Wilson College of Textiles

Wilson College of Textiles
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1890s

1899 Textiles program founded at A&M College

Daniel Augustus Tompkins of Charlotte, NC, advocated for textiles education in the South. After initially planning to establish a textile school in Charlotte, Tompkins and other community leaders, including Judge Heriot Clarkson, worked to establish the textiles school as part of the newly founded NC A&M College (NC State).

1899 First textiles courses offered

George Franks Ivey taught the first courses in textiles in fall 1899. Courses specialized in cotton manufacturing and milling, designing twills, and mill engineering. These course were taught in Holladay Hall.

Holladay HallHolladay Hall

1900s

1900 Textiles education expanded

In 1900, the college expanded its textiles program. George Franks Ivey left and Henry M. Wilson joined the faculty as an instructor in cotton manufacturing. The college offered courses such as carding and spinning, weaving, textile designing, and textile chemistry and dyeing. The courses provided students with specialized expertise to operate mills and use advanced scientific research in the textiles industry.

1901 Thomas Nelson became textiles instructor

Thomas Nelson became an instructor of weaving and design in the textiles program at NC State. Nelson was a graduate of the Preston Technical School in England in 1891 and the Lowell Textile School in 1899.

Dr. Thomas H. Nelson portraitDr. Thomas H. Nelson portrait
1901 First textiles degree awarded

William O. Bennett was the first graduate from the textiles program. He earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree in textile industry.

1902 Tompkins Hall opened

The original textile equipment was housed in the basement of Holladay Hall. Support for the program grew, and the North Carolina General Assembly appropriated $10,000 toward the construction of a textile building in 1901. This structure, Tompkins Hall, resembled a textile mill of the period and was completed in early 1902. In 1917, it was named for Daniel A. Tompkins, a Charlotte industrialist who was instrumental in the establishment of the textile program at NC ... More

Tompkins Hall.Tompkins Hall.
1906 Thomas Nelson became department head

Following the resignation of Henry Wilson, Thomas Nelson was promoted to professor and selected to head the textile department.

1907 Textile graduates awarded

A gold medal was awarded at the Jamestown, VA, Tercentennial held in 1907 for fabrics designed and woven by students of NC A&M College.

1910s

3/25/1914 Textile Building destroyed

Fire destroyed the Textile Building, now Tompkins Hall, and all the equipment inside. The Textile Building was rebuilt the following year with the local textile industry contributing new equipment.

Tompkins Hall, fireTompkins Hall, fire
1916 Textile department selected for cotton testing

The first recorded statement about research in textiles at NC State was documented in 1916. The textile department was selected by the U.S. Government through the Office of Markets to "make a number of important tests on the five full grades of cotton" to determine the relative amount of waste, tensile strength, bleaching, and other qualities of each grade of cotton. These tests would have been valuable for cotton manufacturers.

1920s

1922 First master's degree awarded in textile manufacturing

Shang Wu Jen was awarded the first Master of Science degree in textile manufacturing. This was the first master's degree in the textile program.

1925 School of Textiles established

The Board of Trustees removed the Textile Department from the School of Engineering and created a separate School of Textiles. Becoming a separate school enabled textiles to have its own dean and to compete on an equal basis with other schools in the college for resources, faculty positions, equipment, and space. Thomas Nelson became the first dean and served until 1943.

1925 Master's degree in textile chemistry and dyeing created

Under the leadership of textile chemistry and dyeing instructor Kenneth MacKenzie, a Master of Science degree program was established. The first student to receive this degree was Wei Pen Chen.

1925 Albert Harvey Grimshaw hired

With the creation of the new School of Textiles, Dean Nelson hired Albert Harvey Grimshaw to head the Chemistry and Dyeing Division. A former pharmacist, Grimshaw became interested in textile chemistry and studied at the New Bedford Textile Institute, MIT, and Columbia University before coming to NC State.

