threads of the sixties
Early 1960's
1960's swimsuit
Material: polyester
Donor's story
Gail L. Campbell-Ferguson
Museum curator Gail L. Campbell-Ferguson (age 77) was formerly employed by the Kitsap History Museum, Bremerton WA. Born December 13, 1946, she is a 1963 graduate of Lincoln High School in Seattle. She is also a graduate of the Museum Leadership Institute in Claremont, California. She participates as a lector at St. Antony of Egypt Episcopal Church in Silverdale. During 2020-2023, she was a member of the Kitsap County Area Agency on Aging: Division of Aging and Long-Term Care Advisory Council. She and husband David Bruce Ferguson currently reside at 10573 Sirocco Circle NW, Silverdale.
Description
One-piece print polyester fabric swimsuit. Print bears blue and white stripes and blue butterflies. Built in bra, adjustable spaghetti straps and back metal Talon zipper. Label: “Bill Atkinson, Glen of Michigan, USA.”
Bill Atkinson Context
While working at the Manistee Garment Company in Manistee, Michigan, Lester Goldstein was employed as office and employment manager. In April 1950, Goldstein, who had changed his last name to Glen, purchased the company to operate it as a separate business called Glen of Michigan. His company became one of the nation’s leading manufacturers of women’s and children’s sportswear. With a payroll of $2 million, the company’s peak employment included roughly 500 people. Glen of Michigan produced four different size ranges with each size range including twenty to forty styles per line. Sales operations were conducted in New York where a permanent showroom was on display. Additionally, the clothes were sold in 48 states and the line was represented by many major clothing outlets. The company ceased operations in the autumn of 1981
From 1950 through 1970 architect Bill Atkinson (1916-1995) was the designer for the apparel manufacturer Glen of Michigan. Atkinson accidentally found he had a talent for fashion after he designed a square dance skirt for his wife during World War II. Made from eight bandannas, it was Bill’s way of getting around wartime government rationing, and the skirt was a big hit. Atkinson decided to make more skirts to sell, and in 1950 found a company willing to take on his order, Glen of Michigan, a maker of women’s house dresses. In 1951 he released his first full line of sportswear separates. For twenty years, Glen of Michigan made Bill Atkinson’s casual sportswear designs. In 1974, Atkinson started a new line, Bill Atkinson, Ltd., which lasted until 1982 when it was sold to a Canadian firm. Bill won the Coty design award in 1978 because his clothing was so exciting and well designed. He retired from the business, moved to Westport, Connecticut. He passed away at the age of 79 in 1995.
