Fabulous 50: Textiles Extension

Masthead of School of Textiles News, 1968, published by the college's Textile Extension and Continuing Education unit.

Textiles Extension began fifty years ago in 1968 with short courses in Raleigh, Charlotte, and New York.  According to a press release at that time, the program's function was "to provide direct, organized contact between the textile and fiber specialists of the NCSU School of Textiles and textile companies."  Robert E. Smith was the first director.  A graduate from Bucknell University, Smith came to NC State after a 28-year career in industry with the Chemstrand and American Viscose companies.

Robert E. Smith, ca. 1968. Smith was the first director of textiles extension at NC State.

During that first year of Textiles Extension, a December 1968 knitting fundamentals short course in New York was oversubscribed by nearly 300%.  In 1969 thirteen courses were offered in Raleigh, featuring NC state faculty and in-plant industry executives from mills as guest lecturers.

Textiles Extension also served as a publicity arm of NC State's School (later College) of Textiles.  Among its publications were college newsletters, beginning with School of Textiles News in 1968.

Over the years the College of Textiles extension and continuing education programs have evolved according to industry needs.  In 2006 the Zeis Textile Extension Education for Economic Impact Center was created in the college.

Many photos and much information on NC State's textiles history can be found in the NCSU Libraries' Special Collections Research Center.  Begin exploring these through our Historical State site.  School of Textiles News is not digitized, but the Libraries have print copies that circulate.  Special Collections also holds print copies, for the years 1968-1985, in the College of Textiles Publications collection (UA 130.200).  If you are interested in viewing Special Collections materials, please contact us through the online request form.