Kiki Smith, a professor from the theater department at Smith College, joins the “Photo Detective” podcast to discuss her unique journey with the Smith College Historic Clothing Collection. Initially joining the department temporarily, Smith found herself organizing a chaotic costume storage area into a vital educational and research resource. Her book “Real Clothes, Real Lives” documents 200 years of women’s everyday attire using items from this collection. With a focus on ordinary garments rather than high fashion, Smith emphasizes the stories and social history these clothes tell. Her efforts have transformed the collection into a recognized academic and historical resource, gaining attention for its unique focus and prompting further institutional support.
- Her book, “Real Clothes, Real Lives,” explores 200 years of women’s attire, focusing on garments from everyday life.
- Smith’s work highlights the importance of preserving ordinary clothing for educational and historical insights.
- The collection started modestly but grew through contributions and Smith’s persistent efforts to catalog and display the items.
- There is currently an exhibit of clothing from the collection at New York Historical
Related Episodes:
Episode 181: Clothing Care at the New Canaan Historical Society
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About My Guest:
Kiki Smith has been a professor of Costume Design at the Smith College Theatre Department in Northampton MA for 49 years. She is the Director of the Smith College Historic Clothing Collection that was founded 42 years ago by a student and is based there in the basement of the Theatre Building near the Costume Shop.The collection now numbers over 4000 pieces. Her book Real Clothes, Real Lives: 200 Years of What Women Wore (Rizzoli), published this September, documents garments and accessories that are what she calls “real” clothes worn by “real” women for all aspects of their lives. It has developed a focus on the “uniforms” of women’s many roles and jobs.
She is also a professional costume and set designer, working with theatre companies including Shakespeare & Co. in Lenox, Ma and the Talking Band in New York, and received an Obie Award for a production with that company.
She is an Alum of Smith College with advanced degrees in Theatre design from the University of Virginia and the University of Texas in Austin.
About Maureen Taylor:
Maureen Taylor, The Photo DetectiveÒhelps clients with photo related genealogical problems. Her pioneering work in historic photo research has earned her the title “the nation’s foremost historical photo detective” by The Wall Street Journal and appearances on The View, The Today Show, Pawn Stars, and others. Learn more at Maureentaylor.com