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>> Carla Hayden: Hello. I'm Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress, and I'm thrilled to be here today with entrepreneur, activist, philanthropist, author, and, of course, renowned fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg. Welcome Diane. It's so good to be with you. 
>> Diane von Furstenberg: Well, thank you so much for having me, and as you know, I love the Library of Congress and the idea that you invite me to talk about my little book for the Library of Congress is a great honor. 
>> Carla Hayden: Well, it's wonderful for us because of so many achievements. You've been Chairwoman of the Council on Fashion Designers of the America. You've been listed as one of the world's most powerful women by Forbes Magazine. You've even been called an icon by Time Magazine, and you've been indicated into the National Women's Hall of Fame. So, in everything you do, all of your endeavors, and more than four decades later, everyone that's with me today will agree you're still creating beautiful, of course, clothes that women want to wear, but also you are motivating people. And what motivates you though to continue to help others really?
>> Diane von Furstenberg: Well, you know life is, as you know, life is a journey and it's made full of memories and images and experiences. And so and when you are at the sunset of your life, which is the place where I am now, you have such a vast landscape to reflect from, and I was very lucky. When I was growing up, I didn't know what I wanted to do, but I knew the kind of woman I wanted to be. I wanted to be a woman in charge. So, I was lucky to become a woman in charge, which means a woman independent, very early on. So, I was able to build a voice, I was able to have a-- because I became that woman to a little dress. I established this incredible dialogue with women all around the country, and as I was becoming confident I was sharing my confidence with them to a dress, and as I was learning things I was sharing the things I was learning. So, I've had a real incredible conversation and relationship with women as I was developing the relationship with myself, and it just happened, you know? It happened and then I started enjoying it and all of that. So, now that-- Now where I am, it's very, you know I had a lot of ups and huge successes but also a lot of failures. So, you have-- I've learned a lot, and so and I have a voice. So, I think that when you have a voice it's important to use your voice, your experience, your knowledge, your connections, and your resources, if you have built some, in order to help other women to be the women they want to be. And maybe [inaudible]. 
>> Carla Hayden: And the book, The Woman I Wanted To Be. I've read it cover to cover; it really gives your journey. And now with the new book, it's something that everyone can use, I think, for their own journey, and you see I have certain words tabbed because it's an A to Z compilation of inspiration. Own It: The Secret to Life. So, can you tell us just a few of your secrets because a lot of them are in here?
>> Diane von Furstenberg: So, as I was telling you, being in charge was really, for me, it was my motivation. Then when I became a woman in charge, so to speak, people would ask me who is the woman you design for, and I would say women in charge. So, that made me think what does it mean to be because being in charge was always this invisible, invisible roof/umbrella over everything I did, but I've never kind of thought about it and every year appoint a National Women's Day and month and even the DVF award. I do a lot of things, and it's always about women in charge. So, two years ago I was thinking what does it mean really to be in charge because it could be seen as something aggressive, but it's not aggressive. What it is it's a commitment to ourselves. It's owning who we are. And so I developed this manifesto about being in charge, and it's about you know the micro steps, connect expand, inspire, advocate, and so originally when the publisher came to me and they said we would love you to do this little book that is a guide book where you can share your wisdom and where you can share your knowledge and help other women. So, originally, the book was going to be called In Charge, and then the more I wrote about it, the more at the end of every sentence the answer would always be own it. Own. Own it, whatever it is. Whether you are diagnosed with cancer, or whether your husband leaves, or whatever may happen; you go bankrupt, whatever. It's always the answer, the first answer is always own it. You own your imperfection, they become your asset. You own your vulnerability, you turn it into strength. So, then I decided to call the book Own It. And then I started to write it like a normal book like in prose and I was-- But one of the thing I hate to be because I hate it when people are with me, is condescending, right? So, and when I wrote it in prose it felt like who am I to give this advice? So, then I decided that because I love words so much and I don't need to tell you. You love words more than anyone. I mean you are the, you know the--
>> Carla Hayden: Librarian. 
>> Diane von Furstenberg: So, because words are so powerful and so meaningful and because words have power; I mean if you use words properly and with clarity they-- it's like magic wand, you know? I mean, so, I listed alphabetically all the words that spoke to me and some words that don't speak to me but are important to identify, such as fear and shame and things like that. So, and then once I had that I had the idea of writing, you know taking every word and I will write a definition on my own or a little anecdote, and so it would speak by itself and run like a dictionary. And so I go letter by letter, but I have to warn you; even I go letter by letter. Once you end the letter it's no longer alphabetically. 
