Blue and red silk
brocade dress
from 1883 worn by
Louise A Withee,
wife of lumber mill
owner Niran H. Withee,
in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
(2000.74.8.1)

The Costumes, Textiles, and Personal Artifacts collections include about 20,000 examples of clothing, adornment, and personal gear. These items help researchers interpret Wisconsin history on a personal level.

The museum collections include:

• About 2000 dresses
• 250 men's suits and coats
• Undergarments
• Children's clothing
• Formal fashions
• Work clothing
• Ceremonial garments
• Handmade and mass-produced recreational and casual attire
• Quilts and coverlets
• Samplers
• Curtains
• Rugs
• Sewing machines and other textile working tools
• Dolls
• Jewelry
• Toiletries