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McMath is an award-winning historian whose programs include work for the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, The Spy Museum and the Newseum. She co-produced a documentary that appeared several times on the History Channel, co-authored The Legacy of Lincoln and created the original concept and Libretto for "Norton: A Civil War Opera" orchestrated by David Chavez. Retired now, she was also a critically-acclaimed theater director and producer.
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In 1947, Virginia Hay opened the Hay School of Fashion in St. Louis, Missouri. Working and teaching from home, her only marketing tools were word of mouth and thimbles with the company name and address. For the next 35 years, Virginia created original designs, won fashion design awards, taught and submitted costumes for the St. Louis Veiled Prophet Ball and other contests. In a 1972 interview for the St. Louis Globe Democrat, Virginia was pleased to say, “I’ve taught husbands and wives who either want to sew for each other or to help the family budget. And I’ve taught working girls in my night classes who want a variety of dresses they couldn’t afford if they had to buy them". Her books on sewing included The New Basic Secrets of Sewing from the Virginia Hay Sewing System, The New Method of Personal Fitting (of patterns), Are You the Boss of your Sewing Machine? (sewing methods), Pressing is an Art, The Inside Story (about linings and interlinings), and 57 Shortcuts in Home Sewing. |
This book was written in Virginia's honor by her granddaughter, Meredith Bean McMath,and features professional photography by Sarah Huntington. The gowns were brought to life by professional actor/model Suzy Alden.
Creativity and the Hay School of Fashion was published alongside an article in Middleburg, Virginia's ZEST Magazine, spring 2023: Designing Woman Keeps it All in the Family.
Creativity and the Hay School of Fashion was published alongside an article in Middleburg, Virginia's ZEST Magazine, spring 2023: Designing Woman Keeps it All in the Family.
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