>> Carla Hayden: As a librarian, I did notice that. 
>> Diane von Furstenberg: I know. 
>> Carla Hayden: However, it made it more interesting, and the other interesting part, as a librarian who when you own a book sometimes you can write in it, you actually throughout the book, it was like hearing your voice or what you thought was important. Something would be underlined or something would be [crosstalk]. But it really made it more powerful, I think. How did you do that?
>> Diane von Furstenberg: That was the way I delivered it to the publisher, and it was the publisher's idea to print it like that. I had nothing to do with it. As a matter of fact, when I saw the first book I was surprised, but people like it. People like it. Anyway; yes, yes. So, then I wrote about the-- And now I'm really happy that it is that format because it's much more-- You can have it. By the way, young people love it. It could be next to your bed, and you can open anytime one word and you just get the word for the day, and it's not really, I don't know. I would like to ask you. I would like to ask you your opinion.
>> Carla Hayden: Well, I love it. I'll just say it. 
>> Diane von Furstenberg: But why?
>> Carla Hayden: And I read a lot of things as a woman. As a woman who's--
>> Diane von Furstenberg: How many books do you write every day? Do you read? 
>> Carla Hayden: Do I look at? 
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I don't get to read as many. And so when I can pick up something that's for me and this was a book that was like for me. It had things that I could just open; m for mentor. I like to think that mentors give us keys. Each key opens something, but in ourselves we have the master key that can open everything. And when you're working and you're a woman and you're doing things and to be able to have these it's almost like a book of affirmations and thoughtful things too. Another one was L for loser. I thought oh; why'd she put that in there? Well, she said only losers don't think they're losers. I thought oh, okay. So, all these different things. And so for instance, it's A to Z. You're right; it's not strict alphabetical order, and in the letter A you start out as saying nothing is more attractive and powerful than authenticity. And someone in fashion is like well, what does that mean to you? I'd like to hear and I'm sure everyone would like to hear what does that mean? How can you be authentic and be in fashion and glamour?
>> Diane von Furstenberg: Why? Why not? I mean if-- I mean the whole point is being glamorous. Then you are authentic. And what does it mean being glamorous, you know? Truly again, even being glamorous, which by the way it's funny that you mention that because that's a word that I love. When I wrote my other book, The Woman I Wanted To Be, glamorous was almost every page. I had to cross it out everywhere because I wanted to become glamorous, but what does it really mean to be glamorous? It's again it's being yourself. You know every-- In this book, everything leads you that the secret to life is being you. When you embrace who you are you become yourself. You become glamorous. You become powerful. You become you know as invisible-- as invisible as possible because you have character, and character is the only thing that you have complete control of. You could lose your health, your wealth, your beauty, your family, your freedom, but you never lose your character and even under torture, and that's one of the things that, for example, when I visited the Afro American Museum in D.C., which I love, I left there and I was-- I felt so-- I said oh my God; any little black child that walks into this museum will come out and feel so proud because no matter they were never broken, and that's character. 
>> Carla Hayden: Character. And another letter and word that's a little different that I was surprised to see that you said was one of your favorite words, provocative. 
>> Diane von Furstenberg: Yes.
>> Carla Hayden: What? You said that's-- Now, that's got a little something to it. 
>> Diane von Furstenberg: You want me to read you the word provocative?
>> Carla Hayden: Yes, provocative. And as a librarian, you know, that's quite a word but you [crosstalk]. 
>> Diane von Furstenberg: Okay, provocative is one of my favorite words. I love the sound of it. It tickles. It's a combination of question and affirmation. Nothing is more provocative than speaking the truth and revealing our imperfection. The provocative part gets the attention, but the truth gets the respect. When I first started my company in my early 20s, I did a lot of personal appearance all around the country: LA, Philadelphia, Detroit, Miami, San Francisco. It was also new and exotic to me. A young European princess coming to town to show her easy, affordable little dresses is how I was introduced by the local press everywhere. I did not love that definition. That's when I decided to become a bit more provocative in my narrative; to show that I was not perfect. The words became mine and the store no longer a fairy tale. You see; first, I mean I don't like fairy tale. I like tales, but I don't like fairy tales. 
