Fashion Archive

Established in the early 2000s by Suzanne Elder, the Penn State University School of Theatre Fashion Archive is a unique and growing resource with approximately 3,000 items. In 2008–2009, the Archive received a College of Arts and Architecture Incentives and Innovations Grant to support its development. It now features a wide range of historical garments and fashion-related ephemera, including magazines, pattern books, advertisements, and personal memorabilia such as photographs and correspondence. Items date from the 1850s to the present and have been acquired primarily through donations, along with a small holding from the Palmer Museum of Art. 

The Archive serves as a hands-on collection used by students, faculty, and staff to explore the historical, cultural, and technical dimensions of fashion. It is regularly utilized as a teaching and research resource in the School of Theatre, particularly in courses such as History of Fashion, Costume Construction, Pattern Drafting, and Costume Design.

A major initiative to inventory, digitize, and photograph the Archive began in 2022 in partnership with the Center for Virtual/Material Studies (CVMS) in the Department of Art History. This interdisciplinary collaboration has brought renewed visibility and research potential to the Archive by integrating digital tools and material culture studies into its stewardship and use. Through the support of the Center for Virtual/Material Studies, the Archive is being transformed into a more accessible and research-ready resource for scholars and the public alike.

The Archive is open by appointment only. Please contact Charlene Gross for more information.

In January 2025 the Fashion Archive was featured in a PennStater Faculty Expertise article titled "Stylish Studies."

Recent Support:

Acknowledgments:

Lauren Greenfield, Christina Huang, Marie Huard, Emma Houston, Caroline Koch, Julia Matthews, Kyra Muramoto, Kathleen Myron, Megan Neely, Hails Reilly, Emily Tse.

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