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Costume Society of America (CSA) is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2024 grants, projects, awards, and honors . "We have an exceptional group of awards, honors, and grant recipients this year. I want to thank all of our committees for their work and dedication in reviewing the nominees,” says Arlesa Shephard, CSA Vice President for Awards and Honors. Patricia Edmonson, Vice President for Grants and Projects adds, "We truly appreciate the time our applicants spend on each submission. Our committee chairs are always here to help members through the process of applying!” All awards, grants, and projects are funded through the generosity of donors to the CSA Endowment . One Costume Society of America Fellow has been chosen this year to honor her significant contributions to the field of costume. Linda Baumgarten is a specialist in the early history of textiles and costumes. For 39 years she held the position of curator of textiles and costumes at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, Virginia. She is the author of three books and co-author of two others. What Clothes Reveal, The Language of Clothing in Colonial and Federal America won CSA’s Millia Davenport Publications Award. In her retirement, Linda continues to lecture, research clothing and quilts, and draw quilt patterns using Computer-Assisted Design technology. In addition to this most prestigious honor, each year CSA supports its members and recognizes their achievements by conferring numerous awards. For example, this year’s Millia Davenport Publication Award goes to Ann Lowe: American Couturier by Elizabeth Way (Rizzoli Electa, an imprint of Rizzoli New York), and the Betty Kirke Excellence in Research Award is given to Anne Bissonnette and Sherry Schofield for their Creative Design titled Zero Waste Thinking: Portrait Tunic and Palazzo Pants . The two Richard Martin Exhibition Awards go to Lee Alexander McQueen and Ann Ray: Rendez-Vous from Barrett Barrera Projects and Past and Present Lives of Upcycled Fashion by curator Kat Roberts at Cornell University. The Costume Design Award is given to Daniel James Cole for his work on Ariadne auf Naxos at Arizona Opera and The Howard Vincent Kurtz Emerging Theatre Artist Award is given to Kessler Jones for her designs for Clue at Michigan State University. This year’s CSA Entrepreneur Recognition Award goes to Tricia Camacho of The Patterned Seamstress LLC and Creative Costume Academy. Along with honors and awards, CSA distributes grant money to a variety of individuals and organizations in the field. These include the CSA Stella Blum Student Research Grant, which has been given this year to Dyese L. Matthews for her research Fashioning Memories and Places: Black Women's Style in Harlem 1970-Present . The 2024 Angels Project Grant is given to The Howard County Historical Society in Maryland. Two Adele Filene Student Presenter Grants go to Constance Spotts and Paige Tomfohrde. A full list of all of CSA’s grants, honors, and awards can be found below. They will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, during CSA’s 50 th Annual National Meeting and Symposium in Washington, DC . Costume Society of America Fellow Honor: Linda Baumgarten, Williamsburg, Virginia CSA Entrepreneur Recognition Award: Tricia Camacho, The Patterned Seamstress LLC and Creative Costume Academy, Mocksville, North Carolina CSA Costume Design Award: Daniel James Cole, Ariadne auf Naxos , Arizona Opera CSA Richard Martin Exhibition Award, Large Organization: Lee Alexander McQueen and Ann Ray: Rendez-Vous , Barrett Barrera Projects, St. Louis, Missouri CSA Richard Martin Exhibition Award, Small Organization: Past and Present Lives of Upcycled Fashion , Kat Roberts, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York CSA Richard Martin Exhibition Award Commendation: Woven Identities: Ghanaian and Guatemalan Textiles in the Face of Globalization , Anne Bissonnette (PhD), Siming Guo (PhD) Elsie Osei (MFA), and Chiara Power (BA), University of Alberta Millia Davenport Publication Award: Ann Lowe: American Couturier by Elizabeth Way with contributions by Heather Hodge, Laura Mina, Margaret Powell, Katya Roelse, and Katherine Sahmel (Rizzoli Electa, an imprint of Rizzoli New York) CSA Howard Vincent Kurtz Emerging Theatre Artist Award: Kessler Jones, Clue , Michigan State University CSA Stella Blum Student Research Grant: Dyese L. Matthews, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, Fashioning Memories and Places: Black Women's Style in Harlem 1970-Present Betty Kirke Excellence in Research Award Anne Bissonnette, University of Alberta, and Sherry Schofield, Florida State University, Zero Waste Thinking: Portrait Tunic and Palazzo Pants Scholars’ Roundtable: 1973 to 2073: The Past, Present, and Future of Dress Studies ; Marilyn DeLong, University of Minnesota; Clarissa Esguerra, Los Angeles County Museum of Art; Monica Sklar, University of Georgia; Elizabeth Way, The Museum at FIT CSA Travel Research Grant: Holly Durbin, Stitched Identities: American Menswear and the Art of Assimilation College and University Collection Care Grant: California College of the Arts, San Francisco, California CSA Small Museum Collection Care Grant: Old Trails Museum, Winslow Historical Society, Winslow, Arizona CSA Dependent Care Grant: Sarah Silvas-Bernstein Adele Filene Student Presenter Grants: Constance Spotts, Iowa State University, and Paige Tomfohrde, Cornell University CSA Angels Project: The Howard County Historical Society, Ellicott City, Maryland Pictured above from left to right: The Creative Design by Anne Bissonnette and Sherry Schofield titled Zero Waste Thinking: Portrait Tunic and Palazzo Pants , recipient of the Betty Kirke Excellence in Research Award; Mustard, Green, Peacock, White, Plum and Scarlet eavesdrop at the door of Boddy Manor’s grand dining room in Michigan State University’s production of Clu e with costumes designed by Kessler Jones, recipient of the CSA Howard Vincent Kurtz Emerging Theatre Artist Award; cover of Ann Lowe: American Couturier by Elizabeth Way with contributions by Heather Hodge, Laura Mina, Margaret Powell, Katya Roelse, and Katherine Sahmel (Rizzoli Electa, an imprint of Rizzoli New York), recipient of the Millia Davenport Publication Award.

