This album was created by a member of the TPS Teachers Network, a professional social media network for educators, funded by a grant from the Library of Congress. For more information, visit tpsteachersnetwork.org.
Weekly Discovery: Costumes!
Album Description
With Halloween coming up, I thought it might be fun to take a look at the costume sketches in the Library's collection. Most of these costumes are a result of the Depression Era Federal Theater Project. According to the notes on the Federal Theater Project Costumes, the collection consists of “over 1,900 designs in color and black and white representing more than 160 productions in 13 cities. The majority of the designs were drawn for New York, NY, presentations. About 60 designers, many of whom signed their work.”
A few of my favorite costumes in the collection include Popeye the Sailor Man, Sleeping Beauty and her Prince, Little Buttercup, and a Brick Wall.
Each of these images show a different approach to the costume design process. Popeye the Sailor Man, Little Buttercup, and a Brick Wall all show the costumes in the creation process. The images include notes like “no dark blue” and hat measurements on the Popeye costume as well as clarification of the brick pattern on the Brick Wall costume. The Brick Wall costume and the Little Buttercup costume also include fabric swatches to give a greater sense of texture and color to the sketch.
The renderings of Sleeping Beauty and her Prince give the appearance of a final draft. They are framed and contain no notes nor swatches on the image itself. The design of the costumes are flowy and use the watercolor technique to add to the illusion of movement in the fabrics. What I find particularly fun about these two images is that they pre-date the Disney adaptation of the story, giving the designers freedom to express these characters without any preconceived ideas or expectations.
Using costumes from this collection could be a fun warm up activity for students this week.
You might ask them to identify which costume from the collection they would wear for Halloween and how they might be able to recreate it. You could also ask them to rank the costumes from “most wearable” to “least wearable.”
There are many more fun costumes in this collection and I will link some more of them below!
Image 1 of [ Up We Go: Popeye. Blue sailor suit with white cap, and corncob pipe.]
Reference note
Contributor Names
- Jones, Alexander
- Hawkins, Charles
Genre
- Costume designs
Notes
- - Over 1,900 designs in color and black and white representing more than 160 productions in 13 cities. The majority of the designs were drawn for New York, NY, presentations. About 60 designers, many of whom signed their work.
Sleeping Beauty: The Princess. Pink gown with red rose brooch and flowing sleeves.]
Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/resource/musihas.200219795.0/?sp=1
Reference note
Contributor Names
- Glidden, John
- Jones, Alexander
Genre
- Costume designs
Notes
- - Over 1,900 designs in color and black and white representing more than 160 productions in 13 cities. The majority of the designs were drawn for New York, NY, presentations. About 60 designers, many of whom signed their work.
[ Sleeping Beauty: Green coat over light green tunic, mustard hose, and pointed green slippers. Green feathered cap.]
Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/musihas.200219793/
Reference note
Contributor Names
- Glidden, John
- Jones, Alexander
Genre
- Costume designs
Notes
- - Over 1,900 designs in color and black and white representing more than 160 productions in 13 cities. The majority of the designs were drawn for New York, NY, presentations. About 60 designers, many of whom signed their work.
[ Pyramus and Thisbe: Green tunic with brick wall front.]
Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/musihas.200219444/
Reference note
Contributor Names
- Crosby, Peter
Genre
- Costume designs
Notes
- - Fabric swatch attached
- - Over 1,900 designs in color and black and white representing more than 160 productions in 13 cities. The majority of the designs were drawn for New York, NY, presentations. About 60 designers, many of whom signed their work.
Image 1 of [ Pinocchio: Fairy Queen. White layered gown with shades of blue. Trailing wings, silver star wand, a silver crown, and blue hair.]
Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/resource/musihas.200219305.0/?sp=1
Reference note
Contributor Names
- Cadorette, Paul
Genre
- Costume designs
Notes
- - Over 1,900 designs in color and black and white representing more than 160 productions in 13 cities. The majority of the designs were drawn for New York, NY, presentations. About 60 designers, many of whom signed their work.
Image 1 of [ Pirates of Penzance: Costume Sketch for "The Rivals". Striped black and white shirt, black and red breeches, green sash, black hat, and pistol.]
Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/resource/musihas.200219334.0/?sp=1
Reference note
Contributor Names
- Glidden, John
- Jones, Alexander
Genre
- Costume designs
Notes
- - Over 1,900 designs in color and black and white representing more than 160 productions in 13 cities. The majority of the designs were drawn for New York, NY, presentations. About 60 designers, many of whom signed their work.
Image 1 of [ Hansel and Gretel: Hansel blue and white sailor suit. Gretel blue, white, and yellow dirndl]
Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/resource/musihas.200218852.0?st=image
Reference note
Contributor Names
- Carlyle, Sidney
Genre
- Costume designs
Notes
- - Over 1,900 designs in color and black and white representing more than 160 productions in 13 cities. The majority of the designs were drawn for New York, NY, presentations. About 60 designers, many of whom signed their work.
Image 1 of [ Sleeping Beauty: Witch. White gown with black coat, and high collar. Pilgrim's hat and walking stick.]
Reference note
Contributor Names
- Glidden, John
- Jones, Alexander
Genre
- Costume designs
Notes
- - Over 1,900 designs in color and black and white representing more than 160 productions in 13 cities. The majority of the designs were drawn for New York, NY, presentations. About 60 designers, many of whom signed their work.
Image 1 of [The Little Mermaid: Shore Little Mermaid green dress with star(fish)]
Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/resource/musihas.200218688.0/?sp=1
Reference note
Contributor Names
- Byrne, Robert
Genre
- Costume designs
Notes
- - Part of the Dance Program for Young Folk
- - Over 1,900 designs in color and black and white representing more than 160 productions in 13 cities. The majority of the designs were drawn for New York, NY, presentations. About 60 designers, many of whom signed their work.
Image 1 of [ Valley Forge: General Washington. Blue coat, cream breeches, black boots, black coat with red lining, spyglass, sword, and tricorne hat.]
Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/resource/musihas.200219985.0/?sp=1
Reference note
Contributor Names
- van Dunker, Dorothe
Genre
- Costume designs
Notes
- - Over 1,900 designs in color and black and white representing more than 160 productions in 13 cities. The majority of the designs were drawn for New York, NY, presentations. About 60 designers, many of whom signed their work.