| Abstract: | The Clarke School of Dressmaking and Fashion Design was a Cleveland, Ohio, dressmaking, tailoring and fashion design school founded in 1925 by Amanda Wicker, primarily for young African-American women. Wicker retired and sold the school in 1979, which was still in operation in 1990. The collection consists of individual portraits of founder Amanda Wicker, her friends and associates; Clarke School board members, school graduates, and models; and views of events, activities and instructional classes. Included in the collection are portraits of Cleveland Mayor George Voinovich, Representative Troy Lee James, Cynthia Holloway, Judge Perry B. Jackson, Wyatt Brownlee, and Elizabeth Lambright. Events depicted include The Book of Gold and other fashion shows, award ceremonies of the Amanda Wicker Scholarship and the Cleveland Scholarship Program, board meetings, and social functions. | |