A. H. Grimshaw portraitA. H. Grimshaw portrait
1925 Textile Exposition and Style Show began

The School of Textiles hosted the inaugural Textile Exposition and Style Show. Students organized style shows to display their fabric designs. Students from local women's colleges participated in the event by creating fashions from fabrics made by NC State students and by modeling for the shows. These popular style shows were held in Pullen Hall. After the show, the audience and contestants visited Tompkins Hall to attend the NC State College Textile ... More

Textile Exposition and Style Show held at the Textile School, North Carolina State College, Raleigh, April 10-11, 1929.Textile Exposition and Style Show held at the Textile School, North Carolina State College, Raleigh, April 10-11, 1929.
1926 Thomas Nelson honored

Dean Thomas Nelson was granted an honorary Doctor of Science degree by NC State in 1926. He was also honored at a meeting of the Southern Textile Association for his leadership in textiles over 25 years at NC State.

1929 Yarn manufacturing degree created

A new Bachelor of Science degree in yarn manufacturing was created in 1929. The first three graduates earned degrees in 1932.

1930s

1932 First woman received graduate degree in textiles

Lillian Tyler Jones was the first woman to earn a graduate degree from the School of Textiles. Her thesis was on "the effect of some wet and dry cleaning and stripping and spotting reagents on the relative tensile strength of some acetate and viscose yarns."

1936 First woman undergraduates in textiles

The first women undergraduates in textiles were Eleanor Mae Greene and Virginia Lee Reinheimer, who received Bachelor of Science degrees in weaving and designing.

6/1937 Textiles graduating class increased

The 1937 class was the largest graduating class the textile school had up to that time.

Graduating class at the Textile School of North Carolina State College in front of Tompkins HallGraduating class at the Textile School of North Carolina State College in front of Tompkins Hall
1938 A new building for textiles funded

Additional funds were appropriated to supplement a Public Works Administration grant from the government to construct a new textiles building. Textiles faculty objected to a proposed site on Hillsborough Street near the railroad tracks because smoke, noise, and vibration would damage lab equipment. Instead, a site proposed on a pecan grove at the far west end of campus was chosen for a four-story, fireproof building of concrete and steel.

Entrance to Nelson Hall, North Carolina State CollegeEntrance to Nelson Hall, North Carolina State College

1940s

1940 New textiles building dedicated

The new building for the School of Textiles was dedicated on March 5, 1940. Present at the dedication was Dean Thomas Nelson (dean from 1925 to 1943), Associate Justice Heriot Clarkson of the NC Supreme Court, and Governor Clyde R. Hoey, who as a young legislator had voted to approve the formation of a textile program. The building's construction was funded by the Public Works Administration. In 1954, the building was named for Nelson.

Dedication of Nelson HallDedication of Nelson Hall
1941 William C. "Bill" Friday graduated

William C. "Bill" Friday received a bachelor's degree in textile manufacturing. He later served as president of both the Consolidated University (1956-1972) and the UNC-System (1972-1986).

1941-1945 Textile program contributed to war effort

During World War II, the North Carolina textile industry, with the help of many NC State alumni, produced more fabric for the war effort than any other state. The textiles faculty conducted a 12-week course for fabric inspection and testing for war industry personnel and conducted courses in mill safety. Male student enrollment dropped, but women and international students continued studies during the war.

1943 Malcolm E. Campbell became dean

Malcolm E. Campbell became Dean of the School of Textiles in 1943 and served in that position until 1967. He was appointed with a mandate to emphasize research and arrived from the Textile Research Institute in New York where he had been a research manager.

Deans Thomas Nelson and Malcolm Campbell sitting on benchDeans Thomas Nelson and Malcolm Campbell sitting on bench
1943 Textile Exposition and Style Show halted

The Student Textile Exposition and Style Show halted its annual program in 1943, presumably due to a decrease in student population during World War II.

