Eleanor Fried interview, 1984 November 29

Eleanor Fried interview, 1984 November 29

Eleanor Fried, the first head of FIT’s placement office, discusses her upbringing and the circumstances that led her to FIT in 1947, shortly after its founding. She describes the early academic departments at FIT and its demographics. Fried then details the institute’s successful management program and how the placement office went about developing close relationships with department stores and other employers in the Industry. Fried emphasizes the vocational maturity of many of FIT’s two-year graduates, but explains that some students chose to go on to four-year degrees elsewhere. While the placement department was extremely successful in placing most students, it was severely understaffed; so Fried often ended up employing students to help with outreach. She explains how she stayed in contact with alumni and asked for their ongoing input regarding the school’s curriculum. Fried then describes the positive changes brought about by affirmative action, especially in regards to staffing her office. She finishes the interview by describing a book she published following her retirement as well as two she wrote while at FIT including, “Is The Fashion Business Your Business?”

FIT Special Collections and College Archives

1984-11-28

1984

2020

1:13:03

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