Costume Society of America Fellow Honor

Candidates must meet the following requirements:

• have been a member of CSA for a minimum of 10 years
• have worked professionally in the field of costume
• have promoted the field of costume through scholarly output
• have, through their significant contributions, increased the visibility and reputation of the field of costume and of the Costume Society of America

Nominees for the Costume Society of America Fellow Honor will be evaluated by their:

• significant service to and leadership of the Costume Society of America
• significant and lasting contribution to the field of costume
• demonstrated excellence and innovation of professional work in the field of costume, including scholarly output

Each nomination for the Fellow Honor requires a sponsor, or several people serving as co-sponsors; all sponsors must be members of the Costume Society of America. To nominate a candidate, sponsors must contact the potential nominee and secure their consent to be nominated. Then, by October 15, 2025, sponsors fill out this online submission form (available in summer of 2025) which includes:

• a brief overview of how the sponsor knows the nominee, including in what capacity and how long (if multiple sponsors, please include a statement from each sponsor)
• a brief statement of how the nominee meets the specific eligibility criteria, including specific contributions that led to the sponsor’s support of the nominee
• a brief description of why the nominee deserves the designation of Fellow, including specific examples of exceptional service to and leadership of CSA and to the field of costume

The Fellow Honor Committee chair verifies the eligibility of each nominee and notifies the sponsor(s). Sponsors of eligible nominees are then responsible for assembling the nominating packet (see below) and submitting it by November 15, 2024  via an online form that will be supplied to the sponsors.

Nomination packets must include:

• the sponsor(s) letter of support, which serves as a cover letter
• the nominee’s résumé/C.V.
• a list of the supporters whose letters are included
• a summary of highlights mentioned in the supporting letters
• ten (10) letters of support from CSA members, and optional additional letters of support from non-CSA members. These letters, addressed and sent to the sponsor and preferably typed, should include:

1. brief overview of how the supporter knows the nominee, including in what capacity and how long
2. brief description of why the nominee deserves the honor of being designated a Costume Society of America Fellow, including specific examples of exceptional service to and leadership of CSA and to the field of costume

The following criteria will be rated as excellent, good, average, fair, and poor:

1. Has the nominee worked professionally? (If in academia, at an academic institution. If in applied work, at a relevant venue such as a museum or theater company.)
2. Has the nominee promoted the historic costume discipline through scholarly output? (If in academia, via published scholarship and conference presentations. If in applied work, participation in museum exhibitions and so forth.)
3. Has the scholarly output of the nominee shown innovation and/or been well-received by other professionals in the historic costume discipline? 
4. Has the nominee contributed to CSA-sponsored books?
5. If the nominee has not had scholarly output, have they helped to advance the historic costume discipline in another significant way? 
6. Has the nominee, through his or her achievements, contributed to the visibility of the historic dress discipline?
7. Has the nominee served on relevant committees and boards within the historic dress discipline? (If in academia, committees and boards related to CSA, other professional organizations, and those affiliated with his/her university. If in applied work, related to relevant institutions, including the one at which he/she is employed.)
8. Has the nominee shown evidence of serving CSA and/or working their way through leadership positions within CSA?
9. Has the nominee produced work that is visible? 
10. (If in academia, via published scholarship and conference presentations. If in applied work, participation in museum exhibitions and so forth.)
11. Has the nominee worked with students to mentor and train the next generation of professionals?
12. Strength of letters of support
13. Amount of respect garnered from CSA members and other professionals established in the historic dress discipline

The Fellows Award Committee will notify all sponsors and nominees of the outcome of the selection process by mid-January 2026. New Fellows will be honored at the CSA National Symposium and presented with a certificate.