Finding Aid for the Bea McPherson, KSU Museum and Fashion School papers

Author: Prepared by Edith Serkownek, October 19, 2005
Extent: 0.66 cubic feet (2 document cases)
Inclusive Dates: 1978-1988
Physical Location: 11th floor
Language of Materials: English

Biographical Note: An alumna of KSU, Bea S. McPherson (1943), has been involved in the development and support of the Kent State Museum and the School of Fashion Design and Merchandising. She has served on the Foundation Board (1980-1996) and on the Board of the Fashion Museum and Design School as a Friend's member. McPherson was also a charter member and past president of the Chestnut Society. In these capacities, McPherson collected materials related to the development of the school and museum.

Scope and Content: This collection is divided into five series. Series 1 consists of correspondence relating to Bea McPherson's involvement in the KSU Rodgers-Silverman project and includes letters from Shannon Rodgers to the McPhersons. Series 2 includes exhibit and event material relating to the KSU Museum. Series 3 includes press releases, speeches, biographies and other KSU-produced documents relating to the Silverman-Rodgers project. Series 4 consists of Silverman-Rodgers project photographs and includes KSU Museum publictity images and a photograph of the KSU Museum ribbon cutting. Series 5 consists of articles from KSU publications relating to Jerry Silverman, Shannon Rodgers and the KSU Museum. Series 6 consists of newsclippings relating to Jerrry Silverman, Shannon Rodgers and the KSU Museum. Series 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 are organized by date and where no date exists, by document type and title. Series 5 is organized by publication title and within each title, by date.

Series

• Series 1: Correspondence
• Series 2: Fashion Shows, KSU Museum Exhibits and Events
• Series 3: Papers, Press Releases, Programs and Resumes
• Series 4: Photographs
• Series 5: Articles from KSU Publications
• Series 6: Newspaper Clippings

Box 1

Folder -- Contents

Series 1: Correspondence

1. Correspondence: Brage Golding, KSU President, to Bea McPherson, May 16, 1981
2. Correspondence: Jerry Silverman to Bea McPherson, October 18, 1982
3. Correspondence: Dr. Mohammad Adwan, Office of Her Majesty, to Ben [sic] McPherson. May 9, 1984
4. Correspondence [photocopy]: Anita Herrington, KSU Alumni Association, to James and Bea McPherson, November 21, 1984
5. Correspondence: Shannon Rodgers to William and Bea McPherson. December 5, 1984
6. Correspondence: Shannon Rodgers to James and Bea McPherson. March 12, 1985
7. Correspondence: Anita Herrington, KSU Alumni Association, to James and Bea McPherson. June 26, 1985
8. Correspondence: Michael Schwartz, KSU President, to James and Bea McPherson. November 22, 1985
9. Correspondence: N. Wyman Balfour, KSU Director of Development, to James and Bea McPherson. January 6, 1987
10. Correspondence: Robert R. Broadbent, Chairman of the Board, The Higbee Company, to Bea McPherson with enclosed reprinted articles from Stores Magazine, "Kent State Treasure" by Lewis A. Spalding. July 9, 1987

Series 2: Fashion Shows, KSU Museum Exhibits and Events

11. Ticket: "Designer to the stars: Shannon Rodgers in retrospect/Jerry Silverman: Fall collection first showing." June 25 [1979] [2 copies]
12. Ticket, flyer and advertisement: "Shannon Rodgers: Highlights from his collection/Jerry Silverman: Fall collection first showing." June 23 [1980] [2 tickets, 1 flyer, 1 advertisement (photocopy)]
13. Ticket, flyer, advertisement and program: "Masterpieces in design: Shannon Rodgers and friends: Jerry Silverman: His fall collection first showing." June 22, 1981 [2 tickets, 2 programs, 1 program mock-up, 1 flyer, 1 advertisement ]
14. Exhibit material: Nightingales and dragons: The robes of China. January 29 to February 26, 1984. [1 program, 2 invitations, "The Canton Art Institute Annual Report 1983-1984," 1 page notes]. 1984
15. Program: Fashion and Broadway: An exhibition celebrating 100 years of Playbill Magazine. [KSU Museum material loaned]. September 21, 1984.
16. Program: "Dazzle "Opening in Style."" September 27, 1985.
17. Tickets: "Reflections I" and "Reflections II" [Opening of KSU Museum]. September 28 and September 29, 1985 [2 copies each]
18. Flyer: "The KSU Museum ribbon cutting/The Alumni Gallery dedication" [2 copies, 1 signed by Shannon Rodgers, 1 signed by Linda Allard]. October 12, 1985
19. Brochure: "Going in style." Brunch and tour of KSU museum. June 8, 1986
20. Flyer: "The Fashion Group of Cleveland, Inc. invites you to an evening with Sal Cesarani" KSU Museum and Rodgers and Silverman School of Fashion. October 20, 1987

