Mark Mooring collection, 1923-1959
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of two folders of material, primarily photographs and correspondence collected by Mark Mooring.
The first folder contains correspondence ranging in date from 1923 through 1959. Also included are several undated letters, a newspaper clipping and an invitation to the Fifth Annual American Fashion Critics’ Award ceremony. Of special note in folder one are letters from Greer Garson, Frank Alvah Parsons, Oscar Hammerstein and Norman Norell.
The second folder in the collection consists of early 20th century photographs depicting women’s clothing, as well as photographs representing various museum holdings from the 16th century through the 20th century. The majority of the garments represented in the museum photographs are from The Elizabeth Day McCormick Collection in Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts. The remaining photographs depict garments held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Brooklyn Museum.
Dates
- Creation: 1923-1959
Creator
- Mooring, Mark, 1901-1971 (1901-1971) (Person)
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 visit our website: https://www.fitnyc.edu/academics/library/sparc/visit/index.php
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
Mark Mooring was an American fashion designer, advertised by Bergdorf Goodman as being "from a Texas ranch via Paris and the New York theatre." He graduated from Parsons in 1923 and went on to design costumes for several Broadway productions throughout the 1920s. In 1933, Mooring began working as a designer in the custom department of Bergdorf Goodman, a position he held until 1948. Upon leaving Bergdorf, Mooring designed collections for Elizabeth Arden and for Seventh Avenue houses. In 1960, he returned to Bergdorf Goodman for a brief period of time before leaving for Hollywood, where he spent the final eight years of his career working with west coast designer, Marusia. Mooring was honored with the Fifth Annual American Fashion Critics’ Award, receiving its trophy, “Winnie” in 1947. In January 1971, at the age of 71, Mooring died in Hollywood from complications following a stroke.
Full Extent
1 placeholder : Documents, cards, photographs, and ephemera
Arrangement
2 folders
Custodial History
This collection was surveyed and processed in April, 1986 by Julie Miller. Further description took place in May, 2011 by Jamie Corson
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was received from Edward Carroll at an unknown date.
General
Mark Mooring was an American fashion designer, advertised by Bergdorf Goodman as being "from a Texas ranch via Paris and the New York theatre." He graduated from Parsons in 1923 and went on to design costumes for several Broadway productions throughout the 1920s. In 1933, Mooring began working as a designer in the custom department of Bergdorf Goodman, a position he held until 1948. Upon leaving Bergdorf, Mooring designed collections for Elizabeth Arden and for Seventh Avenue houses. In 1960, he returned to Bergdorf Goodman for a brief period of time before leaving for Hollywood, where he spent the final eight years of his career working with west coast designer, Marusia. Mooring was honored with the Fifth Annual American Fashion Critics’ Award, receiving its trophy, “Winnie” in 1947. In January 1971, at the age of 71, Mooring died in Hollywood from complications following a stroke.
General
Published
General
Partial
Subject
- Garson, Greer, 1904-1996 (subject, Person)
- Parsons, Frank Alvah, 1868-1930 (subject, Person)
- Hammerstein, Oscar, II, 1895-1960 (subject, Person)
- Norell, Norman, 1900-1972 (1900-1972) (subject, Person)
- Bergdorf Goodman (New York, N.Y.) (subject, Organization)
- Title
- Mark Mooring collection, 1923-1959
- Date
- 2025-03-30
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and FIT Archive Repository