Linda Mather Collection

Dr. Linda Mather the President at Beacon Consulting Associates was previously an Associate Professor of Communications at Glassboro State College (now Rowan University) in Glassboro, New Jersey. Having spent much of her professional career teaching about the connection between clothing and communication, during the year of 1979-1980, Dr. Mather, while on sabbatical leave, traveled to Pakistan to study the clothing of Pakistani women. While in Pakistan, Dr. Mather’s spent time with, not only the female students of Kinnaird College in Lahore, Pakistan, but with the women of Pakistan’s rural villages. The results of Dr. Mather’s study are expressed in the portrait photography of over 200 Pakistani women.

The textual components of Dr. Mather’s collection consists of correspondence in the form of letters sent and received before, during and after her time in Pakistan, two journals of Dr. Mather’s emotions and feelings regarding the dress of Pakistani women as well as her own experiences in Pakistan and a photo journal cataloguing the photographs that Dr. Mather took while in Pakistan. The collection also includes a compilation of the research activities that Dr. Mather performed while in Pakistan as well as evidence of the various exhibitions in which Dr. Mather participated. The news clippings that pertain to Dr. Mather and her research as well as the photography from her study are stored separately.

The first series consist of letters to and from Dr. Mather pertaining to her study in Pakistan. The letters are arranged chronologically. Invitations sent to Dr. Mather as well as business cards acquired by Dr. Mather during her trip are also included in this series. Much of the correspondence consist of inquires regarding Dr. Mather’s study and the results of the study (the photographs).

Two spiral notebooks comprise Dr. Mather’s journal during her trip to Pakistan. The journals consist mainly of commentary on Dr. Mather’s personal experiences in Pakistan as well as her interactions with the Pakistani people. These journals resemble a diary more so than a set of field notes, although they serve a purpose in articulating the emotions evoked by the dress of Pakistani women.

The photo journal maintains detailed information on the various photographs that Dr. Mather took during her time in Pakistan. The photos are catalogued by Dr. Mather in chronological order. Many of the photographs catalogued in Dr. Mather’s journals can be found in the image database; however some images mentioned in the journal appear to have been removed by Dr. Mather from the collection.

Dr. Mather’s research activities are complied in a chronological list. The list is a summary of all the activities Dr. Mather participated in during her time in Pakistan including interviews as well as letters that she sent and received while in Pakistan. The research activities also include Dr. Mather’s progress report on her study of the clothing of Pakistani women which includes a brief description of the study.

The exhibition records consist of a list of all the exhibitions in which Dr. Mather’s study was included. Pamphlets and brochures from the various exhibitions as well as letters pertaining to the exhibitions are included as well.

Publication Information: University of Pennsylvania: Penn Museum Archives,

Finding Aid Author:

Revision Description: 3/2/2012

Use Restrictions:

Corporate Name(s)

• Kinnaird College for Women.

Geographic Name(s)

• Pakistan

Personal Name(s)

• Mather, Linda

Subject(s)

• Decoration and ornament, Ainu
• Ethnology
• Material culture
• Museum exhibits