Guide to the Marybelle S. Bigelow Collection

Finding Aid Authors: Holland Kessinger.

2008-04-08

5500 Campanile Dr. MC 8050

San Diego, CA, 92182-8050

URL: http://library.sdsu.edu/scua

Email: scref@rohan.sdsu.edu

Phone: 619-594-6791

Guide to the Marybelle S. Bigelow Collection 1953/2001

Special Collections & University Archives

Overview of the Collection

Collection Title: Marybelle S. Bigelow Collection

Dates: 1953-2001

Identification: MS-0298

Creator: Bigelow, Marybelle S., 1923-2003

Physical Description: 24.20 linear ft

Language of Materials: English

Repository: Special Collections & University Archives

5500 Campanile Dr. MC 8050

San Diego, CA, 92182-8050

URL: http://library.sdsu.edu/scua

Email: scref@rohan.sdsu.edu

Phone: 619-594-6791

Biographical Information:

Marybelle Schmidt Bigelow, born in La Mesa, California on July 18, 1923 was a distinguished professor of fashion and costume history, an accomplished artist and a prolific writer and creator. Bigelow received both her BA and MFA at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and went on to teach there for more than six years. She was awarded the esteemed Prix de Paris for fashion design and illustration, and worked briefly for Vogue Magazine in New York as a staff designer. In 1956, Bigelow was invited to join the staff of San Diego State University (SDSU), where she taught fashion illustration, costume history, and graphic communication courses in the art department for more than twenty years. During her tenure at SDSU, Bigelow was active on a variety of committees and was recognized as an Outstanding Educator in 1970, 1971 and 1972.

In 1967, Bigelow completed Alphabets and Design, which was later adopted as a text for graphics and communications classes by the University of Minnesota. She then went on to write and illustrate her seminal text on the history of fashion and costume, Fashion in History: Apparel in the Western World. The second edition was completed and published in 1979 and is still in publication. Although she retired in 1980, Bigelow continued to remain very active in academic life at SDSU, and was editor of the retirement newsletter for more than 12 years.

In addition to her career as an art professor, Bigelow was an active artist and creator, exhibiting in numerous galleries and museums, including the La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art and the San Diego Fine Arts Gallery. She wrote numerous versions of her autobiography, Vichyssoise and 33 Commencements, authored her own personal newsletter and wrote and illustrated a number of short stories and children's books. She died in 2003 at the age of 79.

Access Terms

This collection is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.

Genre/Form of Material:

Personal Papers

Publications

Personal Name:

Bigelow, Marybelle S. -- Archives

Title:

Fashion and art

Topical Term:

Clothing and dress -- History

Costume -- History

Fashion -- History

Fashion design

Fashion designers -- United States -- Biography -- Sources

Fashion drawing

Administrative Information

Accruals:

1982, 2003

Conditions Governing Use:

The copyright interests in these materials have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Copyright resides with the creators of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. The nature of historical archival and manuscript collections is such that copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine. Requests for permission to publish must be submitted to the Head of Special Collections, San Diego State University, Library and Information Access. When granted, permission is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical item and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder(s), which must also be obtained in order to publish. Materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials.

Conditions Governing Access:

This collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation:

Identification of item, folder title, box number, Marybelle Bigelow Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Library and Information Access, San Diego State University.

Scope and Contents

The Marybelle S. Bigelow Collection dates from 1953 to 2001. The collection is arranged in two series, personal and professional. In addition, there is an oversized section, which contains materials from both series. The collection includes correspondence, drafts and manuscripts, photographs, diaries, slides and other papers related to Bigelow's personal life and career as an art professor.

