Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Robbie Fanning Sewing Arts Collection

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.1139
Creators:
Fanning, Robbie
Dates:
1903-2002
bulk 1993-2002
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
5 Cubic feet
13 boxes
Repository:
The collection documents materials gathered by Robbie Fanning, publisher of sewing related books and newsletters and includes the history of major sewing machine brands, machine accessories, machine embroidery, machine needles, thread, binding, interfacing, and other sewing notions.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Archival materials on the subject of sewing and sewing machines, including correspondence, Fanning's subject files, photographs, newsletters, product manuals, catalogs, trade literature, articles, reprints, sewing periodicals, and VHS videos.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged into one series.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Robbie Fanning (b. 1947-) of Menlo Park, California, a former journalism teacher, she started a publishing company called Open Chain Publishing, specializing in sewing books. She published a quarterly newsletter called
The Creative Machine
aimed at helping the sewing hobbyist learn new sewing techniques, review sewing equipment and products, and pose questions to the sewing industry. The newsletter ceased publication in 2002. The collection as a whole depicts the shift from sewing as a necessity to clothe a family or save money to sewing as a creative outlet for women and men with leisure time.

Administration

Author
Andrea Bishop and Eric Ross
Immediate Source of Acquisiton
Donated to the Archives Center in 2008 by Robbie Fanning.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Andrea Bishop, intern, and Eric Ross, intern, 2018.

Using the Collection

Restrictions on Access
Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Preferred Citation
Robbie Fanning Sewing Arts Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Related Materials
Smithsonian Institution Libraries
Books related to sewing and books authored by Robbie Fanning.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Machine quilting Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Clothing and dress Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Publications Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Trade catalogs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Correspondence -- 2000-2010 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sewing machines Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sewing Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Quilting Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Pamphlets Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Newsletters Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Manuals Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Correspondence -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs -- 2000-2010 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs -- 1980-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Periodicals Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Videocassettes Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
Business Number: Phone: 202-633-3270
Fax Number: Fax: 202-786-2453
archivescenter@si.edu