Oris Glisson 
Oris Glisson Costume and Textiles Collection
Oris Glisson joined the faculty in 1948 and was head of the Department of Clothing, Textiles, and Related Art from1960 until her retirement in 1978. She continued to be an active spokesperson for excellence in teaching, until her death in 1993. Those who knew Miss Glisson characterized her as a visionary and role model. She was among the first to promote the study of clothing from the perspective of the apparel industry. She exemplified professional conduct and character through her interactions with students and colleagues. She was recognized as a fellow of the International Textile and Apparel Association and cited as a "superior administrator, teacher, builder, and pioneer in the profession and association."
Oris Glisson has been the largest single donor to the collection. She donated and helped document close to 600 items of fashionable dress, dating from the 1950s through the 1970s. These garments were obtained during her travels, purchased from Roanoke, VA dress shops, and developed as original designs. Many ensembles coordinate with hat, handbag, and shoes. These items serve as a legacy to her sense of style and design.
Collection History:
The collection took shape during the early 1950s as students brought historic clothing and textiles from home to share with other students in the history of costume course. Miss Glisson, preserved these items so that they could be used to illustrate changing values in apparel design and clothing use. MIss Glisson established storage facilities, and the holdings grew significantly. The collection was named The Oris Glisson Historic Costume and Textile Collection upon Miss Glisson's retirement in 1978. On September 24, 1992, the completion of the Wallace Hall addition officially opened the new collection facilities.
Collection Holdings
The Glisson Collection contains more than 5,000 items donated by students, alumni, faculty and their families, friends and families of students, and other interested persons and institutions throughout Virginia and the East Coast. Holdings date from the 18th century and include day wear, evening wear, undergarments and lingerie, shoes, hats and other accessories. Examples from each decade help document the typical looks from historic fashion eras. The majority of clothing items represent women's apparel since 1900 and include wedding gowns, designer garments, and other fashionable attire worn in southwestern Virginia.
The historic textiles include lace, coverlets, quilts, and household items. Home sewing patterns, fashion magazines, and sewing manuals provide further understanding of the technical, aesthetic, and social aspects of popular dress. A small reference library includes historic costume books and a selection of Sears Roebuck and J.C. Penney catalogs.
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Collection Use
Undergraduate students become familiar with the collection through their course work in apparel design, history, and merchandising. Using these items enriches students' understanding of historic and contemporary fashion through a focus on innovations in apparel design, assembly, and manufacture and on the significance of dress within varied social contexts. Items are used for both classroom instruction and independent study. Graduate students use the collection as a resource for thesis research and in collection management and exhibition experience.
The collection and staff are available to the Virginia community through exhibitions, presentations, tours, and consultations. School and community groups are welcome to visit and view the collection. Throughout the year, exhibitions in the Wallace Hall Gallery and Atrium windows feature collection holdings. Specific items may be requested and studied for their design, construction technique, or social significance. The collection staff can provide expertise on dating and care of textiles and clothing.
For further information, contact the Collection Manager:
Janet Wimmer
Lab Specialist Senior
(540) 231-6781
Email: wimmer@vt.edu
Apparel CAD Laboratory
Apparel and Textiles Laboratory
Resource Room
Center for Real Life Kitchen Design
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