1944 Textiles Library established

The Textiles Library was established, and Rachel Penn Lane was the first librarian. The library was originally located in the main library but relocated to Nelson Hall the following year in 1945. The library was renamed the Burlington Textiles Library in 1954 when Burlington Industries funded its expansion.

Textile research libraryTextile research library
1944 Knitting program expanded

Dean Campbell hired Elliot B. Grover in 1944 as a professor of yarn manufacture. Ed Shinn returned from the war where he had risen to the rank of major in the Chemical Warfare Branch of the US Army and would head the knitting area in the School of Textiles.

W. E. Shinn portraitW. E. Shinn portrait
1944 Textile programs and curricula updated

Many new materials, compounds, and processes had been developed during the war and prompted faculty to reassess and update the teaching programs and curricula. Albert Harvey Grimshaw wrote that the list of processes with major changes included, "sizing with cellulose ethers; dyeing and finishing in one process for permanent finish; the many uses of resins in finishing; continuous bleaching processes; high speed printing; the great interest shown in processes ... More

02/1945 Knitting curriculum developed

In February 1945, the state allocated $25,000 to develop a new program in hosiery, underwear, and flat knitting. A knitting department was established in 1945, and a four-year program in knitting was implemented in 1946.

Woman boarding knit hosiery at North Carolina State College School of Textiles.Woman boarding knit hosiery at North Carolina State College School of Textiles.
1947 Henry Rutherford became department head

Henry "Hank" Rutherford became head of the Department of Textile Chemistry, and he served in the position until 1974. While at NC State, he advanced research in radiation chemistry of fibrous polymers. In his research, he examined the durability of fibers exposed to radiation, which had applications in dyeing and finishing of textiles.

Henry A. Rutherford portraitHenry A. Rutherford portrait
1949 Duke Kimbrell received bachelor's degree

Duke Kimbrell received a bachelor's degree in textile manufacturing. He later became chairman of Parkdale Mills, Inc., the largest manufacturer of spun yarn in the world.

1949 Women faculty increased

Twenty-two women were listed on the faculty, most at the instructor or laboratory technician level. Departments with more than one woman employee included English (six), statistics (three), textiles (three), and modern languages (two). Women were also on the faculty in architecture, agricultural economics, mathematics, physics, social studies, chemistry, engineering, research, and agronomy.

1950s

7/1951 New textiles equipment installed

A velvet carpet loom was installed on campus for use by the School of Textiles.

Installation of velvet carpet loom in the School of Textiles at North Carolina State College, July 1951Installation of velvet carpet loom in the School of Textiles at North Carolina State College, July 1951
1953 Textile research on radiation conducted

Interest in the applications of radiation in science increased in September 1953 when NC State received a nuclear reactor. Henry Rutherford, head of the Textile Chemistry Department, recognized the value of the reactor as an energy source and led early research on how textile materials, polymers in particular, would behave when exposed to radiation.

Nuclear reactorNuclear reactor
1954 Peru Project established

The Peru Project was established as a cooperative effort between NC State, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the government of Peru to develop programs in agricultural and textile research, extension, and education.

1954 Textile Library expanded

The Textiles Library was renamed the Burlington Textiles Library after Burlington Industries funded its expansion.

Nelson Hall, Textile LibraryNelson Hall, Textile Library
1955 Edward Shinn developed synthetic aorta

William Edward Shinn, head of the knitting department, developed knitted tubes using synthetic fibers to serve as artificial aortas. The knitted aortas were more flexible than the woven tubes previously used. Dean Campbell had an artificial aorta implanted in 1970 after suffering an aneurysm, and he lived until 1978 with the help of the synthetic aorta technology.

William E. Shinn and Malcolm E. Campbell inspecting knitting machine on which Shinn developed the artificial aorta [Duplicate]William E. Shinn and Malcolm E. Campbell inspecting knitting machine on which Shinn developed the artificial aorta [Duplicate]
11/3/1958 Cobalt-60 Reactor dedicated

A Cobalt-60 reactor worth $96,000 was dedicated on November 3, 1958, in the basement of Nelson Hall. The research of Henry Rutherford, William Walsh, Rosa Kirby, and others over the years led to the development and commercialization of permanent press curing of cotton, and gamma radiation was used to investigate polymer transformations.

