Originally published in 1979, this volume acts as a reference for the history textiles. It asks questions on the effect of technology on textiles, how did particular historical periods and locations expand or limit the possibilities for the manufacture of fabrics and how the textile history related to politics and economics, sociology and psychology, art and engineering, anthropology and archaeology, chemistry and physics. Addressing these questions, the author surveys the development of the technical components of fabrics and discusses the textiles of selected places and times. She uses prose, drawings and more than 130 photographs to show how each era of textile production reflects its age. This book is designed to serve as a college text and as a reference work for museum researchers. With sections including illustrations and diagrams; key terminology; spinning wool; spinning and raw materials; single ply and cord and fabric construction.

Essential for all oriental rug scholars, collectors, dealers, and Islamic art historians, this is the first comprehensive bibliography written in English on oriental rug literature. ...the sheer amount of detail that is reflected throughout this book and the tremendous amount of dedication, discipline, thought, and plain hard work required to collect and organize it combine to remind us of the gratitude that we owe Mr. O'Bannon. --ORIENTAL RUG REVIEW

Beginning with 1953, entries for Motion pictures and filmstrips, Music and phonorecords form separate parts of the Library of Congress catalogue. Entries for Maps and atlases were issued separately 1953-1955.