Historical photographs, 1944-1989, bulk 1950s-1970s
Scope and Contents
A collection of photographs documenting the Fashion Institute of Technology from its founding to the late 1980s.
Dates
- Creation: 1944-1989, bulk 1950s-1970s
Creator
- Fashion Institute of Technology (New York, N.Y.) (Organization)
Language of Materials
English Latin
Conditions Governing Access
Access is open to researchers by appointment at the Fashion Institute of Technology Library, Department of Special Collections and FIT Archive. If you have any questions, or wish to schedule an appointment contact us at [email protected] or call (212) 217-4385.
Conditions Governing Use
The Department of Special Collections and FIT Archive does not own copyright for all material held in its physical custody. It is the researcher's obligation to abide by and satisfy copyright law (http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#108) when copying or using materials (including digital materials) found in or made available from the department. When possible, the department will inform a researcher about the copyright status of material, the researcher's obligations with regard to such material, and, wherever possible, the owner or owners of the copyrights. Any and all reproduction of originals is at the archivist's discretion.
Biographical / Historical
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.
Full Extent
From the Sub-Group: 1 placeholder : 12 linear feet
Arrangement
Chronological by year and month when information is available. Otherwise organized by program. The collection is broken down into two subseries: Fashion Institute of Technology historical photographs and Construction documentation.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The departmental source of these photographs is undocumented.
Appraisal
Permanent
Existence and Location of Originals
The Library of the Fashion Institute of Technology, Department of Special Collections and FIT Archive, 27th St. at 7th Ave., NY, NY , USA, 10001
Physical Description
4 linear feet (62 folders)
General
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.
General
Published
Processing Information
Arrangement, description, and/or archival processing by J.E. Molly Seegers, 2016
Additional description, and/or archival processing by Allyn Young and Samantha Levin, 2019
Processing Information
Arrangement, description, and/or archival processing by J.E. Molly Seegers, FIT, NY, NY, USA.
Processing Information
Many photographs in this collection are duplicates of images in the SEC photograph collection (US.NNFIT.SC.FITA.5.2.4.etc.).
Subject
- Fashion Institute of Technology (New York, N.Y.) (subject, Organization)
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and FIT Archive Repository