The Mary C Doxsee Historic Clothing and Textile Collection
The Mary C. Doxsee Historic Clothing and Textiles Collection holds over 2,500 historical costume pieces that range from a 1820s day dress to 1920s scarab beetle hairpins to 1980s color-block tops and everything in between. The Doxsee Collection prides itself on being a teaching tool for individual student use, classroom presentations, community outreach, and other roles it is used for academic and community purposes.
Current Exhibitions
Fall 2025: Rural Romanticism
Past Exhibitions
- Winter/Spring: 2025
- , Fall 2024
- , Spring 2024
- , Winter 2024
- Flowers & Ruffles, Summer/Fall 2023
- , Spring 2023
- , Fall 2022
- , Spring 2022
- , Winter/Spring 2022
- , Spring/Summer 2021
- , Spring 2021
- , Fall 2020
- American Suffragists, Spring 2020
- Fun with Children in the 1950s, Fall 2019
- 1930s Evening Gowns, Fall 2019
- For a complete list of past exhibits please contact us!
Resources
- We are currently working to modernize the collection for use by Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ University students, faculty as well as the global online community - check back soon for links and updates!
What We Do
The Mary C. Doxsee Historic Clothing and Textile Collection is a proud addition to the Retail and Fashion Merchandising program here at the Patton College of Education. We strive to be a learning tool for students, faculty as well as the general public. Since the Doxsee Collection is a museum collection we also seek to preserve history/culture through clothing and dress items. There are over 2,500 items in the collection that range from an 1820s day dress to 1920's scarab beetle hair pins to 1980s color-block tops and everything in between. The Doxsee Collection prides itself on being a teaching tool for individual student use, classroom presentations, community outreach, and other roles it is used for academic and community purposes.
History
Mary C. Doxsee Historic Clothing and Textile Collection began as a passion for Ms. Doxsee, who was a professor in the Home Economics department here at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ University. Her interest in clothing and textiles was well-known and faculty, students, and community members from around the area would offer her items to use as teaching tools in her class or just to keep to show students. Her husband, Gifford Doxsee, was a professor of Middle Eastern/North African studies and when he traveled to that area of the world he also brought back textiles and clothing for her to add to the growing collection. Eventually, when Mary retired in the early 1980s the collection was named in her honor and is still used as a teaching tool at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ University for present and future generations of students.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Mary C. Doxsee Collection is to educate students and the interested public about dress and textiles of historical significance. The Doxsee Collection is a repository for examples of historical dress and textiles. The mission includes a focus on the education and conservation, preservation, and restoration of dress and textiles through consultation and direct
Contact
Trina Gannon
Doxsee Collection
Assistant Professor of Instruction
Retail and Fashion Merchandising
Patton Hall 123