The Personal series (1953-2001) includes biographical material, genealogy and family histories, notebooks, travel journals and personal correspondence. A large portion of the correspondence illustrates Bigelow's long friendship and devotion to Mary Campbell, whom she met at Vogue Magazine after winning the Prix de Paris competition. Bigelow went on to act as advertising and design consultant for Mary Campbell's store, the Kent Shop, creating hundreds of print ads, logos and patterns which are also organized within this series. Bigelow also chronicled her friendship with Mary in a set of illustrated volumes, entitled MB Saga. The series also contains Bigelow's diaries, which exemplify her wit, creativity and struggle as an art professor for more than thirty years. Bigelow's political and social commentary is presented in Contemporary Comments and The Pessimistic Philosopher, a series of illustrated volumes that Bigelow created in response to the daily print and television headlines. This series also includes drafts and manuscripts of Bigelow's personal writings, including her autobiography, personal photographs, artwork, financial and legal papers, scrapbooks and artifacts.

The Professional series (1953-2001) includes professional correspondence, teaching materials, committee documents, exhibition announcements and awards. A significant portion of this series is dedicated to the various drafts of Bigelow's published titles, including Alphabets and Design and Fashion in History: Apparel in the Western World. Original illustrations and artwork created by Bigelow for Fashion in History: Apparel in the Western World are contained in this series, as well as drawings Bigelow created as teaching materials for her various fashion and costume history classes. Also included in this series are slides used during class lectures, class notes, syllabi and some original work created by students in Bigelow's classes.

Detailed List of Contents

Personal

Box 1, Folder 1

Baby Book

Box 1, Folder 2

Resume

Box 1, Folder 3

Brawley Union High School

Box 1, Folder 4

Vichyssoise and 33 Commencements Draft

Box 1, Folder 5

Vichyssoise and 33 Commencements Draft

Box 1, Folder 6

Vichyssoise and 33 Commencements Draft

Box 1, Folder 7

Vichyssoise and 33 Commencements Draft

Box 1, Folder 8

Vichyssoise and 33 Commencements Draft

Box 1, Folder 9

Vichyssoise and 33 Commencements Draft

Box 1, Folder 10

Vichyssoise and 33 Commencements Draft

Box 1, Folder 11

Vichyssoise and 33 Commencements Draft

Box 1, Folder 12

Vichyssoise and 33 Commencements Draft

Box 1, Folder 13

Vichyssoise and 33 Commencements Draft

Box 1, Folder 14

Vichyssoise and 33 Commencements Draft

Box 1, Folder 15

Vichyssoise and 33 Commencements Draft

Box 1, Folder 16

Vichyssoise and 33 Commencements Draft

Box 1, Folder 17

Vichyssoise and 33 Commencements Draft

Box 1, Folder 18

Vichyssoise and 33 Commencements Draft

Box 1, Folder 19

Autobiography Drafts

Box 1, Folder 20

Autobiography Drafts

Box 1, Folder 21

Autobiography Drafts

Box 1, Folder 22

Autobiography Drafts

Box 1, Folder 23

Autobiography Drafts

Box 1, Folder 24

Autobiography Drafts

Box 1, Folder 25

Autobiography Drafts

Box 1, Folder 26

Autobiography Drafts

Box 1, Folder 27

Autobiography written draft

Box 1, Folder 28

Autobiography typed draft

Box 2, Folder 1

Genealogy and family histories: Family histories

Box 2, Folder 2

Genealogy and family histories: Family histories

Box 2, Folder 3

Genealogy and family histories: Family histories

Box 2, Folder 4

Genealogy and family histories: Cora Whaley

Box 2, Folder 5

Genealogy and family histories: Julius Schmidt

Box 2, Folder 6

Genealogy and family histories: Family Tree

Box 2, Folder 7

Genealogy and family histories: 1863 Family diary recreated originals

Box 2, Folder 8

Genealogy and family histories: 1863 family diary typed draft

Box 2, Folder 9

Diaries and notebooks

Box 2, Folder 10

Diaries and notebooks

Box 2, Folder 11

Diaries and notebooks: Miscellaneous Writings

Box 2

Autobiography typed draft

Box 2

Autobiography draft

Box 2

Genealogy and family histories: 1863 Family diary edited draft

Box 2

Genealogy and family histories: 1863 Family diary edited draft

Box 2

Diaries and notebooks: Miscellaneous writings (large brown spiral notebook)