On March 28, 1973, CSA was founded!

 Costume Society of America is pleased to announce the results of the recent election for the Class of 2027 National Board of Directors. These five directors will be inducted at the 2024 Annual Meeting during the National Symposium in Washington DC (May 21 through 25, 2024). Don’t forget that early bird registration for the symposium ends on April 5, 2024. You can learn more and find the registration link by clicking here . The Class of 2027 National Board of Directors includes: Melissa Gamble is an Assistant Professor in the Fashion Studies Department at Columbia College Chicago. Arti Sandhu is currently an Associate Professor in the Fashion Program in the School of Design, Art Architecture, and Planning, University of Cincinnati. Joshua D. Simon is the Assistant Curator of Exhibits at the Tri-Cities Historical Museum in Grand Haven, Michigan. Juanjuan Wu is the Associate Dean for Academic Programs in the College of Design at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Lynda May Xepoleas is an Assistant Professor of Fashion Design at Kent State University. Michael Mamp , Director & Curator of the Textile & Costume Museum and Associate Professor of Textiles, Apparel Design, and Merchandising at Louisiana State University, and Michele Riley , associate dean of the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies at Purdue University Global, will serve as alternates. Class of 2025 and 2026 directors are: Karen DePauw, Clarissa Esguerra, Susan Hannel, Michaele Thurgood Haynes, Adam MacPhàrlain, Jaleesa Reed, Clare Sauro, Arlesa Shephard, Ginger D. Stanciel, and Graham Wetzbarger. CSA’s student members elected Sofia Beraldo, a master of arts candidate in fashion at Toronto Metropolitan University, as Student Liaison to serve from 2024 to 2026. Paige E. Tomfohrde, PhD student, researcher and Dean’s Scholar at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, currently serves as Student Liaison through 2025. CSA also announces several new or renewed appointments to the Executive Committee, who will begin their terms at the 2024 Annual Meeting and serve until the 2026 Annual Meeting: President Leon Wiebers is Chair of Theatre Arts Program and Professor of Costume Design at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Past President Lalon Alexander teaches at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. President Elect Adam MacPhàrlain is the Curator of Clothing and Textiles at the Missouri Historical Society in St. Louis, Missouri. Treasurer Danielle Reaves is an adjunct instructor of apparel design and fashion retailing in the Department of Clothing, Textiles, and Interior Design at The University of Alabama. Secretary Theresa Alexander is an associate professor of fashion management with the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio. Vice President for Awards and Honors Colleen Pokorny is an assistant professor in apparel design at Oregon State University in Corvallis. Vice President for Internal Relations Katie Baker Jones is an associate professor and serves as the program coordinator in the Fashion, Dress and Merchandising department in the School of Design and Community Development at West Virginia University. Vice President for Education and Programs Monica Sklar is an assistant professor & director/coordinator of the Historic Clothing and Textiles Collection at the University of Georgia in Athens. They join current Executive Committee members who are serving until the 2025 Annual Meeting: Deborah Miller, Vice President for External Relations; Patty Edmonson, Vice President for Grants and Projects; Julia Petrov, Vice President for Publications; Graham Wetzbarger, Vice President for Technology; and Heidi Cochran, Vice President for Symposia. You can learn more about CSA Leadership by visiting this page . Nominations for the Class of 2028 Board of Directors and 2025-2027 Executive Committee positions will open in July of 2024 and will be open through November of 2024. Pictured from left to right, top row: Melissa Gamble, Arti Sandhu, Joshua D. Simon, Juanjuan Wu, Lynda May Xepoleas, Sofia Beraldo Pictured from left to right, middle row: Leon Wiebers, Lalon Alexander, Adam MacPhàrlain, Danielle Reaves Pictured from left to right, bottom row: Theresa Alexander, Colleen Pokorny, Katie Baker Jones, Monica Sklar

