KSU Museum and School of Fashion, Miscellaneous Administrative Papers, 1977-1990

Finding Aid

Prepared by Edith Serkownek, November 2, 2005
1 record storage box, 1 cubic foot, 11th floor

---

Historical Note

These administrative records were created by the KSU presidential offices of Brage Golding and Michael Schwartz and relate directly to the development of the Silverman-Rodgers Project, resulting in the creation of the KSU Museum and the Shannon Rodgers and Jerry Silverman School of Fashion Design and Merchandising (School of Fashion).

Shannon Rodgers, a successful clothing designer, and Jerry Silverman, a lawyer and businessman, met in 1946 while working for the clothing company, Martini Designed. In 1959 Silverman and Rodgers formed their own company, "Jerry Silverman Inc," with Shannon Rodgers acting as principal designer. In 1970 their successful company merged with Waranco, Inc. Privately, Shannon Rodgers became an important collector of art and historic costumes, and without heirs, Silverman and Rodgers began to consider the disposition of their estates.

Silverman and Rodgers' association with KSU began in the 1979 and in November of 1980 Silverman and Rodgers formally proposed that Kent State University "argree to establish a school or department of design disciplines" modeled after the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. In exchange, Silverman and Rodgers promised to earmark their important collection of art and costumes for donation to the school, and to make an initial monetary contribution for the development of the school. This offer was eventually accepted, laying the groundwork for the establishment of the KSU Museum and the School of Fashion. Collectively, the project was termed the "Silverman-Rodgers Project." Resulting KSU studies put the pricetag on the project at approximately $6 million and a massive fundraising campaign began in the early 1980s with Robert Broadbent of Higbee's, and William Arnold of Associated Dry Goods, serving as co-chairs.

KSU's Rockwell Hall, built in 1927 and added onto in the late-1950s, was selected to house the new museum and school. Jerry Silverman died on October 25, 1984 and a memorial service was held at KSU. The KSU Museum opened on September 27, 1985. The Shannon Rodgers and Jerry Silverman School of Fashion Design and Merchandising was dedicated April 20, 1990. Shannon Rodgers died on January 9, 1996.

These records document the proposal, planning and development of the museum and school through the administrative records of KSU presidents, Brage Golding and Michael Schwartz, both important activitsts for the project. With the acquisition of additional presidential administrative records relating to the KSU Museum and School of Fashion this collection may continue to grow.

• Clawson, Kerry (2000, October 8). How did Kent State get fashion museum and Museum timeline. Retrieved November 1, 2005 from http://12.100.23.254:8080/bj/features/2000/October/08/docs/015550.htm and http://12.100.23.254:8080/bj/features/2000/October/08/docs/010784.htm
  

---

Scope and Content

The collection is divided into four series. Series 1 encompasses the correspondence produced and received by the offices of President Brage Golding and President Michael Schwartz relating to the Silverman-Rodgers Project. As such it includes both general correspondence and inter-school correspondence and memorada. Series 1 is organized by date. Series 2 includes specific topical files related to the Silverman-Rodgers Project, the KSU Museum and the School of Fashion and includes reports, fundraising campaign information, special events, and planning documents. Series 2 is organized alphabetically by subject and within each folder by date. Series 3 includes newspaper clippings and periodical articles related to the Silverman-Rodgers Project, The KSU Museum and the School of Fashion. Series 3 is organized by date. Series 4, which is largely undated, includes blueprints of Rockwell Hall. Rockwell Hall was renovated during the 1980s to house the KSU Museum and the School of Design. Series 4 is oversized and housed separately from the main collection.

1. Series 1: Correspondence
2. Series 2: Subject Files
3. Series 3: Newpaper Clippings and Articles
4. Series 4: Blueprints

---

Box 1

Folder -- Contents

Correspondence

1. Correspondence: 1980
2. Correspondence: February 1981
3. Correspondence: March 1981
4. Correspondence: April 1981
5. Correspondence: May 1981
6. Correspondence: June 1981
7. Correspondence: July 1981
8. Correspondence: August 1981
9. Correspondence: September 1981
10. Correspondence: October 1981
11. Correspondence: December 1981
12. Correspondence: January 1982
13. Correspondence: February 1982
14. Correspondence: March 1982
15. Correspondence: May 1982
16. Correspondence: July 1982
17. Correspondence: August 1982
18. Correspondence: September 1982
19. Correspondence: October 1982
20. Correspondence: November 1982
21. Correspondence: December 1982
22. Correspondence: January 1983
23. Correspondence: February 1983
24. Correspondence: March 1983
25. Correspondence: April 1983
26. Correspondence: May 1983
27. Correspondence: June 1983
28. Correspondence: July 1983
29. Correspondence: August 1983
30. Correspondence: September 1983
31. Correspondence: November 1983
32. Correspondence: January 1984
33. Correspondence: February 1984
34. Correspondence: March 1984
35. Correspondence: August 1984
36. Correspondence: October 1984
37. Correspondence: November 1984
38. Correspondence: December 1984
39. Correspondence: January 1985
40. Correspondence: February 1985
41. Correspondence: March 1985
42. Correspondence: April 1985
43. Correspondence: May 1985
44. Correspondence: June 1985
45. Correspondence: July 1985
46. Correspondence: August 1985
47. Correspondence: September 1985
48. Correspondence: November 1985
49. Correspondence: January 1986
50. Correspondence: Februrary 1986
51. Correspondence: April 1986
52. Correspondence: (letter from Nancy Reagan, First Lady): June 1986
53. Correspondence: July 1986
54. Correspondence: August 1986
55. Correspondence: October 1986
56. Correspondence: November 1986
57. Correspondence: January 1987
58. Correspondence: April 1987
59. Correspondence: July 1987
60. Correspondence: October 1987
61. Correspondence: November 1987
62. Correspondence: 1988
63. Correspondence: 1989
64. Correspondence: 1990

