Miriam D. Plotnicov Papers

Access and use

Location of collection:
College of William and Mary
Special Collections Research Center
Earl Gregg Swem Library
College of William and Mary
400 Landrum Drive
PO 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (757) 221-3090
Fax: (757) 221-5440
Restrictions:

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Terms of access:

Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Preferred citation:

Miriam D. Plotnicov Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Summary

Extent:
1.25 Linear Feet
Creator:
Plotnicov, Miriam D., 1925-2007
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Miriam D. Plotnicov Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Background

Scope and content:

The Miriam D. Plotnicov papers consist of her research notes, slides and photographs relating to beads of indigenous peoples from different parts of the world.

Biographical / historical:

Born in Fostoria, Ohio in 1925, Miriam left home at eighteen take up residence in New York City where her winning sketch for a date dress entitled her to study fashion design at Cooper Union. She worked briefly for B.H. Wragge, but left 7th Avenue life behind to pursue work in the Decorative Arts Department at UC Berkeley. From there she went to the newly-created Renwick Gallery, a showcase for American crafts and worked on its opening exhibition, Craft Multiples. Her personal passion for ethnic textile art first found expression in a collection of San Blas molas which inspired her to create a number of large appliquéed panels. Later, she became deeply interested in indigenous North American quill- and beadwork, and assembled a body of research, technical illustrations, and slides on the subject which she hoped to publish. This goal was never realized, as her retirement years were dedicated to a final consuming artistic exploration of flowers, not through fiber art but on canvas. Miriam Plotnicov died in Williamsburg in the winter of 2007. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: .

Acquisition information:
Gift.
Processing information:

Accessioned and minimally processed in June 2010.

Arrangement:

This collection is not yet arranged and processed and the indicated date range and description are only preliminary. Researchers may wish to consult with a staff member for further information in advance of using the collection.