Fashion Institute of Technology (New York, N.Y.)
Dates
- Existence: 1944-
Biography
The Fashion Institute of Technology was the brainchild of the educator Mortimer C. Ritter and the menswear manufacturer Max Meyer. The school opened in 1944 on the top two floors of the High School of Needle Trades. By 1951, there was enough support for the institute as well as students enrolled to warrant a degree program at FIT. That year, the school was granted the right to award an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree. FIT received accreditation in 1957 and introduced a variety of courses, including Liberal Arts. During the 1960s, the curriculum grew to include interior design, advertising, and photography as subjects taught at the school. The following decade saw the school expanding to provide Bachelor's (in 1975) and Master's (1985) degree's, after years of lobbying State University Board of Education. FIT can boast about being the first to offer unique degrees in fields taught no where else in the U.S., such as Toy Design and Visual Presentation and Exhibition Design. There are 48 degree programs in total at FIT as of October 2020.
Places
Found in 47 Collections and/or Records:
Human Resources records
Information Technology records
Institutional Advancement and External Relations records
Interior design program, undated
Photographs of students in the Textile program classes, doing textile identification, creating textile designs, doing screen printing, textile designs, weaving on a loom, selecting fabrics from manufacturers, and attending a guest lecture.
Joyce F. Brown records, 1998-, 1998
The records of Joyce F. Brown include correspondence, speeches, and written works as well as documents regarding the Diversity Council and Sustainability Council.
Lawrence Bethel records, 1946-1964, 1946-1964
The records of Lawrence Bethel include programs and guest lists for his inauguration, correspondence, and photos as well as records relating to F.I.T.'s international educational initiatives in accordance with the Agency for International Development of the U.S. State Department. This series also includes speeches and other works written by Bethel.
Lawrence L. Jarvie records, 1966-1968, 1966-1968
The records of Lawrence L. Jarvie include President's Reviews and programs from his inauguration.
Marvin Feldman records, 1971-1992, 1971-1992
The records of Marvin Feldman include president's office files as well as speeches and written works.
Max Meyer records, 1952 October-1953 February, 1952 October-1953 February
Mortimer C. Ritter records, 1951-1952, 1951-1952
The records of Mortimer C. Ritter include correspondence.