>> Carla Hayden: Fairy tales. 
>> Diane von Furstenberg: And what is inspiring is not that oh, yes; I got so successful. What is inspiring is when you talk about the difficulties, the vulnerabilities, or even when people think that you are at the very top and you yourself know you're not because you are experiencing difficulties. In the same way, when people may say oh, she's over, you know? That also is not necessarily true because you know that you're already on your way back. So, I think the more you-- The more you vent the truth the more people feel you are more inclusive because everybody can relate and, therefore, it becomes intimate as opposed to being a lesson or being just something that you yourself cannot relate to it. 
>> Carla Hayden: And, of course, L for love and how that was the-- Nothing is more important than love. And--
>> Diane von Furstenberg: Love is life. 
>> Carla Hayden: It's the life. 
>> Diane von Furstenberg: In life, life is love. There is no way to envision life without love. Nothing is more important. Love is caring, sharing, and giving unconditionally. It is being thankful and paying attention to others. Love is owning it. You see every word, every word somehow brings you back to owning it, and that's why across I had the secret of life, and then I was so embarrassed. I kept on telling my publisher I can't say that. Who am I to say that? And then a friend of mine say no; it's not the secret of life. It's the secret to life, and then I liked that better. 
>> Carla Hayden: And that's that change in one word changes the meaning.
>> Diane von Furstenberg: That's right.
>> Carla Hayden: And on the other part that happened while you were working on this, thinking about words and everything, the pandemic hit. 
>> Diane von Furstenberg: That's right.
>> Carla Hayden: And I'm wondering how that affected you because you were doing all this and then--
>> Diane von Furstenberg: Enormously. Enormously. I was in the midst of writing it when the pandemic happened and, of course, I kept, you know-- I was alone. I mean I was at home in my country home here; home that I have since I'm 27 years old in nature. I was very lucky, you know? I was very lucky to have a garden. I was very lucky to watch the, you know spring come and so on. And so that made me more reflective than ever and all of a sudden every word had so much more meaning and paying attention to the words and not being patronizing and being more compassionate and have more empathy. All of that came naturally at the time that-- of this odd time that the world was on a false pause, and so many, you know so many people were suffering. 
>> Carla Hayden: And that relates to your personal history too because you were born in Belgium and the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, and you often speak about your mother. And I'm sure you were-- How did she influence you before and in even thinking about what these words were meaning?
>> Diane von Furstenberg: You know I was born in Belgium. I mean I fit every-- You know I could check any box, you know? I was born in Belgium from refugee parents basically, and then you know my mother, during the war, was a prisoner. She went to Auschwitz. So, she went to the camp, she did the death march, she went to another camp. By the time she was saved, she weighed 45/49 pounds, which was really barely alive, but she did it. She was alive. She went back home to Belgium. Her parents could not believe that she came back but she came back. Her mother fed her little by little You know every half an hour she would eat a little bit, and my mother used to say that she blew like a balloon. Within six months, she had gained a normal weight. She was always very skinny. And her fiancé came back. Her fiancé came back from 
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Switzerland, where he had been, and they got married, and the doctor said to both of them it's great that you get married but you absolutely cannot have a child because you won't survive, they said to my mother, and the child will not be normal. And sure enough, nine months later, 
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I was born and tease and I say that I was not normal. And so, when you are-- I mean my birth-- The survival of my mother was a total miracle, and my birth was a miracle, and my mother actually used to say God saved me so I can give you life; and by giving you life, you gave me my life back. You are my torch of freedom. So, she put this, by saying that it's very nice to say that, but it's a huge responsibility for a small child to be given the torch of freedom, you know? And she would never allow me to be afraid because; so if I was afraid she would lock me in a dark closest. Today she get could arrested for it, but [inaudible] she made me fear less, you know? She never told me be careful. I realize now that she gave me all this affirmation, to use the word that you just used yourself. And so, of course, her impact was everything. 
>> Carla Hayden: Right. It sounds like she was a major player in your success and someone who really helped shape your outlook on life. 
>> Diane von Furstenberg: She was a major impact on my character for sure. She really-- She was the architect of my character. That sounds really good. 
>> Carla Hayden: But it's true, and when you think about the other parts of your life, your first marriage, you became soon after a fashion designer, and your first marriage you were in a world of people of said wealth and privilege. So, you were already in this world of wealth and privilege. What made you decide then, because you could have just said oh, we will; this is nice, that you wanted a career of your own though?
