85th Anniversary Celebration @ the Witte

MEDIA CONTACTS

Shannon H. Standley: 210.357.1876

shannonstandley@wittemuseum.org

Jim Dalglish: 210.357.1870

jimdalglish@wittemuseum.org

RELEASE DATE: September 7, 2011

Three Exhibitions Celebrate

Witte Museum’s 85 Years

SAN ANTONIO—October 8, 2011 marks the 85^thAnniversaryof San Antonio’s first museum, the WitteMuseum. In honor of this milestone, the Witte presents three exhibitions that highlight the depth, diversity and importance of the Witte’s collections of almost 200,000 artifacts.

Out of the Vault: Celebrating 85 Years of Collecting at the Witte Museum, on view September 16, 2011 through April 29, 2012 in the Piper Memorial Wing, gives visitors a chance to discover some of the best artifacts drawn from the vast Witte collections amassed since 1926 including natural history, art, military, arms and armor, anthropology, archives and history. Learn how the diversity of the Witte’s collections reflect the heritage of South Texasand our place in the world.

Highlighting one of the Witte’s largest collections, textiles, Opening the Witte Wardrobe: 85 Years of Collecting Textiles is currently on view throughMarch 25, 2012 in the Betty Coates Textile Gallery. See the beauty and artistry of the Witte’s fashion collection through a selection of clothing and accessories spanning more than 150 years of fashion. The WitteMuseumbegan collecting historic clothing after the museum opened in 1926. Over the next 50 years, the collection grew rapidly. In 1976, Curator Cecilia Steinfeldt sought to bring order to the collection. Steinfeldt focused on a fashion-based collection, chronologically, which became a resource for a variety of organizations, from university costume history classes to Needlework Guilds. In 1995, Michaele Haynes, Ph.D. became Curator and her background in anthropology brought a new perspective to the Textile Collection, adding emphasis to the everyday artifacts and their social context. Today, the WitteMuseumcontinues to collect textiles that tell the story of life in South Texas.

The Witte’s Fotoseptiembre exhibit, Witte Through Time: 85 Years and Still Growing, is on view September 16, 2011 through May 26, 2012 in the Focus Gallery. See how the Witte began, where it is going and the 85 years in between. This photographic exhibition celebrates the Witte’s 85 years by exploring historic photographs that showcase how the Witte has grown and changed with the community since 1926. Then, catch a glimpse of the fast-approaching future Witte through campus expansion artist renderings.

All three 85^thAnniversary exhibits are included with museum admission. For more information call 210.357.1900 or visit www.WitteMuseum.org.

Out of the Vault: 85 Years of Collecting at the Witte Museumis generously supported by Mr. and Mrs. Michael Bolner and Bolner's Fiesta Products, the Marcia and Otto Koehler Foundation, the Beulah M. and Felix J. Katz Memorial Trust, Dan and Gloria Oppenheimer Fund and the Valley View Trust of the San Antonio Area Foundation, U.S. Trust, the Natalie and Gladys Dalkowitz Charitable Trust, and the City of San Antonio Office of Cultural Affairs.

Shannon Huntington Standley

Director of Public Relations & Retail Marketing

3801 Broadway | San Antonio, Texas 78209

p 210.357.1876 | f 210.357.1882

www.WitteMuseum.org

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