Collections

Artifacts

The scope of the museum’s collections is global.

Holdings include prehistoric and ethic textiles and costume as well as contemporary high fashions and high-tech textiles. Types of items include apparel, accessories, household textiles, piece goods, books, patterns, and a variety of items related to textile and apparel production, use, and care.

Special Collections

Baton Rouge Collection

The Baton Rouge Collection is the newest collection, debuting in 2007 with textile and apparel artifacts relating to Baton Rouge’s own distinctive history.  This collection documents the contributions of well-known community personalities as well as those of lesser known citizens who have played a part in building the community. 

Louisiana Collection

The Louisiana Collection, a collection of artifacts that tracks the Louisiana experience, was inaugurated in 2006 to honor the rebuilding efforts of the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, and other local citizens’ volunteer groups following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Photographer C. C. Lockwood and painter Rhea Gary, co-authors of "Marsh Mission," were specifically acknowledged for their advocacy of Louisiana wetlands preservation, each donating garments worn while documenting the Louisiana coastline.

Louisiana First Families Collection

The gubernatorial garments from previous Governors and their families are a part of the Museum’s Louisiana First Families Collection and include artifacts from the tenure of Governors Edwin Edwards, David Treen, "Mike" Foster, "Buddy" Roemer, and Bobby Jindal.

LSU Collection

The LSU Collection has been initiated to document the University’s administration, faculty, students, and its supporters, providing a unique look at its history. This growing collection includes garments worn by student athletes, cheerleaders, and campus celebrities as well as apparel artifacts from early university faculty members and presidents.

The LSU Textile & Costume Museum's collection can be searched on our online database

Learn about Textiles

Browse through the virtual scrapbooks of past exhibitions to learn about topics ranging from

  • Conservation
  • World dress
  • Louisiana culture
  • LSU history in dress
  • Fashion history
  • Textile traditions

Useful References 

  • Mailand, H. F., & Stites, D. (1999). Preserving Textiles, A Guide for the Nonspecialist. Indianapolis: Indianapolis Museum of Art. ISBN-10: 0936260718 and ISBN-13: 978-0936260716
  • Ordoñez, M. T. (2001). Your Vintage Keepsake, A CSA Guide to Costume Storage and Display. Lubbock, TX: Texas Tech University Press. ISBN-10: 096764450X and ISBN-13: 978-0967644509
  • American Institute for Conservation, Caring for your Treasures

 

LSU