Professor Henry A. Rutherford and Dr. A. Armstrong examine the Cobalt-60 source in the College's radiological laboratoryProfessor Henry A. Rutherford and Dr. A. Armstrong examine the Cobalt-60 source in the College's radiological laboratory
1959 Textile Exposition and Style Show reinstated

Two faculty in the College of Textiles, J.B. Gaither and J.W. Klibbe, reinstated the annual Textile Exposition and Style Show in 1959 as a Phi Psi project. Gaither had graduated in weaving and designing in 1938, participated in the style shows as a student, and realized the value of providing textile design students an outlet for their creativity. The shows continued for several years but were eventually discontinued.

1959 Textile bookmark calendars competition began

Professor Ernest B. Berry challenged his senior-level students to design and weave a calendar with a School of Textiles design at the top and a monthly calendar positioned below. The winning design resulted in a green-and-white calendar assembled with surplus Fortisan warp and acetate filling. The calendars were popular with members of the class, faculty, and staff, and the project became an annual event.

1960s

1960 Burmese graduate student enrolled

Graduate student Charlie Kaw of Burma enrolled in the textiles program.

Agromeck 1960Agromeck 1960
1961 Textile technology Department

The three separate departments of weaving, knitting, and design were merged into the Department of Textile Technology. 26 textile courses were dropped and 15 new courses were added to form the new curriculum.

1963 First woman instructor in textiles hired

Francess Massey became an instructor in textile technology. She was the first woman listed as faculty member at the instructor level in the School of Textiles.

1963 Textile chemistry research program moved

Following a proposal by the Director of Research, Bill Newell, the expanded textile chemistry research program moved into Mangum Hall, which was later renamed David Clark Laboratories.

David Clark Labs, interior viewDavid Clark Labs, interior view
1965 Lint-free washcloth developed

John T. Bogdan developed a lint-free washcloth that was used on the Gemini and Apollo space flights.

Professor John BogdanProfessor John Bogdan
1966 Solomon Hersh joined textile faculty

Solomon "Sol" Hersh joined the faculty of the Department of Textile Technology. Previously, he received his BS from NC State in 1949. In 1995, he became the first faculty member from the College of Textiles to receive the Alexander Holladay Medal for Excellence.

1967 David W. Chaney became dean of textiles

David W. Chaney became Dean of the School of Textiles in 1967 and served in that position until 1981. With 25 years of industrial research, Chaney arrived from the Chemstrand Research Center at Research Triangle Park. He was the first person with an earned PhD named dean of the School of Textiles.

Dean David Chaney posing with a textile machineDean David Chaney posing with a textile machine
1967 PhD in Fiber and Polymer Science

Shortly after David Chaney became dean, the Board of Governors and UNC administration granted approval to create a doctoral program in fiber and polymer science. It was the first doctoral program at a school of textiles in the southeast and the first fiber and polymer science program in the country. The name was meant to include more than chemistry and to unite all aspects of textiles, engineering, and many other disciplines. The program included faculty from the ... More

1968 Textiles extension established

Textiles extension short courses in Charlotte and New York were announced in 1968, and they were exceedingly popular. In 1969, thirteen new courses were offered in Raleigh, featuring NC State faculty and industry executives as guest lecturers.

1969 Vincent Fang awarded master's degree

Vincent Fang was awarded a Master of Science degree. He later started the first knitting operation in Hong Kong.

1970s

1971 James Rucker graduated

The first African American student in the College of Textiles, James "Jim" Rucker, graduated with a BS in textile chemistry in 1971.

5/15/1971 First PhD in textiles awarded

Joel L. Williams was awarded a PhD in fiber and polymer science. This was the first PhD awarded in NC State's College of Textiles.

