SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (AP) — If a costume designer wanted to recreate a World War I era wraparound dress, a 1940s zoot suit or even a bodice from 1875, the sewing patterns are in Rhode Island.
Emery donated her personal collection of patterns and periodicals to the university years ago and has painstakingly sorted through the donations sent there as word spread about the growing repository.
The association for performing arts and entertainment professionals, USITT, honored Emery this year for documenting the clothing of American history.
The 80-year-old Emery received a distinguished achievement award in costume design and technology, the only one given this year in that category.
Costume designers can replicate period clothing and the public can understand how middle-class Americans dressed over time because of Emery, said executive director David Grindle.
