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Special Collections Research Center
William & Mary Special Collections Research CenterEarl Gregg Swem Library
400 Landrum Dr
Williamsburg, Virginia
Business Number: 757-221-3090
spcoll@wm.edu
URL: https://libraries.wm.edu/libraries-spaces/special-collections
Finding Aid Authors: Special Collections Staff.
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use:
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.
Conditions Governing Access:
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.
Preferred Citation:
Miriam D. Plotnicov Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Acquisition Information:
Gift.
Processing Information:
Accessioned and minimally processed in June 2010.
Biographical Information:
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: .
Scope and Contents
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.
Arrangement of Materials:
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.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Beads--History
- Photographs
- Research notes
- Slides (photographs)
Container List
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 id82119
Box 1
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 1 id82120
Photocopies From BooksScope and Contents
Photocopies from books about beads and beadwork worldwide and throughout history.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 2 id82121
Photocopies From BooksScope and Contents
Photocopies from books about beads and beadwork worldwide and throughout history.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 3 id82122
Photocopies From BooksScope and Contents
Photocopies from books about beads and beadwork worldwide and throughout history.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 4 id82123
The Alaska JournalScope and Contents
"The Alaska Journal";, Summer 1972, Volume 2, Number 3. Contains article on glass trade beads on Alaska.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 5 id82124
Correspondence1973Scope and Contents
Correspondence from the New York Graphic Society concerning Plotnicov's book proposal on beadwork.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 6 id82125
Handwritten Notes on SpecimensScope and Contents
Handwritten notes on beadwork specimens from the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History (Anthropological Collection) and the Museum of History and Technology (Costume Collection).
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 7 id82126
Information on Grant WorkScope and Contents
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.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 8 id82127
Book Proposal & SampleScope and Contents
Book proposal and sample of writing and layout, including photographs of beadwork attached to heavy cardstock with typed captions describing the photos.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 9 id82128
Research PaperScope and Contents
Research paper by Plotnicov titled "Taiwan's Mountain People and Their Beadwork";. Includes color copies of photographs.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 1 id82120
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 id82133
SlidesScope and Contents
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.
- Mixed Materials Box: 3 id82134
SlidesScope and Contents
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.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 id82138
Box 2
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 10 id82142
Description of Slides That Were in CarouselsScope and Contents
Typed pages of introductory information and descriptions of slides that were originally separated out into carousels to be used for presentations.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 11 id82144
Photograph Log and Description of SpecimensScope and Contents
Handwritten photograph log of slides, and typed descriptions of specimens.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 12 id82145
Index Cards with Slide InformationScope and Contents
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.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 13 id82146
Index Cards with Slide InformationScope and Contents
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.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 14 id82147
Index Cards with Slide InformationScope and Contents
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.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 15 id82148
Index Cards with Slide InformationScope and Contents
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.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 10 id82142
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 id82150
Box 1
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 16 id82151
Plans by Developer Mid-Atlanticcirca 2001Scope and Contents
Notes, letters, and newspaper articles about plans by developer Mid-Atlantic to build homes near Queens Lake Middle School.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 17 id82152
This Century Art GalleryScope and Contents
Newspaper clippings, newsletters, advertisements, flyers, etc. for This Century Art Gallery (formerly the Twentieth Century Gallery).
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 18 id82153
Muscarelle Museum of Artcirca 2001-2001Scope and Contents
Notes, newspaper clippings, letters, newsletters, etc. concerning the Muscarelle Museum of Art, especially concerns about its possible closure.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 19 id82154
MiscellaneousScope and Contents
Miscellaneous magazine, brochure, newspaper, and photocopy of artwork.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 20 id82156
Unidentified NegativesScope and Contents
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.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 16 id82151