Costumes help Roanoke students, faculty relive history
November 21, 2014
Studying history is far more entertaining for Roanoke College students when costumes are involved.
That's according to several Roanoke College History professors, who are increasingly incorporating costume dress into class instruction as a way to make history come to life for students.
In the past year, the History department has been expanding its collection of costumes for many different time periods and housing them in a designated costume closet in a former bank building in Salem, the department's home.
Two History professors, Dr. Mary Henold and Dr. Whitney Leeson, have been encouraging students to dress in costume this semester when the classes act in character debates from historical time periods. The students have portrayed such characters as Teddy Roosevelt, Susan B. Anthony and Andrew Carnegie during these debates.
"Putting students in costumes helps them embrace a different culture and embrace their history," said Henold.
The department's costume assortment includes everything from top hats and petticoats to an authentic WWII pilot uniform.
For the past few years, Leeson and her mother, Billie Jo Monger, have been sewing homemade costumes out of fabric, specifically skirts and bustles that would have been worn in the 1880s.
Henold also has helped to gather costumes and accessories and make bonnets and trim top hats to add to the collection.
Some College-inspired garments have made the closet, including a 1920s Roanoke letter sweater and a Roanoke men's basketball uniform.
Another History professor, Dr. Mark Miller, has used these costumes in his Dear Old Roanoke class this year, which teaches the history of the College.
His students dressed up like important figures in the College's history to give tours during Parents' Weekend in late September. The students represented characters from 1850-1971. One student even dressed as the wife of Roanoke's first president, David Bittle.
Roanoke students and faculty members also have dressed in costumes in recent years for the College's Founder's Day activities, which this year were held on Nov. 19.
The department plans to continue expanding its costume collection.
If you are interested in donating a costume, contact Henold at henold@roanoke.edu or by phone at 540-378-5159
Published Nov. 21, 2014
By Allison Shannon