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Gay Ann Rogers Collection

 Collection
Identifier: D-Mss-0973

  • Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Gay Ann Rogers Collection contains items related to various types of needlework, sewing, and textiles. These materials range in time frame from the 17th through 21st centuries. It includes needlework boxes and cases, needles and related tools, embroidery scissors, tape measures, pincushions, various types of thread containers, darners, antique baby gowns, lacemaking, knitting, and crochet tools, among many other related objects. It also contains many items in five types of Scottish Mauchline ware (transfer ware, tartan ware, fern ware, lacquer ware, and photographic ware) and various textiles created by Gay Ann Rogers herself, as well as some Jane Austen-related memorabilia she collected. Of note are Ellen Browning Scripps' own sewing case, novelty shaped thimbles, and the intricate spool holders.

Dates

  • Creation: circa 1700-2010.

Conditions Governing Access

Collection open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Contact library for permission to use.

Biographical / Historical

Gay Ann Rogers (Scripps ‘65) is a needlepoint designer and teacher. She has written four books about needlework, and many magazine articles. She started donating this collection to Scripps in 2016, and has continued to grow it further. Needlework and related crafts have been a part of human history for a very, very long time. The Rogers Collection materials range in date from the 17th to 21st centuries, but mainly are from the 19th and 20th centuries. Much of the time, it is difficult to precisely date them. Most of the items were made in the United States or Western Europe, but there are also various items in this collection that were made in Japan, China, and British India. The items in the Rogers Collection would have been used in relation to sewing, crocheting, knitting, darning and various types of lacemaking, including tatting, lucetting, knotting, and bobbin lacemaking. Within this time period, these crafts were predominantly done by women. The Rogers Collection contains tools and other supplies that were undoubtedly very precious and well-made, like Palais Royal workboxes and intricately carved mother-of-pearl embroidery scissors, although there are also less-decorated materials that may have been more utilitarian.

Extent

251 boxes.

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The Gay Ann Rogers Collection contains materials related to sewing, needlework, lace and textiles from the 18th through 21st centuries.

Arrangement

This collection is divided into the following series and subseries.

Series 1: Sewing cases.

Series 2: Pins and pincushions.

Series 3: Tape measures, emeries, and waxers. Subseries: Tape measures, emeries, waxers, combination.

Series 4: Thread containers. Subseries: Thread winders, spools, cotton barrels, spool holders, miscellaneous thread containers.

Series 5: Handwork stitching tools. Subseries: Netting tools, tambour and crochet hooks, lucets, knotting and tatting shuttles, stilettos and lace prickers, spool knaves, knitting sheaths, knitting needle guards, hem measures, tracing wheels, darners, needle gauges.

Series 6: Scottish Mauchline ware. Subseries: Transfer ware, photographic ware, tartan ware, fern ware, black lacquer ware.

Series 7: Textiles created by Gay Ann Rogers and Jane Austen-related memorabilia.

Series 8: Needlework clamps. Subseries: pincushion clamps, winding clamps, hemming clamps.

Series 9: Embroidery scissors. Subseries: Steel scissors and silver sheaths, silver scissors and sheaths, mother-of-pearl and other French scissors, miscellaneous scissors, scissor cases.

Series 10: Thimbles and their cases. Subseries: English silver thimbles, thimble cases, Asian thimbles, other types of thimble containers.

Series 11: Needles, bodkins, and their cases. Subseries: Miniature needle books and boxes, needle cases, needle books, bodkin cases, bodkins and ribbon threaders.

Series 12: Workboxes. Subseries: American, French, English, Chinese, British Indian.

Series 13: Antique textiles: fourteen baby gowns.

Physical Location

Please consult repository.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Gay Ann Rogers, 2016-2019.

Accruals

Further accruals expected. (3/2022)

Processing Information

Processed by Stephanie Nunez, Emma Stammen, and Kathleen McHale.

Status
In Progress
Author
Stephanie Nunez, Emma Stammen, Kathleen McHale
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the 02 - Ella Strong Denison Library Repository

Contact:
1030 Columbia Ave
Claremont 91711 United States US