A Madison century of dress

The Centennial Exhibit displays vintage clothing

By Kelly Fisher, a&e editor
Posted on September 27, 2007

Walking into the Gallery at Festival is almost like taking a walk into JMU’s rich, colorful past.

The Centennial Exhibit highlights several different aspects of JMU’s 100-year history. From donated artwork to historical documents from James Madison’s era, the exhibit truly captures some of the achievements of both the university and its namesake.

The main exhibit, however, is “Dressing for Education,” a collection of 18 vintage outfits selected and restored by Dr. Pamela Johnson of the school of theatre and dance.

Johnson, who manages the JMU Historic Clothing Collection, has brought attention to some outstanding outfits that contributed to the university’s history.

“I chose items that were unique, and outfits that look contemporary,” Johnson said. “I knew the audience, so in a sense it was like casting a play.”

The clothing dates as far back as the ’20s and contains pieces though the ’60s. The collection portrays casual, business and evening wear. Some of the donors are known alumni, while other donors are unknown.

One evening dress and cape dates back to 1934 and was donated to the collection by Mary Spitzer Etter (’34). It was worn to her senior vocal recital in Wilson Hall.

Other notable dresses on display include a gold evening dress circa 1940-43, a wool Houndstooth suit and Chesterfield coat from circa 1940-42 as well as a pink satin and net formal gown from 1956.

Although the dresses date back several decades, the styles could pass as modern.

“The outfits were ordinary clothes during their time,” Johnson said. “What we have on display were the clothes people didn’t bother to keep. But it’s all related. We have everything from high to local fashion. Even a local women’s teaching college was aware of fashion.”

Junior Anna Neubert spent the past few weeks working with Johnson to prepare for the exhibit. She believes that students will find the clothes interesting and provide insight into what JMU’s students were like over the past 100 years.

“I think [the exhibit] will teach students to appreciate the clothes we wear today,” Neubert said. “How we dress now is directly influenced by the fashions of the past.”

A special item in the exhibit is the wedding dress worn by Dorothy Garber. Garber, who graduated from what was then the State Normal School in 1920, wore the dress at her wedding in 1925. She served as the dean of women from the ’20s through the mid ’60s.

The delicate dress was painstakingly restored by Colleen Callahan, curator emeritus of costume and textiles at the Valentine Richmond History Center in Richmond.

“The netting was deteriorated and gone in many places,” Callahan said of the gown. “So I had to sew around the netting and around all of the pearls. It took three days to complete, but it was a very rewarding thing to do.”

The Centennial Exhibit is on display in the Gallery at Festival, located in the Festival Center, room 2104.