1973 Byssinosis research conducted

Prior to studies in the 1970s, textile mill workers exhibited lung damage symptoms similar to those of coal minors. The condition was diagnosed as byssinosis, which was a pulmonary disease associated with inhalation of cotton processing dust. Beginning in 1973, research to solve this problem became the largest integrated research program in the School of Textiles. This research led to measurable reductions in airborne lint and finer particulates and to a decrease ... More

10/1973 Textiles Auditorium renamed M.E. (Sandy) Campbell Auditorium

The School of Textiles Auditorium was renamed in honor of Malcolm E. Campbell, Dean Emeritus of the School of Textiles.

Dean Malcolm E. Campbell at deskDean Malcolm E. Campbell at desk
1977 New textile design program created

A new textile design program was created jointly by the School of Design and the School of Textiles at NC State. Students received basic design fundamentals in the School of Design and were then able to apply this knowledge in textile-oriented design classes. R. Alan Donaldson, a graduate of the Scottish Textile School and former employee of Guilford of Maine, was the first professor in the program.

1977 Apparel manufacturing curriculum added

The School of Textiles added an apparel manufacturing option to its curriculum starting in September 1977. In addition, the newly organized Department of Textile Materials and Management offered a degree in textile management. A cooperative venture was planned with the Fashion Institute of New York and the Southern Technical Institute.

1980s

1980 Textile curriculum changed

In 1980, military science was dropped from the textile curriculum. Courses in fiber-forming polymers, physical chemistry, and computer science were added.

1981 Dame Hamby became dean

Dame Hamby became Dean of the School of Textiles and served in the position until 1987. Hamby served the college in many capacities and worked to obtain renovated or new facilities through relationships with industrial contacts and the legislature.

1983 Burlington Textile Library expanded

The Burlington Textile Library was renovated and expanded into extra space in Nelson Hall. The additional space included room for more book stacks and videotape review stations. Personal computers for student use were later added.

Students in textiles libraryStudents in textiles library
1984 Governor James B. Hunt visited

Governor James B. Hunt gave a series of speeches about the importance of state funding for biotechnology, microelectronics, and a school of textiles for NC State.

1985 Department of Textile Management and Technology formed

The Department of Textile Management and Technology formed from the split of the Department of Textiles Materials and Management.

1986 Bachelor's in textile engineering approved

The Bachelor of Science degree in textile engineering was approved by the Curriculum Committee and the provost in the spring of 1986. The first courses were taught by David Buchanan and Perry Grady.

1987 Schools became colleges

Eight of the university's academic schools were designated as colleges.

1987 Robert A. Barnhardt became dean

Robert A. Barnhardt became Dean of the College of Textiles and served in the position until 1999. Barnhardt was influential in developing plans for the College of Textiles to move to new facilities on Centennial Campus.

Dean Robert A. Barnhardt portraitDean Robert A. Barnhardt portrait
1987 College of Textiles voted

Faculty and administration of the College of Textiles voted unanimously against moving to Centennial Campus.

1988 Textile Engineering and Science (TES) Department merged

The Textile Engineering and Science (TES) Department, headed by Solomon P. Hersh since 1985, was merged with the Textile Chemistry Department. The combination was renamed the Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry, and Science (TECS) to reflect the recent creation of a Bachelor of Science in Textile Engineering degree program.

05/17/1988 Textiles building groundbreaking ceremony

A groundbreaking ceremony for a new textiles building on Centennial Campus took place on May 17, 1988, with Dean Robert Barnhardt, Chancellor Bruce Poulton, Dean Emeritus Dame Hamby, and other campus leaders. Construction began on May 24, 1988, and was completed in 1991.

Aerial view of the College of Textiles on Centennial CampusAerial view of the College of Textiles on Centennial Campus

1990s

1990-1991 Harold Freeman named professor

Professor Harold Freeman was the first African American "named professor" in the College of Textiles. He was named the Ciba-Geigy Professor of Dyestuff Chemistry.

