Clothing and Textile Collections in the United States: A CSA Guide (Costume Society of America Series)
Authors Queen and Berger have produced a field guide to U.S. textile and clothing collections open to the public, with the goal of identifying and promoting such collections. The guide was developed with the assistance of members of the Costume Society of America, who agreed to collect data from their regions. Although some of these collections also appear in the annualOfficial Museum Directory, this guide is more extensive and includes collections from very small--"1 mannequin dressed in cowboy ensemble" at the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center in Oklahoma--to the more than 80,000 items at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute. Each of the 2,604 listings includes at least contact information, and more than 800 entries also include details about the range and focus of the collection as well as access information. The additional data were obtained from the results of a survey sent to each of the sites identified by the members.The guide is arranged alphabetically by state and then by city or town. At the beginning of each state chapter is a map that shows where the collections are located. Detailed information includes hours, days open, contact person, and collection type as well as a brief description. Collection types are broadly categorized in six groups: clothing, accessories, costumes, uniforms, general textiles, and quilts and flags. The index is an alphabetical list of the museums and collections; however, there is no index to specific types of items or garments, such as wedding dresses or uniforms. In addition, the volume is laced with photos submitted by the various museums and collections, but none of the photos are indexed.Overall, this is a valuable resource, recommended for all libraries with related specializations or where patrons may have an interest in the topic. The flaws seem minor compared to the fact that the volume costs less than $40.Diana ShonrockCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved