Kenneth Beane of Murray, Ky., a graduate student in the School of Forest Resources, has donated a pair of Oriental footbinding shoes for infants to the collection. The practice of footbinding ceased in China some 200 years ago, and the shoes are believed to be at least that old. Beane bought the shoes in St. Louis 10 years ago. He later contacted the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., and museums in Kentucky and Tennessee about donating the shoes. Recently, he decided to add them to the costume and textiles collection at Mississippi State so he could be sure they would receive proper care and be on display.
Students are able to learn about history, fashion, and preservation of the items.
The collection is located in Moore Hall. This World Wide Web version of MSU Memo was modified and updated by Chris Brown .