| The Mount Mary College Historic Costume Collection serves as an educational, scholarly, and artistic resource for Mount Mary students and the Milwaukee community. The collection preserves and exhibits historically significant garments and accessories, as well as fashion art, tools and periodicals. The exhibitions promote the appreciation of aesthetic, historical and cultural issues expressed by dress.
The Mount Mary College Historic Costume Collection contains over 9,000 objects for children and adults dating from 1750 to the present. Objects are accepted from local, national, and international donors. The collection's strength lies in its holdings of 20th century women's couture and ready-to-wear garments.
Notable Wisconsin women are represented by extensive collections of their garments; these include the chanteuse Hildegarde, designer Florence Eiseman, and actress Lynn Fontanne. The New York designer, Charles Kleibacker, recently donated his large historic costume collection increasing the depth of the collection. This donation added works by many important designers including Chanel, Patou, Adrian, Irene, Charles James, Madame Gres and Karl Lagerfeld.
See the Historic Costume Collection photo gallery.
Curator, Elizabeth Gaston, teaches "History of Western Costume" as well as speaks to school groups. Tours of current exhibitions are offered to school groups at no charge and to private groups for a nominal fee of $150. Please call (414) 256-0164 for more information about the Historic Costume Collection.
Internships are offered to Mount Mary College and local students interested in learning museum techniques as well as gaining familiarity with historic garments.
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