

Shoes

Shoes will be stored in the unit along this wall.

AUXILIARY STORAGE / 007a

This space will house covered rolling racks and boxed objects which cannot be safely stored on hangers.