>> Diane von Furstenberg: No, I always knew that. I always wanted to be an independent woman. Even if I read the short stories that I used to write as a teenager, I mean being married was not my goal, you know? My goal was being able to be in charge of my life, and to be independent was really important. I mean my husband did encourage me to be independent. I think I surpassed his wish for-- his wishes for my independence, but that was me. 
>> Carla Hayden: Right; and then you want on and then in 1974 you created something that every woman, the people that are with me today talk about it, and they know you for that. But what was something about that creation is the thought that it was more than just a dress. It was an attitude. It was signifying something. So, how did you come to create that?
>> Diane von Furstenberg: Well, I was always interested. For me it's always the woman before fashion. So, when I first started with my little dresses, you know I mean every other designer would say who is this socialite who is making these nothing little dresses? And they may have looked like nothing on the hanger, but because I was a woman and I wanted so much for myself, you put those dresses on; every woman would put it on and immediately there was a certain body language. You know, for me what makes a woman beautiful is the eye contact, the smile, and the body language, and body language has got to do with confidence. So, it's very important when you make a dress, as the designer, that you use all the little tricks of old fashioned dress making to make things look good. First of all, to pick fabric that are soft, that make you feel comfortable, and then, of course, the way it's cut. 
>> Carla Hayden: Yeah, but did you ever imagine that it would become this sensation and an icon in itself?
>> Diane von Furstenberg: No, no, no. This was-- That's why I joke. I say people say I made the wrap dress. Truly it's the wrap dress that made me; that created this person and this symbol. Symbol of, you know it became a dress symbol of liberation, and then I made that dress speak, and I made that dress have a voice and have a purpose and have a journey.
>> Carla Hayden: And it was more than just a dress. It was that attitude or that comfort and that confidence. 
>> Diane von Furstenberg: Well, attitude-- Attitude. I know I have the word attitude. 
>> Carla Hayden: Oh, you do. [Laughter]
>> Diane von Furstenberg: Attitude is very, very--
>> Carla Hayden: Because sometimes that's a loaded word, and that's--
>> Diane von Furstenberg: This is what I wrote; I forgot. I mean I know. Attitude is everything. It is waving the flag of owning it, and that really is what it is because if you own it you automatically-- Something changes in your posture. Something says okay, yeah; owning it. I have a big nose; owning it. And the meaning--
>> Carla Hayden: All right. 
>> Diane von Furstenberg: Own it. The minute I own the big nose, then people say oh; she's attractive because she owns it. 
>> Carla Hayden: And is that what owning it means to you, accepting things? What does owning it mean? It sounds like that's part of it.
>> Diane von Furstenberg: Owning it means, yes; accepting the fact that it is and, therefore, by accepting it you deal with it, right? I mean just I was talking before about diagnosed, you know? You're diagnosed with cancer, right? Some people say I remember because I had cancer 26 years ago and I remember the nurse say oh, you have such a good attitude about it. I said but how do other people say it? Well, they say well, you know usually people have to-- Either they get angry and they say why me, or they completely surrender to the doctor. And the truth is that you should do-- I mean, yes; you're there. So, first you have to find out what it is, hear it, understand it, understand it for yourself, and listen to the doctor. Decide with the doctor what you're going to do about it, but then the rest is really up to you. How you handle it, how you deal with it, how you decide to meditate and do massage, and whatever you do, and then you own it, you see? I mean life is very short, and the only thing you can do is be responsible for you and, of course, there are many things that you cannot-- You know who Vartan Gregorian is, right? Because he just had--
>> Carla Hayden: Oh, he just passed.
>> Diane von Furstenberg: I know and he was a man that I admired so much, and he saved the public library and so on. And he's the one, his grandmother who survived the Armenian genocide, she is the one who told him and then he told me; he said you know one thing is kismet, the destiny, and that you have no-- You know, where you were born, who are your parents, all of that you have no control of that. You just inherited that, right? Or collected whatever but your character is what-- That you have 100% control of, and that for me was-- That's owning it is building your character, and in order to build your character you have to accept, you have to accept, you have to make the best of, and you have to have a real relationship with yourself because the most important relationship in life is the relationship we have with ourselves. Once we have that, any other relationship is a plus and not a must. 