Box 2

Diaries and notebooks: Miscellaneous writings (red diary) 1965-68

Box 2

Diaries and notebooks: Miscellaneous writings (red diary) 1965-68

Box 2

Diaries and notebooks: Miscellaneous writings (red diary) 1965-68

Box 2

Diaries and notebooks: Miscellaneous writings (red diary) 1965-68

Box 2

Diaries and notebooks: Miscellaneous writings (green diary) 1969-72

Box 2

Diaries and notebooks: Miscellaneous writings (green diary) 1969-72

Box 2

Diaries and notebooks: Miscellaneous writings (green diary) 1969-72

Box 2

Diaries and notebooks: Miscellaneous writings (green diary) 1969-72

Box 2

Diaries and notebooks: Miscellaneous writings (green diary) 1969-72

Box 2

Diaries and notebooks: Miscellaneous writings (green diary) 1969-72

Box 2

Diaries and notebooks: Miscellaneous writings (small brown spiral notebook)

Box 3, Folder 1

Correspondence: 1967-69 from Mary Campbell

Box 3, Folder 2

Correspondence: 1970-71 from Mary Campbell

Box 3, Folder 3

Correspondence: 1970-71 from Mary Campbell

Box 3, Folder 4

Correspondence: 1970-71 from Mary Campbell

Box 3, Folder 5

Correspondence: 1972 from Mary Campbell

Box 3, Folder 6

Correspondence: 1973-74 from Mary Campbell

Box 3, Folder 7

Correspondence: 1975-78 from Mary Campbell

Box 3, Folder 8

Correspondence: N.D. from Mary Campbell

Box 3, Folder 9

Correspondence: N.D. from Mary Campbell

Box 3, Folder 10

Correspondence: Assorted dates, multiple letters from friends and family

Box 3, Folder 11

Correspondence: 1966-69

Box 3, Folder 12

Correspondence: n.d.

Box 3, Folder 13

Correspondence: 1968-76 and n.d. to Olive Schmidt

Box 3, Folder 14

Correspondence: 1961-2001 and n.d. from Marybell Bigelow

Box 3, Folder 15

Drafts and manuscripts: Watergate Song Book originals

Box 3, Folder 16

Drafts and manuscripts: Watergate Song Book mockup

Box 3, Folder 17

Drafts and manuscripts: Watergate Song Book final

Box 3, Folder 18

Drafts and manuscripts: Watergate Song Book correspondence

Box 3, Folder 19

Drafts and manuscripts: 12 All New Days of Christmas

Box 3, Folder 20

Drafts and manuscripts: Room with a Bath originals

Box 3, Folder 21

Drafts and manuscripts: Room with a Bath originals

Box 3, Folder 22

Drafts and manuscripts: Room with a Bath originals

Box 3, Folder 23

Drafts and manuscripts: Room with a Bath originals

Box 3, Folder 24

Drafts and manuscripts: Room with a Bath originals

Box 3, Folder 25

Drafts and manuscripts: Room with a Bath (spiral notebook)

Box 3, Folder 26

Drafts and manuscripts: Peter Linsey Weatherby Stokes original

Box 3, Folder 27

Drafts and manuscripts: Peter Linsey Westherby Stokes (spiral notebook)

