Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
Our Mission
The Drexel Historic Costume Collection was formed to serve as an educational resource for the students of Drexel University. Through the remarkable generosity of our donors, the collection has grown to be one of the finest teaching collections in the United States. It is the mission of the DHCC to honor the educational intent of these donors, while preserving the collection for future generations.
This is to be achieved by:
- Increasing exhibitions, publications and lectures
- Providing access to fragile objects in the DHCC through the online collections database
- Taking a leadership role in research, scholarship and thoughtful integration of garments into the educational programs of Drexel University
- Augmenting the DHCC through judicious acquisitions
- Conserving, cataloguing, and photographing existing garments
Our History
A.J. Drexel founded the Drexel Institute of Science and Technology in 1891. Drexel believed that the practical study of the art and craft of design was essential to the educational experience. The costume collection was first suggested in 1898 by artist Howard Pyle who was then the head of the art department but did not begin to acquire garments until the 1920s. The earliest donations came from the Drexels and their extended circle of prominent Philadelphians. In 1959, the collection received a generous gift in honor of legendary retailer Nan Duskin, which enabled the collection to be moved to a central location which provided improved access to the collection for the students of Drexel University. Today the Drexel Historic Costume Collection is housed in Nesbitt Hall, where a selection of garments may be viewed by appointment by students, faculty, and researchers.
