Kent Library took a trip back in time on Wednesday, March 11, when it hosted the "Women's History Fashion Show." During the show, several models took to the stacks to show clothing styles that were worn during the 20th century.

Literacy Librarian Emily Smart facilitated the fashion by showing a slideshow that included notable Southeast Missouri State University alumna whose time at the university correlated with the fashions being shown. High-necked gowns depicting the 1920s, T-shirt dresses showing the fashion trends of the '50s and leg warmers reflecting the '80s were just some of the many styles modeled during the show.

All of the women mentioned during the show have received the Alumni Merit Award, which is given by the university to alumni who are evaluated on professional growth, service to the university and individual character, according to the university website.

Some of the women mentioned during the show included Virginia Eicholtz who graduated from Southeast in 1929 and designed and patented disposable dinnerware; Dr. Francis Allen, who graduated in 1937 and was a specialist in internal medicine and chairperson at Bethel Deaconess Hospital in Newton, Kansas; and Marjorie Best, who became the first female mayor of Kirkwood, Missouri, in 1982.

Other notable alumni whose accolades were shared, along with the fashion they would have worn when they were students, included women who were involved in major historical events like Martha Schuchart, who graduated in 1920 and, after enlisting in the United States Army during World War II, went on to have a 25-year-long career serving as a Lt. Col.

Dr. Linda Godwin graduated in 1984 and went on to have a successful career with NASA and is the only Southeast graduate to have ever left the Earth's atmosphere.

The fashion show concluded with the models taking to the makeshift runway, once again to show off their clothing as audience members applauded. One of the models, who sported a bright orange cloche hat, was Kathryn Vangilder.

Vangilder is Library Assistant III and spearheaded the creation of the fashion show. She said she wanted to put the show together to celebrate Women's History Month and all the accomplished women from Southeast.

"Well, it is Women's History Month, and since it is connected to the university we thought it would have been neat to show off women's fashion as it would have been seen on the women when they were in college," Vangilder said.

Vangilder said the clothing displayed in the show came from various antique stores in town and from her own personal collection from the living history group she directs. All the models were student workers in Kent Library who volunteered to take part in the show.

The historical information was found by searching the records of recipients of the Alumni Merit Award and then from there, researching the women through Southeast Missourian newspaper archives.

Vangilder went on to say that what makes fashion an important part of women's history is that it was an outlet women used to express themselves during times they may have not been able to otherwise, and that it also reflects what was going on during that time, whether it be social changes, cultural impacts or even war.

"I think that women, especially in the 20th century, expressed themselves through fashion quite a bit, and it also says a lot about what women were going through at the time," Vangilder said.