Box 3

Miscellaneous writings (blue diary) 1972-73

Box 3

Miscellaneous writings (blue diary) 1972-73

Box 3

Miscellaneous writings (red diary) 1972-1973

Box 3

Diaries and notebooks: Handmade calendar notebook

Box 3

Diaries and notebooks: Norway travel notebook

Box 3

Diaries and notebooks: Room with a Bath notebook

Box 3

Diaries and notebooks: Handmade blank notebook

Box 3

Diaries and notebooks: Handmade blank notebook

Box 3

Diaries and notebooks: To Whittier Hall notebook

Box 4, Folder 1

Drafts and manuscripts: MB Begetters originals

Box 4, Folder 2

Drafts and manuscripts: MB Begetters originals

Box 4, Folder 3

Drafts and manuscripts: MB Begetters originals

Box 4, Folder 4

Drafts and manuscripts: MB Saga: Volume 1 originals

Box 4, Folder 5

Drafts and manuscripts: MB Saga: Volume 1 originals

Box 4, Folder 6

Drafts and manuscripts: MB Saga: Volume 2 originals

Box 4, Folder 7

Drafts and manuscripts: MB Saga: Volume 3 originals

Box 4, Folder 8

Drafts and manuscripts: MB Saga edited draft

Box 4, Folder 9

Drafts and manuscripts: MB Saga various drafts

Box 4, Folder 10

Drafts and manuscripts: MB Saga miscellaneous original drawings

Box 4, Folder 11

Miscellaneous

Box 4, Folder 12

Drafts and manuscripts: Cast the First STone: Part 1 (red spiral notebook)

Box 4, Folder 13

Drafts and manuscripts: Cast the First Stone: Part 2 (brown spiral notebook)

Box 4, Folder 14

Drafts and manuscripts: Cast the First Stone: Part 3 (brown spiral notebook)

Box 4, Folder 15

Drafts and manuscripts: Contemporary Comments

Box 4, Folder 16

Drafts and manuscripts: Contemporary Comments

Box 4, Folder 17

Drafts and manuscripts: Contemporary Comments

Box 4, Folder 18

Drafts and manuscripts: Contemporary Comments

Box 4, Folder 19

Drafts and manuscripts: Contemporary Comments

Box 4, Folder 20

Drafts and manuscripts: Contemporary Comments

Box 4, Folder 21

Drafts and manuscripts: Contemporary Comments

Box 4, Folder 22

Drafts and manuscripts: Contemporary Comments

Box 4, Folder 23

Drafts and manuscripts: Contemporary Comments

Box 4, Folder 24

Drafts and manuscripts: Contemporary Comments

Box 4, Folder 25

Drafts and manuscripts: Contemporary Comments

Box 4, Folder 26

Drafts and manuscripts: Contemporary Comments

Box 4, Folder 27

Drafts and manuscripts: Contemporary Comments

Box 4

Drafts and manuscripts: MB Saga (bound hardcover)

Box 4

Drafts and manuscripts: MB Saga (bound hardcover)

Box 4

Drafts and manuscripts: MB Saga (bound hardcover)

Box 4

Drafts and manuscripts: MB Saga (bound hardcover)

Box 4

Drafts and manuscripts: MB Saga (bound hardcover)

Box 4

Drafts and manuscripts: MB Saga (bound hardcover)

Box 4

Drafts and manuscripts: MB Saga (bound hardcover)

Box 4

Drafts and manuscripts: MB Saga (bound hardcover)

Box 4

Drafts and manuscripts: MB Saga (bound hardcover)

Box 5, Folder 1

Drafts and manuscripts: Contemporary Comments

Box 5, Folder 2

Drafts and manuscripts: Contemporary Comments

Box 5, Folder 3

Drafts and manuscripts: Contemporary Comments

Box 5, Folder 4

Drafts and manuscripts: Contemporary Comments

Box 5, Folder 5

Drafts and manuscripts: Contemporary Comments

Box 5, Folder 6

Drafts and manuscripts: Contemporary Comments

Box 5, Folder 7

Drafts and manuscripts: Contemporary Comments

Box 5, Folder 8

Drafts and manuscripts: Contemporary Comments

Box 5, Folder 9

Drafts and manuscripts: Contemporary Comments

Box 5, Folder 10

Drafts and manuscripts: Contemporary Comments

Box 5, Folder 11

Drafts and manuscripts: Contemporary Comments

Box 5, Folder 12

Drafts and manuscripts: Contemporary Comments

Box 5, Folder 13

Drafts and manuscripts: Contemporary Comments

Box 5, Folder 14

Drafts and manuscripts: Contemporary Comments (think spiral notebook)

