About the Collection

The Betty D. Eastin Historic Costume Collection is an educational, scholarly and artistic resource for the University of Kentucky Department of Retailing and Tourism Management.

Textiles are important indices of the life experience as primary sources of information about people and culture. This unique Kentucky decorative art costume collection provides educational resources that further the understanding of human beings within their material and social environments through the study of textiles of artistic, cultural and historic significance.

This collection serves as a valuable asset and resource to the students, department, college, university, community and the commonwealth of Kentucky. Our mission is to collect, preserve, exhibit and interpret textile, apparel and accessory items that support the department for education, research and community outreach.

The collection is housed in an 800-square-foot third floor storage area in Erikson Hall and is comprised of approximately 2,500 artifacts ranging in dates from 1870 to the 1970s. It began in 1973 as a teaching tool with women’s, men’s and children’s garments; household textiles, lace and trim samples; and a collection of dolls from around the world.

The women’s clothing collection includes several pieces that are of particular significance, including the Lexington native Belle Breezing collection, Kentucky-born Mona Von Bismarck apparel and an extensive hat collection.

The international doll collection is currently on exhibit at the Lexington Children’s Museum and the Lexington Public Library. In 1995, the hat collection was on exhibit as “On Top Of It All” at the Headly-Whitney Museum.