Finding aid for the Clarke School of Dressmaking and Fashion Design Records


Repository: Western Reserve Historical Society
Creator: Clarke School of Dressmaking and Fashion Design
Title: Clarke School of Dressmaking and Fashion Design Records
Dates: 1942-1983
Extent: 0.20 linear feet (1 container)
Abstract: The Clarke School of Dressmaking and Fashion Design was a Cleveland, Ohio, dressmaking, tailoring and fashion design school founded in 1925 by Amanda Wicker, primarily for young African-American women. Wicker retired and sold the school in 1979, which was still in operation in 1990. The collection consists of style show programs; also newspaper clippings, and miscellany. The style show programs include much advertising for Cleveland Afro-American businesses.
MS Number MS 4490
Location: closed stacks
Language: The records are in English

History of the Clark School of Dressmaking and Fashion Design

The Clarke School of Dressmaking and Fashion Design (f. 1925) was a Cleveland, Ohio, educational institution developed for the instruction of needle arts and fashion primarily for young African American women. Founder Amanda Wicker (1900- 1987) was born in Sandersville, Georgia, and educated in Home Economics at the Tuskegee Institute. Upon graduation, she apprenticed in the dressmaking salon of Addie R. Clarke in Washington, D.C., then moved to Cleveland, Ohio, with her husband in 1924. Initially Wicker taught dressmaking in her home, but the classes quickly grew in size to warrant a school which she named after her former mentor. In 1939 the school began hosting annual fashion shows to raise money for scholarship funds. Soon after this the school was certified and the first graduation was held in 1946. Thirty-two years later, friends and former students of Wicker created the "Friends of Amanda Wicker" organization which raised funds to establish the Amanda Wicker Scholarship administered through the Cleveland Scholarship Program and first presented in 1980. Wicker retired and sold the school in 1979. At this time, it offered courses in drafting, tailoring, basic sewing, pattern making, couture dressmaking, and fashion design. Merchandising courses were anticipated by new owner Mattie Hemphill. The school was still in operation in 1990.


Scope and Content

The Clarke School of Dressmaking and Fashion Design Records, 1942-1983, consist primarily of style show programs and newspaper clippings.

This collection will be useful to researchers studying the history of Cleveland, Ohio, and its vocational and professional schools in the twentieth century. The collection primarily pertains to the Clarke School of Dressmaking and Fashion Design style shows as a reflection of school activities and to Amanda Wicker's accomplishments on behalf of educating African American youth in a profession. Those interested in the history of African American women entrepreneurs and educators will find this collection useful. Those interested in the history and development of fashion and dressmaking in the United States and Cleveland will find this collection useful.


Statement of Arrangement

The collection is arranged by document type, then chronologically, and is maintained in five folders.

Restrictions on Access

None.

Related Material

The researcher should also consult MS 4605 Clarke School of Dressmaking and Fashion Design Records, Series II; and PG 472 Clarke School of Dressmaking and Fashion Design Photographs.

Separated Material

Photographs have been removed to PG 472 Clarke School of Dressmaking and Fashion Design Photographs.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:

African American business enterprises -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
African American fashion designers -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
African Americans -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
Clarke School of Dressmaking and Fashion Design.
Costume design -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
Dressmaking -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
Fashion shows -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
Wicker, Amanda, 1900-1987.

Preferred Citation

[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 4490 Clarke School of Dressmaking and Fashion Design Records, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio

Acquisition Information

Amanda Wicker, 1985.

Processing Information

Processed by Bari Oyler Stith in 1990.