Ardis W. Koester Papers, 1962-1996

Title: Ardis W. Koester Papers, 1962-1996

Predominant Dates: 1975-1995

ID: MSS Koester

Primary Creator: Koester, Ardis W.

Extent: 7.5 cubic feet. More info below.

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

The Ardis W. Koester Papers consist of reference materials; audiovisual presentations, instructional sewing kits, and slide presentations; and publications and information resources. The reference materials comprise the bulk of the collection and include clippings, fabric samples, newsletters and publications, and corporate product brochures and promotional materials on a myriad of topics pertaining to textiles for interior design; clothing design and construction; clothing maintenance and laundry; and teenagers' clothing purchases. The reference materials also include lecture notes, syllabi, and student papers documenting the Textiles for Interiors course (AIHM 352) taught by Koester as well as resources on cleaning and maintenance assembled by Extension Housing Specialist Mary Ann Sward.

The audiovisual presentations, instructional sewing kits, and slide presentations were developed by Koester for use by Koester and other Extension Service staff. They address a variety of clothing design topics and include Clothing Speaks, Start Sewing and Keep Sewing, Fitting a Basic Dress Pattern, Tailoring Women's Jackets with Fusible Interfacing, Focus on Color, and Appropriate Dress for Work. These include about 700 slides and 8 cassette tape sound recordings.

The publication and information resources consist of materials written and prepared by Koester and include Extension Service publications, a 4-H Clothing Project Leader Training Guide, and and an informational kit (with fabric samples) about microfibers and other textile developments.

The collection also includes a detailed curriculum vitae for Koester that lists her professional activities, publications, and presentations.

Ardis Williams Koester was Textiles and Clothing Specialist with the Oregon State University Extension Service from 1974 to 1996 as an Assistant Professor (1974-1979), Associate Professor (1979-1990), and Professor (1990-1996). In this position she provided educational programs in all aspects of textiles and clothing for individuals and families in Oregon and conducted and published applied research. Koester authored numerous Extension Service publications, teaching guides, instructional kits, and audiovisual presentations.

Ardis A. Williams earned a BS in Home Economics Education from Oregon State University in 1961; she taught homemaking in junior and senior high schools in California from 1961 to 1969. She completed an MS (1972) and Ph.D. (1974) at University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

More Extent Information: 704 photographs; 8 boxes

Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.

Acquisition Note: The materials were transferred and donated to the Archives in two accessions in 2008.

Related Materials:

The Extension Service Records (RG 111) and the College of Home Eonomics and Education Records (RG 141) provide information about the home economics extension and 4-H programs in Oregon. The papers of many Extension specialists and agents are part of the Special Collections and Archives Research Center collections, including the Roberta Frasier Anderson Papers (MSS AndersonR), James F. Bishop (MSS Bishop), Helen Cowgill Papers (MSS Cowgill), Buena Maris Mockmore Papers (MSS Mockmore), Esther Taskerud Papers (MSS Taskerud), and Janet Taylor Papers (MSS TaylorJ).

The Apparel, Interiors, Housing, and Merchandising Department Records (RG 028) document the teaching, research, and extension activities in clothings and textiles. The Center's collections also include the Oregon Fiber Flax Collection (MSS ORFiberFlax) and Oregon Custom Weavers Guild Linen Research Notebook (MSS OCWG).

Preferred Citation: Ardis W. Koester Papers (MSS Koester), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Processing Information: This collection is not fully processed; this guide is preliminary.

Other URL: A preliminary container list was created for this collection on or before November 14, 2014.

Koester, Ardis W.
Oregon State University. College of Home Economics
Oregon State University. Extension Service
Oregon State University. School of Home Economics
Sward, Mary Ann

4-H clubs--Oregon.
Clothing and dress--Care--Handbooks, manuals, etc.
Clothing and dress--Social aspects--Handbooks, manuals, etc.
Home economics--Study and teaching (Higher)--Oregon--Corvallis.
Home economics extension work--Oregon.
Koester, Ardis W.
Laundry.
Textile fabrics.
Textile research--Oregon--Corvallis.
University History

Audiocassettes.
Sewing (visual works).
Slides (photographs).