Jami Frazier Tracy’s passion for thrifting inspired a new exhibit at the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, showcasing unique items discovered over the decades.
Jami Frazier Tracy’s journey into the world of museums is rooted in a passion for thrifting, a hobby that began in her teenage years while discovering unique items at the Goodwill store located at 37th and Oliver in Wichita. “In thrift stores, you never know what you’re going to find,” Frazier Tracy remarked in an interview with The Active Age. She described each visit as akin to a treasure hunt, fueling her enthusiasm for historical artifacts and their stories.
Frazier Tracy, who is now the curator of collections at the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, recalls her early experiences as an intern in the 1980s. During that time, she would often bring interesting finds from her thrifting outings to her supervisors, proposing that these items become part of the museum’s collections.
A new exhibit at the museum, titled “Thrift Finds,” invites visitors to engage in their own discovery process. This special exhibition features items accumulated over the last five decades through thrifting efforts by the museum staff, sourced from local Goodwill stores, Veterans of Foreign Wars shops, Junior League sales, and various church thrift venues. The exhibit is open to the public through October.
Among the showcased items, several convey the historical fabric of Wichita, evoking memories of local shopping experiences. For instance, a brown Nehru jacket, known for its ties to traditional Indian fashion and popularized in the West by the Beatles, bears the label of Henry’s Quad Shop, a nod to the past shopping culture in the city.
Frazier Tracy highlighted other significant pieces, including a red silk chiffon Halston dress from the late 20th century and a women’s kaftan featuring a distinctive Hawaiian print lined with Pizza Hut logos. She tracked the kaftan’s origins to an international Pizza Hut conference in Hawaii during the late 1970s, showcasing how such items can link back to specific events in fashion history.
Additionally, the exhibit includes pieces that hint at the personal stories of their previous owners. A 1960s Shocker Lounge bowling shirt, for example, is embroidered with the name “Clifford Jones.” Another object, a blue and green enameled plate, is marked with the artist signature of Mary Koch, who was recognized for her work as a silversmith and enamel artist.
The transition of these items from thrift shops to the museum somewhat blurs the narrative regarding their original context. Frazier Tracy pointed out that the absence of detailed provenance allows visitors to generate their own interpretations and questions surrounding the artifacts: “who wore this, what kind of person were they, and where did they wear it?”
“Clearly [someone] loved it because they kept it in their closet, in some cases for 50 years,” Frazier Tracy commented, noting that the museum serves as a new home for these cherished items, aiming to share their stories with an appreciative audience.
For those interested in exploring the “Thrift Finds” exhibit, it is located on the second floor of the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum. Admission is priced at $5 for adults and $2 for children from Tuesday through Saturday, with Sundays offering free access to the building.
Source: Noah Wire Services
