Prettyman Family collection now fully processed

Hey Y'all! Check out the Prettyman Family collection finding aid!

The Prettymans are a legacy family who have been in attendance at Delaware State University for more than three generations.  In 2011 Noble W. Prettyman donated a collection of records and artifacts saved by his paternal grandmother, Effie Aiken Prettyman (class of 1913), his mother Katherine Deshields Prettyman (class of 1933), and brother, James A. Prettyman (class of 1969). Although the collection has received some processing treatments in the past, I gave it some needed TLC.

The collection is unique by virtue of the fact that items from the 1910s can be compared to the 1960s and beyond. Here one can research a family's shared past and yet see differences in their experiences. The collection can also be distinguished from others at the DSU Archives because it contains a significant number of three-dimensional artifacts. Within the collection are found vintage clothing, promotional buttons, event programs, and photograph albums.

Personally, I am most fascinated by an album of created by Katherine Deshields Prettyman between 1917 and 1930. The majority of photographs within show happy students posing on the campus of the State College for Colored Students. I love the fashions. If it were not for the clothing, I could imagine these people were on the campus today. For me, it is fun to see a picture of two girls standing on the steps of Conrad hall (above) and know that  I can go stand in the same place.

The Prettyman Family collection is available for public research and can be viewed in the William C. Jason Library between 8 and 4 Monday through Friday.  You are always welcome!

The first pages of Katherine DeShields Prettyman's photo album contains notations about the subject matter of the photographs. So often today, historic photographs are not labeled and it's impossible to know who or what is pictured. I'm glad she took time to record these memories.