Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- [1952-2002] (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
c 13,000 slides; 1000 printed materials; 3,000 textile examples.
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Constance Howard (1910-2000) joined the staff of Goldsmiths' College as a part-time tutor. She went on to found and become Head of the Department of Embroidery (later Textiles) in the College's School of Art, 1947-1975. She is seen widely as a leading pioneer in the making and teaching of embroidery as an art form. The Resource and Research Centre is named after her and was established by her successor, Audrey Walker, in 1980. In 1996 the Friends of the Study Collection was formed to extend and enhance information about this unique resource. Pieces are purchased for and donated to the Collection on the understanding that they will be made available for hands on research and study. The Centre regularly organises lectures and exhibitions, and the many slides and textiles housed there are being digitised as an ongoing project to provide a 'virtual' resource.
Repository
Archival history
GB 2603 Howard [1952-2002] Collection (fonds) c 13,000 slides; 1000 printed materials; 3,000 textile examples. Constance Howard Resource and Research Centre in Textiles
Constance Howard (1910-2000) joined the staff of Goldsmiths' College as a part-time tutor. She went on to found and become Head of the Department of Embroidery (later Textiles) in the College's School of Art, 1947-1975. She is seen widely as a leading pioneer in the making and teaching of embroidery as an art form. The Resource and Research Centre is named after her and was established by her successor, Audrey Walker, in 1980. In 1996 the Friends of the Study Collection was formed to extend and enhance information about this unique resource. Pieces are purchased for and donated to the Collection on the understanding that they will be made available for hands on research and study. The Centre regularly organises lectures and exhibitions, and the many slides and textiles housed there are being digitised as an ongoing project to provide a 'virtual' resource.
Various donations and purchases from 1980 to the present day.
The Constance Howard Resource and Research Centre in Textiles contains archives, Materials Collections and a library related to textiles and to the development of textile art. Collections include the archives of the Goldsmiths Textile course 1948-2009, 13, 000 slides of the work of graduates, alumni and staff of the course, teaching notes of the founding team, Constance Howard MBE, Barbara Dawson and Christine Risley. The Materials Collections include items from Constance Howard's personal collection of embroidery and costume; textile samples, a collection of techno-fabric samples from Nuno in Japan; and over 3,000 textiles donated or commissioned for the Centre. Archives include the records of textile artists and groups influenced by the Goldsmiths Textiles course, including the '62 Group' and the 'Fibre Art Group', [1962-2000], both groups of professional textile artists formed to raise the profile of textile art. These archives include slides, photographs, newsletters, correspondence, accounts, reviews and committee minutes. There are over 5,000 books and pamphlets in the specialised library which includes Constance Howard's book collection, and is strong in materials on textiles published in Eastern Europe in the later 20th century.
Expected.
At present, access to the Centre by appointment only. Please contact the Centre for details.
Copyright in the artistic material remains with the original artists. Copyright in the archival material of the 62 Group and the Fibre Art Group remains with the donors.
English
Textiles within the collection may be handled by researchers. The collections contain videos, audio tapes and slides.
Cataloguing of the collection is in progress. Digitisation of the slides is ongoing. Systematic photographing of the collection is ongoing.
Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project. Updated by Jacqueline Cooke, 2009 Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. Feb 2002 62 Group , group of professional textile artists China Constance Howard Resource and Research Centre in Textiles Cultural heritage Customs and traditions East Asia England Europe Fashion Fibre Art Group , group of professional textile artists Handicrafts Howard , Constance , 1910-2000 , embroidery artist and teacher Japan London New Cross Nuno Textile arts UK University of London , Goldsmiths' College x Goldsmiths' College Western Europe Lewisham
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Various donations and purchases from 1980 to the present day.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The Constance Howard Resource and Research Centre in Textiles contains archives, Materials Collections and a library related to textiles and to the development of textile art. Collections include the archives of the Goldsmiths Textile course 1948-2009, 13, 000 slides of the work of graduates, alumni and staff of the course, teaching notes of the founding team, Constance Howard MBE, Barbara Dawson and Christine Risley. The Materials Collections include items from Constance Howard's personal collection of embroidery and costume; textile samples, a collection of techno-fabric samples from Nuno in Japan; and over 3,000 textiles donated or commissioned for the Centre. Archives include the records of textile artists and groups influenced by the Goldsmiths Textiles course, including the '62 Group' and the 'Fibre Art Group', [1962-2000], both groups of professional textile artists formed to raise the profile of textile art. These archives include slides, photographs, newsletters, correspondence, accounts, reviews and committee minutes. There are over 5,000 books and pamphlets in the specialised library which includes Constance Howard's book collection, and is strong in materials on textiles published in Eastern Europe in the later 20th century.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
Expected.
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
At present, access to the Centre by appointment only. Please contact the Centre for details.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright in the artistic material remains with the original artists. Copyright in the archival material of the 62 Group and the Fibre Art Group remains with the donors.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Cataloguing of the collection is in progress. Digitisation of the slides is ongoing. Systematic photographing of the collection is ongoing.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English