What is the significance of 3D modeling pieces of historical clothing from the archives? Materials decay overtime and we can use 3D modeling to provide new life to historical pieces, and freeze them in time for future generations. However, each digital reconstruction isn’t just a model of a piece of clothing, rather each item of clothing carries unique history, stories, culture, and values. For example, the green beanie that we modeled isn’t just a digital model; it is a window to life at Carleton years ago. The models represents the traditions and values from previous generations of Carls. We can compare the stories and history of Carleton today and witness the ever-changing traditions throughout Carleton’s history. Digitally reconstructing archival objects allows us to bring Carleton’s history, culture, and traditions back to life.
The first story that we uncovered while working on this project is the story of the green beanies. We discovered that these green caps were used at Carleton as a hazing tradition ran by the upperclassmen. Freshmen, or “Frosh” (as you can see on one of our modeled beanies), were required to wear the green beanies anytime they were outside of their room. Freshmen had to wear these hats throughout their first year. If frosh were found without their green caps on, there would be consequences from upperclassmen.
The two green beanies we modeled were different from each other and both told different stories. The first one is plain; it is labeled CC (for Carleton College) on the front. It says “Frosh” on the cap lid, referring to Freshmen. It has Jim Whitney’s name on it. This cap was from around 1963. The second beanie we modeled was from 1937, around 25 years earlier. We learned that this tradition was deeply ingrained in Carleton’s culture, spanning a substantial period of time. This second cap belonged to Sue Elle, who had her name embroidered on the front. This cap also has a number of pins and buttons, including ones that say “Snoopy is Here” and “Draft Beers not Boys.” There seemed that the students had a lot of freedom in decorating the hats. We also found that male students at Carleton would ask their female peers to embroider their names on their hats as a way to start talking to them.
We were able to “uncover” a number of stories from these green beanies. On a larger scale, we learned about Carleton traditions and cultural habits from the past. On a smaller scale, each cap tells the individual story of its owner, though most of it is left up to interpretation. Many of the items donated to Carleton’s archives are given with little information. Jim Whitney’s less decorated cap may have been because he was a more reserved person. However, it is also possible that guys’ green caps were simply less decorated than girls’ green caps. Sue Elle’s cap is highly decorated, which provides a gateway into her personality. Furthermore, she has political statements on her hat, such as “Draft Beer not Boys.” It is fascinating to discover the degree of political involvement at Carleton almost a century ago.
The assortment of other items of clothing we modeled included a Carleton leather jacket, a marching band hat, a pullover sweater, a felt jacket, and a leather bag. Although these other items have much less information associated with them, they are still powerful conveyers of history, culture, and the memory of the Carleton College of years past. On the outside, they give a glimpse into the style of Carleton students at the time, as well as the activities, such as the marching band, in which students were involved. They also offer a fascinating glimpse into the type of merchandise that Carleton, as an institution, produced and distributed. However, even though we don’t have the necessary information to tell a cohesive story about these specific items of clothing, the knowledge that students wore these clothes at a previous point in time in Carleton’s history is interesting. Here are items of clothing that belonged to students who were once our age; each has their own memory and history. In many ways, these pieces are a way to connect to Carleton’s history. The modeling of historical clothing should make history feel more real and tangible. The history of Carleton has led the institution to where it is today, and has led us, Carleton students, to where we are today. These clothes offer little glimpses into the memories and history of our predecessors, helping us better understand our place in this changing world.