Subject files

65. Board of Trustees: correspondence and resolution: 1981-1982
66. Higbee Company (Robert R. Broadbent Endowed Scholarship in Fashion Design): 1984-1986
67. Jerry Silverman and Shannon Rodgers agreement signing ceremony:1981-1982
68. Jerry Silverman and Shannon Rodgers: biographies: [no date]
69. Jerry Silverman and Shannon Rodger: faculty appointment certificates: June 22, 1981
70. Jerry Silverman and Shannon Rodgers: proposal and presentation to Dr. Brage Golding: November 21, 1980
71. Jerry Silverman: memorial material and obituaries: October 1984
72. KSU Museum Advisory Board: 1982-1983
73. KSU Museum and School of Fashion Design, Christian Dior project of KSU professor, Stanley Garfinkel: 1986-1989
74. KSU Museum: budget file: 1984-1986
75. KSU Museum: Stella Blum, Director: 1981-1985
76. KSU Museum: Stella Blum, Director newsclippings: 1982-1985
77. KSU press releases: 1981-1991 and [no date]
78. Nightingales and Dragons: The Robes of China: The Canton Art Institute and KSU joint exhibition: 1983-1984
79. Rockwell Hall: Board of Trustees resolution, floor plans and project cost estimates: 1977, 1982 and [no date]
80. School of Fashion: Bellissima (Dedication): correspondence (including letter from John Glenn, U.S. Senator), programs and publicity: 1990
81. School of Fashion: budget: 1983-1984
82. School of Fashion: curriculum and freshman course guide: 1984-1985
83. School of Fashion: facilities' analysis: January 5, 1982
84. School of Fashion: Gladys Toulis, Director: 1983-1985
85. School of Fashion: organizational campaign chart: [no date]
86. School of Fashion: Plan of Action for $6,000,000 Campaign for The School of Fashion Design and Merchandising draft: no date
87. Silverman-Rodgers Project: A Gift to the Nation text copy and brochure: 1982
88. Silverman-Rodgers Project: "A Gift to Treasure--A Responsibility to Share," A Tentative Plan of Campaign: November 1984
89. Silverman-Rodgers Project: Awareness Meeting Plan for Leadership Recruitment: January 31, 1985
90. Silverman-Rodgers Project: committe lists: [no date]
91. Silverman-Rodgers Project: flow chart: October 1981
92. Silverman-Rodgers Project: Planning Study for Kent State University: [no date]
93. Silverman-Rodgers Project: Preliminary Financial Plan: January 4, 1982
94. Silverman-Rodgers Project: Rationale for $5 Million S-R Campaign draft: December 31, 1981
95. Silverman-Rodgers Project: Silverman-Rodgers Timetable--1982
96. Special Faculty Senate Meeting: Dr. Golding's speech: April 19, 1982. Dr. Golding's staff/student convocation speech: May 20, 1981. Dr. Golding's press meeting speech: May 20, 1981. Correspondence: [no date]

Newspaper clippings and articles

97. Newsclippings: May-June 1981
98. Newsclippings: August-September 1981
99. Newsclippings: November-December 1981
100. Newsclippings: January-February 1982
101. Newsclippings: March-April 1982
102. Newsclippings: June-December 1982
103. Newsclippings: January-June 1983
104. Newsclippings: November-December 1983
105. Newsclippings: January-May 1984
106. Newsclippings: July-September 1984
107. Newsclippings: 1985
108. Newsclippings: 1986
109. Newsclippings: 1990
110. Newsclippings: [no date]

Blueprints [oversize files, shelved in 11th floor map case]

1. Blueprint: KSU Office of Facilities Planning/Operations, "Brick Walkway for Rockwell Hall": January 4, 1982
2. Blueprint: unidentified blueprint of Rockwell Hall and parking lot: [no date]
3. Blueprint: "Basement Level Plan" [Rockwell Hall]: [no date]
4. Blueprint: "First Level Plan" [Rockwell Hall]: [no date]
5. Blueprint: "Second Level Plan" [Rockwell Hall]: [no date]
6. Blueprint: "Third Level Plan" [Rockwell Hall]: [no date]