Box 5, Folder 15

Drafts and manuscripts: Pessimistic Philosopher

Box 5, Folder 16

Drafts and manuscripts: Pessimistic Philosopher

Box 5, Folder 17

Drafts and manuscripts: Pessimistic Philosopher

Box 5, Folder 18

Drafts and manuscripts: Pessimistic Philosopher

Box 5, Folder 19

Drafts and manuscripts: Pessimistic Philosopher

Box 5, Folder 20

Drafts and manuscripts: Pessimistic Philosopher

Box 5, Folder 21

Drafts and manuscripts: Pessimistic Philosopher

Box 5, Folder 22

Drafts and manuscripts: Pessimistic Philosopher

Box 5, Folder 23

Drafts and manuscripts: Pessimistic Philosopher

Box 5, Folder 24

Drafts and manuscripts: Pessimistic Philosopher

Box 5

Drafts and manuscripts: Contemporary Comments (green velo bound notebook)

Box 5

Drafts and manuscripts: Contemporary Comments (thin spiral notebook)

Box 5

Drafts and manuscripts: Contemporary Comments (thin spiral notebook)

Box 5

Drafts and manuscripts: Contemporary Comments (thin spiral notebook)

Box 5

Drafts and manuscripts: Contemporary Comments (thin spiral notebook)

Box 5

Drafts and manuscripts: Contemporary Comments (thin spiral notebook)

Box 5

Drafts and manuscripts: Contemporary Comments (thin spiral notebook)

Box 5

Drafts and manuscripts: Pessimistic Philosopher (red spiral notebook)

Box 5

Drafts and manuscripts: Pessimistic Philosopher (bound hardcover)

Box 6, Folder 1

Photographs and artwork: 1958-69 and n.d. photographs

Box 6, Folder 2

Photographs and artwork: Mini artwork

Box 6, Folder 3

Photographs and artwork: Assorted artwork

Box 6, Folder 4

Photographs and artwork: Assorted artwork

Box 6, Folder 5

Photographs and artwork: Miscellaneous artwork

Box 6, Folder 6

Photographs and artwork: Diligent Digest mockups

Box 6, Folder 7

Photographs and artwork: Diligent Digest mockups

Box 6, Folder 8

Photographs and artwork: Diligent Digest mockups

Box 6, Folder 9

Photographs and artwork: Diligent Digest mockups

Box 6, Folder 10

Photographs and artwork: Diligent Digest copies

Box 6, Folder 11

Photographs and artwork: Diligent Digest copies

Box 6, Folder 12

Photographs and artwork: Diligent Digest stories and notes

Box 6, Folder 13

Photographs and artwork: Diligent Digest stories and notes

Box 6, Folder 14

Photographs and artwork: Kent Shop Patterns

Box 6, Folder 15

Photographs and artwork: Kent Shop Logos

Box 6, Folder 16

Photographs and artwork: Kent Shop correspondence and miscellaneous

Box 6, Folder 17

Photographs and artwork: Kent Shop mockups

Box 6, Folder 18

Photographs and artwork: Kent Shop mockups

Box 6, Folder 19

Photographs and artwork: Kent Shop ads

Box 6, Folder 20

Photographs and artwork: Kent Shop ads

Box 6, Folder 21

Photographs and artwork: Kent Shop ads

Box 6, Folder 22

Photographs and artwork: Kent Shop slides

Box 6, Folder 23

Photographs and artwork: Kent Shop slides

Box 6, Folder 24

Photographs and artwork: Personal slides

Box 6, Folder 25

Photographs and artwork: Personal slides

Box 6, Folder 26

Photographs and artwork: Personal slides

Box 6, Folder 27

Photographs and artwork: Puzzles

Box 6

Photographs and artwork: Kent Shop ads (bound book)

Box 6