The International Costumers Gallery FAQ
Updated 05/2011
Do I need to create a user account in order to look at
the Collection?
No. Just
click on either the front page icons for the Library or the Contributors
Gallery to begin.
What are the Contributors Galleries?
These are the albums for people to upload their
costume photos and share them with our visitors. You can share your photos, too
– all you have to do is sign up for a user account. Check the Gallery Tutorial for details on how to do
so.
We do not keep the images contributors upload, but the
Pat and Peggy Kennedy Memorial Library would very much like to have copies to
keep for historical record. Contact us for details at icg-archivist@costume.org.
I'd like to upload some photos. What kinds of pictures
can I upload?
Anything Science Fiction, Anime, Historical, Wearable
Art, Movie or TV recreations, Middle Eastern Dance, folk, carnival, street
performers, kids, pets, etc. Photos must be taken by you – we cannot
accept official convention photos without explicit permission from the
convention committee. No movie
studio stills are allowed. Partial
nudity is not discouraged, but remember that photos can be viewed by anyone of
any age. Also, no costume is no costume!
Waitaminnit – what?? Partial Nudity?!!
Just a prudent warning to the visitor. There are some pictures,
particularly from the 1950s – 1970s, that are revealing, but they are in
the context of a costume. If you are a concerned parent, please be aware of
this. We do not censor the photos, nor have we separated them into in one
folder.
May I link to my website so people can buy copies of
the photos I upload?
You may link to your website, but no other advertising
will be allowed. If this rule is violated, your account will be taken down.
What are the parameters for uploading
photos?
See the Gallery tutorial. Photo files
should be no bigger than 100kb in size (right click your picture to check the
Properties to find its size if you're unsure). The best resolution for clarity
and manageability is 300 dpi (Dots Per Inch). For more information on
resolution, see the tutorial tips. We recommend you use editing
software, to crop and focus your pictures before you upload, to make them look
their best. Most computers have them; digital
cameras come with their own editing software. If you don't have
any software, they can be easily purchased for less than $30. Use these
to reduce the size of your photo files without losing resolution.
Can I comment on other people's photos?
Only registered users may comment on photos. Comments
should be productive; otherwise the site admin may revoke the user profile (see
Policies). If there is a
widespread problem, the comments feature will be discontinued.
How often is
new material added to the Gallery?
The International Costumers Gallery Announcements
Group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/icg-a/) is a
newsletter email list for letting people know when new photos have
been added, changes have been made, or anything else that the Archivist or the
Site Admin wants to tell the subscribers about. Alternatively, if you
have a Facebook account, click the ŌLikeĶ button at the bottom of the website
page.
The Pat and Peggy Kennedy Memorial Library
What is the Pat and Peggy
Kennedy Memorial Library?
The Pat and Peggy Kennedy Memorial Library is the
official archive of the International Costumers
Guild. Its mission is to preserve the history
of Science Fiction fan costuming.
Since the mid-1990s, it has been gathering materials spanning 70+
years. It has also accumulated
images from Wearable Arts events, Living History and other showcases for
creativity. Much of this collection
has never been seen by a wide audience before – not even by ICG
members. Our intention is to become
a major destination for the celebration of craftsmanship, imagination and
knowledge that our hobby encompasses.
You can find out more about Pat and Peggy Kennedy by
visiting their Lifetime Achievement Award entries:
What does the Library contain?
Photographs, videotapes, DVDs and other paper ephemera
related to costume events, the business records of the ICG and other documents.
How big is the Library? For Ō70+ years of Science Fiction fan
costumingĶ, there doesnÕt seem to be that much on the site.
There is a tremendous amount of data to inventory, plus
we are constantly acquiring new material.
We are updating the site as we get an album of photos
done. By being a friend of the IC
Gallery on Facebook, or a member of the ICG-A list, you wonÕt have to
constantly be looking to see if there is anything new to see.
Why does the Library have so many pictures from
Science Fiction conventions?
From the beginning, Science Fiction conventions have
had some sort of costume contest or masquerades. They allow people to express
their creativity by in a way that can be worn on the body. This doesnÕt mean
the Library is not interested in other costume event photos, though. We promote all types of costuming as an
art form.
I have some old photos you might be interested in, but
I donÕt feel like uploading them myself. Do you want them?
Yes! We are always looking for photos (digital or
paper or slides) or CDs of all costume-related events for our permanent
collection.
I have videotapes/DVDs of costume events (i.e.
masquerades, costume parades, etc.), but I donÕt have a way to copy them. Can you do it?
Yes! For
each item you loan to us, we will make copies for the Library and return your
originals with a DVD
for your own collection.
Same for photographs.
I have images from X costume event. Do you already have
them? Do you have a list of what is
contained in the Library?
An event inventory list is not a priority at this
time. We are concentrating on
getting the photographs inventoried first.
A partial list can be found here: http://www.costume.org/archive_cat_main.html, Eventually,
we will get around to updating it again, since it could make it it easier for potential donors to contribute event photos
where have no record. We are always
interested in additional photos from the same event, etc., even if we may
already have some records in the Library. You might have a better picture of a
particular costume, or information on the wearer, that we may not currently
possess. Please contact the Archivist (icg-archivist@costume.org) with your
information.
The current inventory can be found here: They will be updated as necessity
warrants. We are actively seeking
new material.
Do you purchase pictures?
Occasionally, but our budget is limited. Please contact the Archivist.
I love what youÕre doing! Can I donate money to
maintain the Library and help it grow?
Absolutely! The ICG is a 501c3 organization, so
donations are tax deductible. You can contact the ICG Treasurer
(icg-treasurer@costume.org) and tell them you want to send money earmarked
specifically for the archives. We also have a Paypal
button: http://www.costume.org/donate.html.
What if I have a correction about info on a photo?
Registered users can post a comment to the picture. We
also welcome corrections sent to the Archivist (icg-archivist@costume.org).
Other Questions
Are these costumes for sale or rent?
We do not have that information, but most likely, no.
This is strictly a site for the appreciation of the making, and the makers of,
costumes.
How can I contact someone in a photo about how they
made their costume? Maybe they can make one for me?
We do not have that information. You might try an
Internet search on their name to see if they have a website. You can also check
out the links on the ICG website main page for mailing lists, and other
resources.
IÕd like to buy some photos IÕve seen on the site. How
do I contact the photographer?
Unless the photographer has a link to their own sales
website, they are not for sale. Warning: this site makes no guarantees of
the reliability of any photographer who may link from this site, and it is not
responsible for any problems with transactions involving said photographers.
Let the buyer beware.
What if I have a question not on this FAQ?
Please send your questions to the site admin (gallery-admin@costume.org) or the Archivist. If the answers would benefit many
visitors, weÕll add them to the list.
Contacts:
Gallery administrator: Bruce Mai
(gallery-admin@costume.org)
Kennedy Library Archivist: Pierre Pettinger
(icg-archivist@costume.org)