>> Carla Hayden: Oh, a plus. Okay. That's another one. A plus and not a must. Well--
>> Diane von Furstenberg: What is-- What I like about this book and the way this book was actually designed, and probably it probably wouldn't have been quite as-- It's almost like a piece of music. Your parents were musicians; so you know the balance of music. It's like it's because I was in this big room for a year doing this book, and so a little bit there, a little there, and then somehow because they were all words that worked they somehow they all-- Everything connected. Like, for example, on the letter C I have coherence, right? Because I always think that coherence is very important. Who are your friends? Who are the books on your bookshelf? What are the foods in your refrigerator? All of these reflect who we are, right? And so what I like about this book is that by the time I was finished everything kind of fit together like a jig-saw puzzle, and it all said the same thing. So, it doesn't matter 
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what book, what letter you look at; it doesn't matter whether it's a very short definition or if it is an anecdote. It always links you back to owning it. 
>> Carla Hayden: Owning it. 
>> Diane von Furstenberg: Which is really-- Which really is another way of being-- Be who you are and be true to yourself. Be better, I mean improve to the best. You know, get the best of-- Getting the best of ourselves but be ourselves because the truth and the practicing of-- To practice the truth is the key to happiness and certainly the key against misunderstanding because even, you know if you do something and it was a mistake but it was true to yourself that's fine. But if you did something because you thought that you should do that because somebody else and then it was a mistake, that is not fine. 
>> Carla Hayden: But you should own it.
>> Diane von Furstenberg: That's right.
>> Carla Hayden: That you made the mistake or that it wasn't right.
>> Diane von Furstenberg: Yes.
>> Carla Hayden: And it seems like that--
>> Diane von Furstenberg: But when you make it-- When you make a decision, you could listen to-- You could hear everyone and then you decide. 
>> Carla Hayden: And when you think about it, this book too, one thing I thought about it, of course, a gift book for people; is to have, to spell out your name, you know?
>> Diane von Furstenberg: Ah!
>> Carla Hayden: You like D and just go through it and say D and what's at i and just a cool thing. So, when I give it as a gift I'm going to put that note. Dear so-and-so.
>> Diane von Furstenberg: Great idea. 
>> Carla Hayden: Start with your own name and see what happens because it's the serendipity of it too.
>> Diane von Furstenberg: Yes.
>> Carla Hayden: And the surprise that gets you.
>> Diane von Furstenberg: I highly [inaudible] serendipity too. You see--
>> Carla Hayden: Yeah.
>> Diane von Furstenberg: The first-- The first word for D is dignity. 
>> Carla Hayden: See?
>> Diane von Furstenberg: Dignity is the gracious way we wear our character and value. True style. Okay, so your first-- Your letter is?
>> Carla Hayden: C. See, I did; I said well, what would it say?
>> Diane von Furstenberg: Okay.
>> Carla Hayden: First thing is character, and that's what you talked about. Clarity and I sure need to do that, and connecting, and just going through. And then so that's the power of books, and I have to say that when we think about the theme, this year's National Book Festival, the theme is open a book and open a world. This book can open a world for people, even if it's the outside world but also the inner. So, I have to ask you; how have books really opened up the world for you? Because I know you're a reader. Well, look at your where you are.
>> Diane von Furstenberg: Yeah, first of all, I hated toys and I hated dolls. I never played with a doll in my life. I hated them except I had one doll and I was really mean to her. Books were everything, and I remember when and I read very, very early, and you know the little children's book; at the time they were very little and it was called Collection Doll in French. Anyway, and so I had the whole collection, and I never knew which one to pick. And I remember and I still have it; I would go from room to room with many books in my hand, and do you know that still today when I go from one room, from the living room to the bedroom to that, I always carry you know books, a journal, and my husband always say why you carry so many things. And when he said that to me I was asking, and then I remembered the little girl that would carry all the books. So, I still carry all the books. Books are incredible to me. They are-- They were my refuge. They were the source of learning. They take you to trips. They-- I mean, it's enlarging your horizon. Books are everything. Books are everything. 
>> Carla Hayden: And what about libraries? Did you have any libraries that you were able to go to or?
>> Diane von Furstenberg: I went. I had the library in my school, and I remember because I loved books so much I used to say when people asked me what are you going to do when you grow up I said I don't know. I really love books. And they said well, you could be a librarian. 
>> Carla Hayden: Oh!
