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October 3, 2008
BONNIE PRUDDEN TO DONATE ARTIFACTS TO THE SMITHSONIAN
It is not every day that someone receives a call from the Smithsonian Institute...but that is exactly what happened on Tuesday, October 1st at 3:00 pm Arizona time.
Bonnie had been given the "heads up" by Petra Beoncheff. It was Petra who wrote the article "Bonnie Prudden: The First Lady of Fitness Fashion" (see her website home page, www.bonnieprudden.com if you haven't already read it) which appeared in the April issue of the local Tucson Desert Leaf. Somehow, Ellen from the Smithsonian, saw the article, called Petra and then called Bonnie to ask if she would donate some of her artifacts.
In an email received Wednesday, October 3rd, Ellen wrote: "It was delightful to chat with you yesterday. I am still amazed and delighted that this opportunity came up to talk to and collect material from the great pioneer of fitness, Bonnie Prudden. The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History is a wonderful repository of America's treasures so to be able to include the artifacts and documents of someone who has had such an impact on America's physical fitness movement is absolutely terrific. I hope you will agree."
"Much of my research has been in the history of exercise and fitness, as well as sports. I will attach a link to our website for the exhibition I did called Sports: Breaking Records, Breaking Barriers that traveled to nine museums across the country over the last several years. It will show you the kinds of things we are able to do with artifacts in our collection. If I had had Bonnie Prudden material then I would have included it in this very popular show. Next one! http://americanhistory.si.edu/sports/
Bonnie doesn't have a lot of details yet but she will keep us posted as she learns more. What she does know now is that the Smithsonian is not only a museum but a research institute. Among other things, they are interested in fitness clothing that Bonnie has designed and worn...like the red one on the front of the How to Keep Slender and Fit After Thirty book. They would build a mannequin her size to display the leotard. They are interested in equipment that she has designed and/or endorsed such as the Picas, the Prudden-Porter Gymster and the design of the Outdoor Obstacle Course with the first climbing wall which was at the Physical Fitness Institute in White Plains, NY. They are interested in clippings, K-W research papers, letters (like from Eisenhower), DVDs of her TV syndicated Bonnie Prudden Show and so on. They are also interested in coming to Tucson to record an oral history with Bonnie.
We know that they want to begin with 20 items. More than 20 items has to go to committee and Ellen "will do anything not to go to committee." We know that the Smithsonian is divided into departments and that Ellen is in the department of Music, Entertainment and Sports. So if Myotherapy were to eventually be included it would be in another department, Medical.
The first person Bonnie called was Dr. Tivy. He allowed that he was the Godfather of Myotherapy not of Fitness Fashions but was happy for the news. He also confided that he had passed his 80th birthday.
Soooooooooooooooooo here we go again! Another exciting chapter to add to the book of Bonnie's Life.
Return to Breaking NewsBonnie had been given the "heads up" by Petra Beoncheff. It was Petra who wrote the article "Bonnie Prudden: The First Lady of Fitness Fashion" (see her website home page, www.bonnieprudden.com if you haven't already read it) which appeared in the April issue of the local Tucson Desert Leaf. Somehow, Ellen from the Smithsonian, saw the article, called Petra and then called Bonnie to ask if she would donate some of her artifacts.
In an email received Wednesday, October 3rd, Ellen wrote: "It was delightful to chat with you yesterday. I am still amazed and delighted that this opportunity came up to talk to and collect material from the great pioneer of fitness, Bonnie Prudden. The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History is a wonderful repository of America's treasures so to be able to include the artifacts and documents of someone who has had such an impact on America's physical fitness movement is absolutely terrific. I hope you will agree."
"Much of my research has been in the history of exercise and fitness, as well as sports. I will attach a link to our website for the exhibition I did called Sports: Breaking Records, Breaking Barriers that traveled to nine museums across the country over the last several years. It will show you the kinds of things we are able to do with artifacts in our collection. If I had had Bonnie Prudden material then I would have included it in this very popular show. Next one! http://americanhistory.si.edu/sports/
Bonnie doesn't have a lot of details yet but she will keep us posted as she learns more. What she does know now is that the Smithsonian is not only a museum but a research institute. Among other things, they are interested in fitness clothing that Bonnie has designed and worn...like the red one on the front of the How to Keep Slender and Fit After Thirty book. They would build a mannequin her size to display the leotard. They are interested in equipment that she has designed and/or endorsed such as the Picas, the Prudden-Porter Gymster and the design of the Outdoor Obstacle Course with the first climbing wall which was at the Physical Fitness Institute in White Plains, NY. They are interested in clippings, K-W research papers, letters (like from Eisenhower), DVDs of her TV syndicated Bonnie Prudden Show and so on. They are also interested in coming to Tucson to record an oral history with Bonnie.
We know that they want to begin with 20 items. More than 20 items has to go to committee and Ellen "will do anything not to go to committee." We know that the Smithsonian is divided into departments and that Ellen is in the department of Music, Entertainment and Sports. So if Myotherapy were to eventually be included it would be in another department, Medical.
The first person Bonnie called was Dr. Tivy. He allowed that he was the Godfather of Myotherapy not of Fitness Fashions but was happy for the news. He also confided that he had passed his 80th birthday.
Soooooooooooooooooo here we go again! Another exciting chapter to add to the book of Bonnie's Life.