On September 12, 1973, CSA was incorporated as a non-profit in the state of New York

The Costume Society of America and the Mid-Atlantic region are pleased to announce a call for submissions for the 50 th Annual Meeting and Symposium to be held in the history-rich heart of Washington, DC, May 21 through 25, 2024. As the Society’s 50 th anniversary year ends, this symposium will provide members with the opportunity to look forward to the future of fashion and reflect back on the history of dress. The intent of the symposium is to provide a platform to discuss theoretical and practical research, designs, and innovations to foster understanding and stimulate scholarship in the widely varied topic of dress. While reflections on the scholarship of dress history since the founding of the Society in 1973, as well as predictions for the future of fashion, are welcome, all topics related to dress and adornment will be considered. Collaborative and interdisciplinary scholarship are encouraged as are topics which demonstrate diversity in subject matter and research. The submission form, as well as rubrics and instructions for each type of submission, can be found in the call for submissions by clicking here . The deadline for the call is October 15, 2023. QUESTIONS? Our abstracts administrators can be reached at abstractscommittee@costumesocietyamerica.com : Theresa Alexander and Karin Bohleke (research presentations, in-process research presentations, and panel/discussion sessions), Jean Parsons (creative works exhibition), and Brian Centrone and Angel Dubose (Professional Development workshops). Reach out to symposium@costumesocietyamerica.com for general questions.

Wintherthur Museum in Wilmington, Delaware presents Ann Lowe: American Couturier, a retrospective of this forgotten African American fashion designer.