>> Diane von Furstenberg: And but the librarian at my school, she was so mean and unattractive and didn't man want. If I had met you maybe I would have [laughter]. If you had been my librarian I would have become a librarian.
>> Carla Hayden: I know. We have-- Yeah. There were those stereotypes, but it sometimes they were librarians that could connect people. And the thing that does connect people I think, though, is the reading, and there are a lot of book clubs and things like that and it can create community. How do you think books really help us connect to our reading and taking us there?
>> Diane von Furstenberg: What books do is they take you to another world. You know, the difference between animals and humans is that humans have the power of storytelling, right? So, so it takes you in different places. It can make you travel. It can make you understand the suffering of others. 
>> Carla Hayden: Well, getting to what have books and reading though meant to you? I'd really like to know, and I think everyone during this time of the pandemic because you had more time to create, and this book is going to connect people. But you also had more time to read for yourself. 
>> Diane von Furstenberg: Okay, so what did I read? I read Obama's biography. I read oh, Caste. 
>> Carla Hayden: Oh, yes. 
>> Diane von Furstenberg: Yes. I read; I'll have to look at what I have. 
>> Carla Hayden: Oh, there's a lot. Well, I'm sure it got to the point that you had several books that you were reading at the same time.
>> Carla Hayden: I do and I also; I don't know. You may not like that as a librarian, but I also discovered audio books. 
>> Carla Hayden: Oh, I think they're pretty good because sometimes you're too, almost too tired to read or it's easier to listen because it's storytelling too.
>> Diane von Furstenberg: Exactly. So, I really you know that has been very interesting to discover that. And actually, the first book I read on audio was Michelle Obama and it was, of course, her talking and the President too. He spoke. So, you really have the feeling, you know; you hear his voice and it adds a dimension. 
>> Carla Hayden: Right. Well, Diane I have to say this has been such a delight and a personal pleasure and honor for me. So, I want to thank you so much for being here with us, and thank you for writing this inspirational new book. It will be a gift book for me and a gift to so many people.
>> Diane von Furstenberg: Oh, no, no; put it again in front of you so I can take a picture. [Laughter] Thank you so much. >> Carla Hayden: With my tabs [laughter].
>> Diane von Furstenberg: All right; I'll do another one I do. It was a real-- Here. 
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>> Carla Hayden: And remember, I've got both [laughter]
>> Diane von Furstenberg: Thank you, Carla. 
>> Carla Hayden: Thank you so much.
>> Diane von Furstenberg: Thank you very much, and I hope to see you really soon.
>> Carla Hayden: I hope so too.
>> Diane von Furstenberg: And be safe.
>> Carla Hayden: You too. 
>> LeVar Burton: We hope you've enjoyed this conversation, and now we'd like you to hear more from the library's own experts on this topic. 
>> Jaylen Johnson: Welcome to the Library of Congress. I'm Jaylen Johnson, an attorney advisor in the public information and education section of the Copyright Office. Copyright administration has been a part of the Library of Congress since 1870, with the Copyright Office being recognized as a separate department in 1897. And since that time, authors and copyright owners have been registering their works and recording documents related to copyright here at the Copyright Office. The records resulting from these activities are maintained by the office and provide many benefits to both authors and users of copyright protected works, and they demonstrate the rich history of creativity in America and throughout the world. National Book Festival author Diane von Furstenberg has contributed greatly to this history and the office records. Her books are registered with the office, but her contributions do not end there. Because in the world of copyright, an author is not only a person who writes books. An author is anyone who creates original works of authorship, including pictures and graphic designs, and many people also
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know of Miss von Furstenberg through her creativity appearing on her iconic wrap dresses. While copyright does not protect the actual shape, fit, or design of a garment, it does protect original artwork, and that includes artwork printed on fabric, also known as fabric design. Through her company Diane von Furstenberg Studio LP, Miss von Furstenberg has registered over 1200 works, consisting of fabric designs and other artwork. The registration records contain a wide array of designs, including her DVF signature print, abstract designs, floral design, animal prints, and many more. These records not only show her contributions to creativity; they also show the literal power of owning it through copyright ownership and the power of making a public claim to one's copyright protected works. Members of the public can research these and all of the copyright office's records created since 1978 by visiting the Cooperate Office public catalog on our website at www.copyright.gov. There you can also find information about researching records created before 1978 and making a request to view actual copies of registered works. 
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