Series 3: Papers, press releases, programs and resumes

21. News releases: 5 KSU news releases relating to the Silverman-Rodgers project. Misc. dates 1980-1984
22. Paper: "Jerry Silverman biography." May 1981
23. Paper: Dr. Brage Golding's remarks to the faculty-staff-student convocation. May 20, 1981
24. Program: "Memorial service: Jerry Silverman 1911-1984, Kent State University Museum." November 15, 1984 [2 copies]
25. Newsletter: Update of Silverman-Rodgers project. June 1985
26. Note [photocopied]: "Suggestions for a title for the Kent State Museum" by Bea McPherson. July 27, 1985
27. Paper: "Kent State University Silverman-Rodgers project, leadership awareness program narrative." [no date]
28. Paper: "Shannon Rodgers bio release." [no date]
29. Resume: Brage Golding. [no date]

Series 4: Photographs

30. Photograph: Shannon Rodgers at ribbon cutting. 3.5x5, color. [October 12, 1985]
31. Photographs: Models in historic costumes [used for promotional KSU Museum material]. 4 images, 8x10, black and white. [no date]
32. Photographs: Rockwell Hall and Rockwell Hall Annex. 4 images, 8x10, black and white. [no date]
33. Photographs: Brage Golding. 3x4, black and white; Shannon Rodgers. 3x4, black and white. [no dates]
34. Photographs [photocopies]: "P.R. Photos" Includes images of Jerry Silverman and Shannon Rodgers. 4 images. [no date]

Series 5: Articles from KSU publications concerning Jerry Silverman, Shannon Rodgers and KSU Museum

35. Newsletters: Advance. 6 issues. Misc. dates 1986-1988
36. Newsletters, brochures and flyers: The Chestnut Society. Misc. dates 1980-1988
37. Newsletter: For the Record. vol. 2 no. 2. October 21, 1985
38. Newsclippings: Inside Kent State. 30 clippings. Misc. dates, 1980-1988
39. Newsclippings: Kent: KSU Alumni Assocation. 10 clippings. Misc. dates, 1981-1986
40. Newsletters: Kent State University Weekly and Kent State University Bi-Weekly. 4 issues. Misc. dates 1981-1984
41. Newsletters: PC Newsletter: Presidents Club. 9 issues. Misc. dates 1984-1987
42. Newsclippings: Profile. 4 clippings. Misc. dates 1985-1988
43. Report: Portfolio of Progress: 1982-1985.
44. Newsclippings: Summer Kent Stater. 4 clippings. June 16, 18 and 25, 1981

Box 2

Folder -- Contents

Series 6: Newspaper clippings of articles concerning Jerry Silverman, Shannon Rodgers and KSU Museum

1. Newsclippings: 1978-1979
2. Newsclippings: 1980
3. Newsclippings: 1981
4. Newsclippings: 1982
5. Newsclippings: 1983
6. Newsclippings: 1984
7. Newspaper insert: "Queen Victoria's underdrawers and other mentionables: Kent has grand designs on Stella Blum," The Plain Dealer Magazine. September 23, 1984
8. Newsclippings: 1985
9. Newsclippings: 1986
10. Newsclippings: 1987
11. Newsclippings: 1988
12. Newsclippings: [no date]