During a presentation about The Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Foundation and Museum, ideas began to flow. Questions were asked, thoughts were put onto paper, the museum’s Web site was perused, and subject matter was researched. This was the beginning of a graphic design assignment at Radford University, where assistant professor Ken Smith had his Introduction to Graphic Design classes work on a real-world design project—T-shirt designs for The Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Museum in Wytheville.

After a month-long progression of work, the students presented their designs to the Museum’s executive director, Leslie King. The T-shirt designs cumulatively reveal the history of Edith Bolling Wilson, First Lady to President Woodrow Wilson, a native of Wytheville. In some of the designs, the First Lady’s image is prominently featured. A few depict her time in Wytheville. Others range from reflections on her being the first woman in Washington, D.C. to own an electric car to boldly addressing her time in the White House, when some historians called her “the secret president.”

Due to the diverse nature of the project solutions, the museum is displaying all of the designs through Jan. 15. In addition, the museum is seeking the public’s help in selecting their first official T-shirt design. The public is invited to vote for their favorite selection while the T-shirts are exhibited. The voting will be done via donations. Along with the exhibit, the public can also vote online at www.edithbollingwilson.org/wordpress.

“Seeing the enthusiasm and creative ideas that the students have generated during this process is very heartening,” King said. “Some of the results are humorous, if not a little eyebrow-raising, and some are very elegant, but a majority of the students managed to create T-shirts that should generate interest and appeal for the Museum.”

From a teaching perspective Smith felt this classroom assignment was a positive way for the students to gain experience working with a real client and to possibly have a published piece for their portfolio.

The following students are participating: Christine Barker, Sarah Barton, Ashley Benton, Scott Beaubien, Daniel Brookman, Robert Browder, Jacquelyn Chaffee, David Clark, Lindsay Deadrick, Adrienne Desrosiers, Katie Frank, Courtney Frayser, Kyle Gregory, LaToya Hairston, Jennifer Hayes, John Hornick, Chris Hundycz, Eric Jones, Heather Jones, Diana Kline, Bethany Love, Jonathan Massullo, Rebecca Medlin, Christine Minchak, Justin Nortell, Brittany Phipps, Brian Richey, Sarah Rodden, Anastasia Santos, Corey Schmitt, Michelle Sheppard, Jamie Shupe, Laura Stokes, Walter Street, Sarah Thacker, Dixie K. Walker and Janet Whitney.

To learn more about about The Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Museum or to vote on T-shirt designs, please visit www.edithbollingwilson.org  or call 276.223.3484. The museum is a tax exempt nonprofit 501(c)3 organization and is located at 145 East Main Street in Wytheville, Virginia. The museum is open to the public Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.