Swatch book collection

This artificial and still open collection includes both bound and unbound items. It was initially formed by gathering together items containing textile fabric samples, yarn samples, needlework samples, ribbons, and other textile-related materials at the repository that were not already part of another collection of papers or records. Further acquisitions of swatch books and textile materials will be added to this collection when received. Each item in this collection is also separately cataloged in the Library's online catalog.

The collection contains swatch books representing a multiplicity of historical backgrounds and purposes. For instance, some books were created as salesmen's sample books; others as a record of the dyeing process. Still others were assembled by young women as a record of their own needlework or of local textiles.

As more relevant items are acquired, the swatch book collection continues to expand. However, it does not include textile fabric swatches that already belong to another identifiable collection (see "Related Materials," below). Nor does the collection contain bound volumes with some swatches that are incidental to the primary reason for the creation of said volume. Additional materials may be located by searching the catalog using the terms Textile fabrics--Sample books or Textile fabrics--Specimens. Ads and trade cards related to the textile trade are filed in Collections 214 and 9. (One trade card, 61x6, includes some lace samples.)