1991 New College of Textiles building opened

The new College of Textiles building on Centennial Campus opened its doors in 1991. The new building included computer facilities, heavy machinery processing laboratories, classrooms, meeting spaces, administrative offices, and the Burlington Textiles Library.

College of Textiles on Centennial CampusCollege of Textiles on Centennial Campus
1991 Burlington Textile Library moved

In conjunction with the move of the College of Textiles, the Burlington Textile Library moved to Centennial Campus and became the first library unit on the new campus. The library remained in the College of Textiles complex until December 2012 when the collections were moved into the Hunt Library.

Inside Textiles Library at Centennial CampusInside Textiles Library at Centennial Campus
1991 PhD program in textile technology management

A new PhD program in textile technology management was created in 1991 to better prepare managers required to manage increasingly more complex technical operations. The first graduate was Jin-Feng Wang in 1993.

1991 College of Textiles dedicated
College of TextilesCollege of Textiles
1992 Pyro-Man used for testing

Pyro-Man, a fully instrumented life-sized manikin, was used for the first time to evaluate the performance of thermal protective clothing. Pyro-Man was one of two computer-interfaced mannequins used by the Center for Research on Textile Protection and Comfort to test the viability of flame-resistant fabrics. Pyro-Man consisted of a flame-resistant black composite body covered with 122 heat sensors, allowing the computer to plot the projected location and severity ... More

Thermo Man or PyroManThermo Man or PyroMan
1992 African American Textile Society formed

The African American Textile Society (AATS) was formed in 1992 to support African American students in the College of Textiles.

1993 MS degree in textile engineering created

A Master of Science degree in textile engineering was created in 1993. New courses were developed to teach the engineering design aspects of yarn spinning, fabric formation, instrumentation, and quality management. The first graduates were James Christopher Love and Benjamin Robert Martin in 1995.

1994 Textile Protection and Comfort Center established

The Textile Protection and Comfort Center, within the College of Textiles on Centennial Campus, provided a facility for testing the performance of various textile materials.

1999 David Buchanan became interim dean

2000s

2000 A. Blanton Godfrey became dean

A. Blanton Godfrey became Dean of the College of Textiles in 2000 and served in the position until 2014.

2001 College of Textiles history written

Gary Mock wrote A Century of Progress: The Textile Program, North Carolina State University, 1899-1999. A print edition exists in the library.

2001 Art2Wear event debuted

The Art2Wear student-organized runway show debuted in 2001. The event presented fashion, costume and wearable sculpture created by the students of the College of Design and the College of Textiles at NC State. This annual event was organized and hosted by the Department of Art + Design in partnership with the College of Textiles to display examples of student work each spring.

2010s

5/2010 First woman appointed full professor in textiles

Cynthia Istook became the first woman appointed full professor in the College of Textiles.

07/01/2014 David Hinks became interim dean
01/01/2016 David Hinks named dean

David Hinks was named dean of the College of Textiles after serving as interim dean since 2014.

2018 College of Textiles named Wilson College of Textiles

NC State received a $28 million gift from alumnus Fred Wilson Jr. and his family to fund an endowment to support and name NC State’s College of Textiles.

1/11/2018 VF Corporation partnership announced

The university announced a partnership between the College of Textiles, the Poole College of Management, and the VF Corporation to support student development and advance apparel and textiles innovation.

2018 Runway for Dreams chapter created

The NC State chapter of Runway of Dreams was created. The organization was created to empower people with disabilities to have confidence and self-expression through fashion and beauty inclusion, including through the design of fashionable adaptive apparel.

2020s

2021 Runway of Dreams Fashion Show held

A Runway of Dreams Fashion Show was held in collaboration with Duke University and students at the College of Textiles. The event, "Coming Together, Creating Change," was a virtual adaptive runway show organized to showcase people with disabilities and educate about the need for adaptive clothing and disability representation in the fashion industry.