Manuscript Lesson Plan Book of Textile Student Elizabeth Zak

United States, 1930. Very good. Some occasional offsetting and browning from textiles onto paper; some sheets loose and chipped; extremities of binder worn.. Manuscript lesson plan book with fabric samples and buttons belonging to Elizabeth Zak, a student of a textile course. Divided into several "contracts" (i.e. classes) over five weeks, the course taught students to recognize materials, judge their quality and best uses, and understand their care. Zak's notes are meticulous, and seem to have received good feedback; occasional penciled notes throughout from the instructor read "Excellent", "OK", or "Beautiful Page" above her work. Samples of everything from chambray and silk to terry cloth and stencil-dyed fabric are included, along with different kinds of raw fibers and notions such as buttons, yarns, and lace trim. A few pages seem to be type-written handouts from the instructor.

Approx. 125 loose notebook leaves with ink manuscript notes of both recto and verso, samples of fabric and notions, housed in contemporary textured cloth binder. Elizabeth Zak was evidently a bit of a firecracker, as evidenced by this 1939 photo caption: "Expressing her appreciation for American Liberty, Elizabeth Zak, in the costume of her native Czecho-Slovakia, kisses the flag, while Marion Fiala looks on. The ceremony occurred during the 'Stop Hitler" parade in New York City, in which 20,000 persons marched while 500,000 spectators cheered" (p. 17, 29 March 1939 issue of the New Castle News).