Pre-WW1 fashion drawings donated to School of Art

A COLLECTION of pre-World War One fashion drawings by a former student have been donated to the Manchester School of Art.

Barbara Oates, whose mother Minnie Carr studied at the former Municipal School of Art from 1912 to 1914 brought the drawings, which she described as “pure Downton Abbey”.

In return, staff from the School of Art found copies of Minnie’s original academic records for Mrs Oates to take home.

After studying classes including dress design and costume model drawing, Minnie became a fashion illustrator in London, before returning to Manchester when the war caused the fashion industry to experience a drastic downturn. There she became one of the first women to work in a bank.

Inspirational resource

Mrs Oates said: “It seemed right to bring them back here.”

The drawings will now become part of MMU’s Special Collections.

Dr Annie Shaw, Director of Studies for Design, who organised the visit, said: “It was a real privilege to meet Barbara Oates and share her mother’s drawings with current BA (Hons) Fashion students and staff.

“In an increasingly digital culture the programme continues to value the importance of learning and understanding through drawing. These drawings are a hundred years old and the way they convey materiality and construction with clarity, and the historical narrative and connection to the School of Art provides an inspirational resource to our students.”

“Wonderful addition”

Stephanie Boydell, Curator of MMU Special Collections, said: “We are delighted to receive this generous gift from Mrs Oates. It is a wonderful addition to the collections.

“It’s always fantastic to see the work of our formers students, but this is doubly so as not only are they the most beautiful and intricate drawings, they capture a period in our history, just before the first world war, after which everything would change.”