Morrill Hall

Center for Visual Learning in Textiles and Clothing

Department of Apparel, Educational Studies, and Hospitality Management

One of the centers proposed for a renovated Morrill Hall will give Iowa State University students hands-on access to a great learning tool -- Iowa State's extensive clothing and textiles collection.

The proposed Center for Visual Learning in Textiles and Clothing in Morrill Hall will include storage facilities for the collection, a special lab for conserving and restoring textiles, a high-tech classroom that can be used for distance education, and a gallery for fiber arts and apparel exhibits.

The collection

The clothing and textiles collection consists of about 7,500 pieces from around the world. Some of the oldest items are from the early 1800s.The estimated value of the collection, begun by an Iowa State faculty member Olive Settles in 1923, is from $1 million to $3 million. The storage facility for the valuable textiles will be named for the late Bertha and Edward Waldee, who donated funds to the facility.

Items from the collection are used in many textiles and clothing courses. Professors say student learning is greatly enhanced when students can see and touch collection pieces.

Conservation lab and high-tech classroom

The conservation lab promises to be a busy place, drawing Iowa State students as well as professionals who need training or well-equipped facilities in which to do research. In the lab, students might collaborate to develop a new synthetic fiber. Museum staffs might learn how to preserve textile artifacts. Or international visitors might develop a process to make textile dyes from native plants.

Many of the goings-on in the lab can be shared with those well beyond the campus through telecasts from the high-tech classroom. Officials anticipate offering short courses and workshops from the facilities.

"This is about providing global knowledge and improving lifestyles, finding better products, developing new industries and economies, even solving safety and health issues," says Mary Gregoire, chair of the department of apparel, educational studies, and hospitality management. "We're excited to explore the possibilities."

More information

For more information on the proposed new center, contact Robert Bosselman, Chair, Dept. of AESHM, 31a MacKay Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-5021, 515-294-7474, fax: 515-294-6364, email : tcmuseum@iastate.edu.

More about: Textiles and clothing program | Historical collection