• Title: Kerr Shoe Collection
  • Reference Code: IE/NIVAL KS
  • Level of Description: Collection
  • Extent And Medium: Approx 1300 shoe models (pairs), stored in original individual boxes.
  • Creators:
  • Repository: NIVAL

Scope and Content

This collection originated from the Kerr Family shoe shop business based in Mohill, Co. Leitrim. The shop was opened in 1956 and ceased business in the mid 90’s, retaining shoes from across this 40 year time span. Not only is this an extensive collection but significantly, the vast majority of the shoes are Irish made. This is testament to the flourishing industry of shoe and shoe related products that are now essentially extinct in Ireland. The archive is an important record of an indigenous manufacturing industry, which had shoe designers, a network of marketing and distribution of production and it reflects a vital social record showing fashion trends and norms over this 40 year period.
The Kerr Family was keen to find a future role for the shops contents. Mervyn Kerr, Dr. Helen McAllister and Millie Cullivan catalogued, photographed and created an archive of approx. 1300 shoe models. The Kerr Shoe Collection was deposited to NIVAL by Dr. Helen McAllister in 2017.

Arrangement

Arranged to item level