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Special Collections Research Center
William & Mary Special Collections Research CenterFinding Aid Authors: Special Collections Staff.
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Miriam D. Plotnicov Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Gift.
Accessioned and minimally processed in June 2010.
Born in Fostoria, Ohio in 1925, Miriam left home at eighteen take up residence in New York City where her winning sketch for a date dress entitled her to study fashion design at Cooper Union. She worked briefly for B.H. Wragge, but left 7th Avenue life behind to pursue work in the Decorative Arts Department at UC Berkeley. From there she went to the newly-created Renwick Gallery, a showcase for American crafts and worked on its opening exhibition, Craft Multiples. Her personal passion for ethnic textile art first found expression in a collection of San Blas molas which inspired her to create a number of large appliquéed panels. Later, she became deeply interested in indigenous North American quill- and beadwork, and assembled a body of research, technical illustrations, and slides on the subject which she hoped to publish. This goal was never realized, as her retirement years were dedicated to a final consuming artistic exploration of flowers, not through fiber art but on canvas. Miriam Plotnicov died in Williamsburg in the winter of 2007. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: .
The Miriam D. Plotnicov papers consist of her research notes, slides and photographs relating to beads of indigenous peoples from different parts of the world.
This collection is not yet arranged and processed and the indicated date range and description are only preliminary. Researchers may wish to consult with a staff member for further information in advance of using the collection.
Photocopies from books about beads and beadwork worldwide and throughout history.
Photocopies from books about beads and beadwork worldwide and throughout history.
Photocopies from books about beads and beadwork worldwide and throughout history.
"The Alaska Journal";, Summer 1972, Volume 2, Number 3. Contains article on glass trade beads on Alaska.
Correspondence from the New York Graphic Society concerning Plotnicov's book proposal on beadwork.
Handwritten notes on beadwork specimens from the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History (Anthropological Collection) and the Museum of History and Technology (Costume Collection).
Information on grant work Plotnicov did as an intern at the Smithsonian 1969-1970. Includes proposal for book on beads, and some information on the slides.
Book proposal and sample of writing and layout, including photographs of beadwork attached to heavy cardstock with typed captions describing the photos.
Research paper by Plotnicov titled "Taiwan's Mountain People and Their Beadwork";. Includes color copies of photographs.
Boxes contain 674 color 35 mm slides of 331 separate beadwork specimens. Box 2 has specimens 1-213 and Box 3 has specimens 214-331. Specimens come from many areas of the world, including Africa, Asia, the Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea, South America, North America, and Greenland.
Boxes contain 674 color 35 mm slides of 331 separate beadwork specimens. Box 2 has specimens 1-213 and Box 3 has specimens 214-331. Specimens come from many areas of the world, including Africa, Asia, the Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea, South America, North America, and Greenland.
Typed pages of introductory information and descriptions of slides that were originally separated out into carousels to be used for presentations.
Handwritten photograph log of slides, and typed descriptions of specimens.
Index cards that were originally attached to the slides. They have handwritten descriptions of the specimens, information on their culture of origin, and in what museum collection they were located.
Index cards that were originally attached to the slides. They have handwritten descriptions of the specimens, information on their culture of origin, and in what museum collection they were located.
Index cards that were originally attached to the slides. They have handwritten descriptions of the specimens, information on their culture of origin, and in what museum collection they were located.
Index cards that were originally attached to the slides. They have handwritten descriptions of the specimens, information on their culture of origin, and in what museum collection they were located.
Notes, letters, and newspaper articles about plans by developer Mid-Atlantic to build homes near Queens Lake Middle School.
Newspaper clippings, newsletters, advertisements, flyers, etc. for This Century Art Gallery (formerly the Twentieth Century Gallery).
Notes, newspaper clippings, letters, newsletters, etc. concerning the Muscarelle Museum of Art, especially concerns about its possible closure.
Miscellaneous magazine, brochure, newspaper, and photocopy of artwork.
Unidentified photograph negatives of people, possibly from the early 20th century. These photographs do not seem to be related to Plotnicov's research on beadwork.