Dressing the Past, An Interactive Activity Protocol for Digital Collections

Abstract

Dressing the Past is an activity protocol that uses the sticker function on the commonly available Snapchat app to integrate the New York Public Library's The History of the Feminine Costume, From the Year 5318 B.C. to Our Century Collection into historical fact finding or storytelling sessions at libraries across the country. The project aims to introduce technology and creative/critical thinking to the traditional paper doll model. The activity is focused primarily but not exclusively on children ages 6-12, a non-traditional target audience for archival materials.