Costume Society of America (CSA) is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2023 grants, projects, awards, and honors. “There was a phenomenal level of excellence among our nominees this year,” says Arlesa Shephard, CSA Vice President for Awards and Honors. Elise Rousseau, Vice President for Grants and Projects adds, “Thank you to all of the candidates who prepared such impressive application submissions. We encourage all our members to submit your future projects for consideration.” Shephard and Rousseau want to express their gratitude to all our committee chairs and members for volunteering their time and efforts so that we can recognize all these important achievements. Abby Lillethun adds her name to those who have been honored as a Costume Society of America Fellow due to her significant contributions to the field of costume. Dr. Lillethun serves as chairperson of the Montclair State University Department of Art and Design where she is Professor of Fashion Cultures and Histories, and as one juror wrote, “her work in academia produces both new scholarship and future scholars. Her volunteer commitment to numerous boards and committees at both the regional and national level as well as her scholarly contributions to conferences and to Dress show commendable dedication to the mission and work of the Costume Society of America.” This year, two honorees have received the Mary D. Doering Guardian Honor, which pays tribute to Doering and other guardians like her who recognize the values of artistic, historical, and socially significant objects of dress and appearance. Susan J. Jerome is Collections Manager at the University of Rhode Island Historic Textile and Costume Collection, and she also works as the Curator/Registrar of the Historic Costume Collection at the University of Connecticut. A juror remarked, “I’m inspired by her devotion to collections management, holistically embracing a role which includes curatorial, conservation, and registrarial duties, as well as sharing the collection with students and ensuring public access through the digital online database.” Textile conservator Marie T. Schlag is the Principal at the Studio for Textile Conservation in Scituate, Massachusetts. For many years she has been an integral part of the CSA Angels team, and her work in procuring donations of supplies and helping to run the event has immeasurably contributed to the success of the project. This year’s Millia Davenport Publication Award goes to Frankie Welch’s Americana by Ashley Callahan (The University of Georgia Press), and the Betty Kirke Excellence in Research Award is given to Tina Bates for On the Margins: Convict Dress at the Kingston Penitentiary, 1890-1920 . The Costume Design Award is given to Aly Amidei for her “Totally 80’s Shakespeare: Sitcom Inspired Costumes for The Merry Wives of Windsor” and The Howard Vincent Kurtz Emerging Theatre Artist Award is given to Mona Jahani, a student at Michigan State University, for her design, Monsieur d’Eon is a Woman . The two Richard Martin Exhibition Awards go to Parachute: Subversive Fashion of the ’80s at the McCord Stewart Museum and Uncut Attire: How Weaving Informs Wearables at the Center for Design and Material Culture at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition to honors and awards, CSA distributes grant money to a variety of individuals and organizations in the field. The CSA Stella Blum Student Research Grant assists the research of a current undergraduate or graduate student who is conducting original research in the field of North American costume. This year’s Blum Grant goes to Leigh Danielle Honeycutt Porche of Louisiana State University for her project Louisiana Cowgirls, Cowboys and Cowthems: Negotiating Gender, Race and Appearance on the Trail . The 2023 Angels Project Grant is given to Heritage Museum of Layton, a small historical museum in Layton, Utah. Two Adele Filene Student Presenter Grants go to Yee Lin Elaine Yuen of Kent State University and Colleen Pokorny of University of Minnesota. A full list of grants, honors, and awards, including honorable mentions and commendations, can be found below. Grants, Projects, Honors, and Awards were celebrated on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, during CSA’s Annual National Meeting and Symposium in Salt Lake City, Utah. Costume Society of America Fellow Honor: Abby Lillethun, Teaneck, New Jersey Mary D. Doering Guardian Honor: Susan J. Jerome, Stonington, Connecticut; Marie T. Schlag, Scituate, Massachusetts CSA Costume Design Award: Aly Amidei, The Merry Wives of Windsor CSA Richard Martin Exhibition Award, Large Museum: Parachute: Subversive Fashion of the ’80s , Alexis Walker, McCord Stewart Museum, Montreal, Canada CSA Richard Martin Exhibition Award, Small Museum: Uncut Attire: How Weaving Informs Wearables , Addison Nace, Center for Design and Material Culture at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; Commendation: Venus & Diana: Fashioning the Jazz Age, Clare Sauro, Robert and Penny Fox Historic Costume Collection at Drexel University CSA Howard Vincent Kurtz Emerging Theatre Artist Award: Mona Jahani, Michigan State University, Monsieur d’Eon is a Woman CSA Stella Blum Student Research Grant: Leigh Danielle Honeycutt Porche, Louisiana State University, Louisiana Cowgirls, Cowboys and Cowthems: Negotiating Gender, Race and Appearance on the Trail CSA Travel Research Grant: Dr. Ingrid Mida, The Art and Fashion of the Vest College and University Collection Care Grant: Pennsylvania State University School of Theatre Fashion Archive, University Park, Pennsylvania CSA Small Museum Collection Care Grant: Gresham Historical Society, Gresham, Oregon Millia Davenport Publication Award: Frankie Welch’s Americana by Ashley Callahan and LaDonna Harris (The University of Georgia Press); Honorable Mention: Patrick Kelly: Runway of Love by Laura L. Camerlengo and Dilys E. Blum (Yale University Press and the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco) Adele Filene Student Presenter Grants: Yee Lin Elaine Yuen, Kent State University, Senbazuru’s Recall: One Thousand Cranes for Peace ; Colleen Pokorny, University of Minnesota, Transforming Quilts into Garments: Designers’ Experiences with Upcycling CSA Angels Project: Heritage Museum of Layton, Layton, Utah Betty Kirke Excellence in Research Award: Tina Bates, On the Margins: Convict Dress at the Kingston Penitentiary, 1890-1920 Scholars’ Roundtable: Crossroads of Dress and Adornment: Creativity, Culture and Collaboration ; Adam MacPhàrlain, Missouri Historical Society; Kelly Reddy-Best, Iowa State University; Petra Slinkard, Peabody Essex Museum; Leon Wiebers, Loyola Marymount University President’s Awards: Howard Vincent Kurtz and Arlesa Shephard Pictured above from left to right: Image from On the Margins: Convict Dress at the Kingston Penitentiary, 1890-1920 , the Betty Kirke Excellence in Research Award winning abstract by Tina Bates; Falstaff and Mistress Quickly, designs by Aly Amidei, The Merry Wives of Windsor , recipient of the CSA Costume Design Award; two Mapuche ponchos (makuñ) from Chile, installation image of Uncut Attire: How Weaving Informs Wearables , Addison Nace, Center for Design and Material Culture at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, recipient of a CSA Richard Martin Exhibition Award.

Costume Society of America is pleased to announce the results of the recent election for the Class of 2026 National Board of Directors.