Claire McCardell collection

Series I: Correspondence; 1926 –1995 (Boxes 1-2)

This series contains assorted letters, notes, and writings from different stages of Claire McCardell’s life and from the years following her death.

Subseries 1: Personal Correspondence, 1926 – 1940 (Box 1)

This subseries includes letters McCardell wrote to her parents when she lived in New York and Paris, both as a student and later as a designer. Subjects discussed include life in Paris and New York, family affairs, career aspirations, and college life. Claire describes seeing Charles Lindbergh land in Paris, meeting Ernest Hemingway on a ship, and the successes and challenges of her fashion career.

Subseries 2: Professional Correspondence, 1936 – 1995 (Box 1)

This subseries contains professional correspondence directed both to Claire herself and to her family members in the years following her death in 1958. Items include fan mail addressed to Claire and to her mother; Claire’s miscellaneous correspondence from fashion editors, media outlets, and others; and a letter addressed to Adolph Klein offering condolences on Claire’s death. Correspondence with the McCardell family includes invitations to events, appraisal of acknowledgement of clothing lent for exhibitions, and receipts for clothing lent. Of note are the correspondence files relating to two of Claire’s products: her “SunSpecs” sunglasses and her book “What Shall I Wear?” These files contain thank-you letters from a number of noted fashion editors, writers, and even celebrities such as Joan Crawford and Ginger Rogers for complimentary sunglasses or books.

Subseries 3: Miscellaneous Notes and Writings, 1944 – 1950s (Box 2)

This subseries contains an assortment of notes, draft statements and speeches, and career timelines created by Claire or her publicists.

Series II: Articles 1935 –1995 (Boxes 2, 3, 5, 6 and oversize folder)

This series contains newspaper and magazine clippings and complete magazines.

Subseries 1: Magazines 1940s – 1990s (Boxes 5 and 6)

This subseries consists of complete magazines containing articles that feature McCardell. Highlights include a May 2, 1955 edition of Time with McCardell featured on the cover, and a November 1956 edition of McCall’s that includes a redacted version of “What Shall I Wear?”

Subseries 2: Other Articles 1930 – 1995 (Boxes 2, 3, and oversize folder)

This subseries contains newspaper and magazine clippings relating to McCardell’s life and career. Some have been gathered by a news clipping service, while others appear to have been collected by the McCardell family.

Series III: Publicity 1941 –1995 (Boxes 3, 5, and oversize folder)

This series includes ephemera and published publicity for McCardell and her designs. Brief mentions and published photographs in newspapers and magazines are categorized by type of clothing or product. Other types of publicity include ephemera; endorsements featuring McCardell; and television show scripts.

Subseries 1: Clothing by Type, 1941 – 1985 (Boxes 3, 5, and oversize folder)

This subseries includes published drawings or photos of McCardell designs and garments, most often from newspapers and fashion or women’s magazines.

Subseries 2: Other Publicity, 1943 - 1995 (Boxes 4, 5 and oversize folder)

This subseries includes ephemera from exhibits, retrospectives, and awards ceremonies and television show scripts from episodes featuring McCardell. Newspaper and magazine advertisements are also included, featuring McCardell endorsing everything from bread to fabric to cars and often marketing her own designs alongside the featured product.

Series IV: Personal 1923 –1977 (Box 4)

This series contains personal items found in the collection, including mementos from Paris such as postcards and a ship menu, a detailed horoscope prepared for McCardell in 1934, and a family history written by Roy McCardell, a cousin. The series also includes McCardell’s two passports from 1926-1936 and date books from 1944-1957.

Series V: Publications 1955 –1957 (Boxes 4-5)

This series includes notes about and drafts of materials published by McCardell, as well as some of the published materials.

Subseries 1: What Shall I Wear? materials, 1955 – 1956 (Box 4)

This subseries contains materials relating to the book “What Shall I Wear?” published in 1955. These include notes and draft passages of the text, a complete draft manuscript, and a book jacket from the published work.

Subseries 2: Other Publications, 1951 - 1957 (Boxes 4-5)

This subseries contains items relating to other publications. One is a group of newspaper and magazine clippings advertising patterns of McCardell designs available for purchase. The other is a paper doll book with two figures and clothing for each.