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Knox sketches, 1935-1958

 Collection
Identifier: SC.14

Scope and Contents

This collection is comprised of 22 folders containing sketches presumed to be done by Robert Knox. The only information on the boxes was Knox (firm). Through research the archivist was able to find the Knox hat company or the designer Ribert Knox. As far as she could tell the Knox hat company never produced anything besides hats. As these sketches do not have heads and are primarily designs of suits and coats which Robert Knox was known for it is assumed through research that these may be some free-lance sketched he did or sketches for Ben Gershel that have not been labeled.

Dates

  • Creation: 1935-1958

Creator

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

Robert Knox, known as Bobby or Knoxie, was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1908. He got his first sketching job at 13 for a New York coat and suit house. At 15, he started working for Lucile, Ltd.. He also met Norman Norell as a teenager, with whom he lunched daily along with a number of other fashion design industry regulars. Knox went to the Traphagen School for Fashion Design, but continued to sell design sketches freelance to the big Seventh Avenue coat and suit manufacturers, and left school after only one year to take a job. Shortly after, he was offered a job at Ben Gershel, where he stayed before opening his own design house, Laird-Knox, in 1960 with Laird Einziger. He died of leukemia in 1973 at 65 years old.

Full Extent

1 placeholder : 1.5 linear feet, 3 half boxes of sketches

Arrangement

This collection consists only of sketches arranged chronologically.

Appraisal

In folders US.NNFIT.SC.14.18-US.NNFIT.SC.14.21 deteriorationg tape was removed from sketches; however, this was holding the sketches to paper with labeled information about them so it is very important that these stay in order as to not lose any information.

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

General

Robert Knox, known as Bobby or Knoxie, was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1908. He got his first sketching job at 13 for a New York coat and suit house. At 15, he started working for Lucile, Ltd.. He also met Norman Norell as a teenager, with whom he lunched daily along with a number of other fashion design industry regulars. Knox went to the Traphagen School for Fashion Design, but continued to sell design sketches freelance to the big Seventh Avenue coat and suit manufacturers, and left school after only one year to take a job. Shortly after, he was offered a job at Ben Gershel, where he stayed before opening his own design house, Laird-Knox, in 1960 with Laird Einziger. He died of leukemia in 1973 at 65 years old.

General

Published

Processing Information

Arrangment, description, and/or archival processing by Elyse Sedore-Mallin, FIT, NY, NY, USA, 2024

Title
Knox sketches, 1935-1958
Date
2024-05-06
Description rules
Aat; Ansi; Dacs; Dcmi; Isad(g); Iso; Lo C; Niso; Etc
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections and FIT Archive Repository

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