Textile Resource Center

Beige and navy patterned fabric on table

The Textile Resource Center (TRC), part of SAIC's network of Library & Special Collections, offers a hands-on study collection to the SAIC community of global textiles dating from pre-Columbian to contemporary times. Visitors engage with textiles and books reflecting the broad array of materials, processes, patterns, designs, approaches, and cultures representing innovative historical and contemporary textile practices, as well as exploring conceptual approaches in the making of textiles throughout the world.

Having opened in 2013 with the Fiber and Material Studies departmental book collection and the world textile and book collections of Professors Emeritae Joan Livingstone and Anne Wilson, the TRC collection has continued to grow in size and scope, currently holding over 500 textile objects and more than 2,000 non-circulating books and magazines exploring individual artists, processes, materials, critical theory, and global textile histories.

The SAIC Community can explore the TRC’s textile and book collections online through our digital collections. TRC collections require SAIC login.

Image of colorful textiles using vertical and horizontal lines

Visit

Spring Semester Open Hours

Monday: 9:15 a.m.–4:45 p.m.
Tuesday: 9:15 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 1:30–4:45 p.m.
Wednesday + Thursday: 9:15 a.m.–4:45 p.m.
Friday: By appointment only

Submit a request for a class visit, group tour, research visit, etc. Contact saic-textileresourcecenter@saic.edu with questions.

Check for our current open hours and submit a visit request.
Are you interested in submitting a piece for consideration into the collection? Please read the donation parameters for information about what kinds of objects the collection is accepting and then submit information about your proposed piece.
Do you have a recommendation for a book the TRC should have? Submit a purchase recommendation.
Email us at saic-textileresourcecenter@saic.edu or call us at (312) 759-1646.

Resources

Visit the Textile Resource Center Digital Collections for an online look at the objects in the collection. Please note TRC Digital Collections require an SAIC login to view items.

The TRC's books can be searched via the Flaxman Catalog by narrowing the search by location. As noted in the catalog, the TRC’s books are non-circulating, meaning they can only be viewed within the TRC. Non-flash photography can be taken of the books and their contents, and visitors are welcome to take notes by hand with pencil or digitally on a laptop, tablet, etc.