Graduate student makes unusual donation to home ec collection

Kenneth Beane of Murray, Ky., a graduate student in the School of Forest Resources, has donated a pair of Oriental footbinding shoes for infants to the collection. The practice of footbinding ceased in China some 200 years ago, and the shoes are believed to be at least that old.

"I have been told that the shoes were part of a practice to mimic a princess of that time who was born with a birth defect of small feet," Beane said.

Beane bought the shoes in St. Louis 10 years ago. He later contacted the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., and museums in Kentucky and Tennessee about donating the shoes. Recently, he decided to add them to the costume and textiles collection at Mississippi State so he could be sure they would receive proper care and be on display.

Beane, who is pursuing a doctoral degree in wood mechanics and structure, hopes that students will benefit more from the shoes being on display here "than if they were around thousands of other items in a large museum."

"We are pleased to receive items for our collection," said Shirley Hastings, home economics department head. "Students are able to learn about history, fashion, and preservation of the items."

The collection is located in Moore Hall.