Manuscript collections

Our growing holdings of circa 500 manuscript collections include more than 500,000 works on paper. Primarily from top American designers of the 20th-century, some highlights include:

photograph of female model in dress by Lucile Ltd., circa 1915

US.NNFIT.SC.1

 Lucile Ltd., Lady Duff Gordon collection, 1915-1925
sketch of strapless Dior dress offered at Bergdorf Goodman, 1956 US.NNFIT.SC.20 Bergdorf Goodman custom salon sketches, 1930-1969
model in Bonnie Cashin wool coat at ski lodge, circa 1960US.NNFIT.SC.81 Bonnie Cashin collection, 1953-1977

 sketch of a green coat by Cheruit offered by A. Beller & Co., circa 1917US.NNFIT.SC.146

 A. Beller & Co. sketches, 1915-1929
orignal fashion illustration of menswear, circa 1968US.NNFIT.SC.187

Frances Neady collection of original fashion illustrations, 1913-2019
fashion photo of designer Zandra Rhodes modeling one of her own designs, circa 1986US.NNFIT.SC.214

Eleanor Lambert collection, 1943-2003
Helena Rubinstein posed in front of a mural by Salvador DaliUS.NNFIT.SC.284 Helena Rubinstein collection, 1953-2011
models Pat Cleveland and Alva Chinn modeling evening gowns by Halston, 1980sUS.NNFIT.SC.311 Halston sketches and photographs, circa 1964, 1980-1989
street fashion photograph of two Latinx youths in New York by Jamel Shabazz, 1980US.NNFIT.SC.317 Jamel Shabazz photographs, 1980-2010
two female models wearing Stephen Burrows' brightly colored designsUS.NNFIT.SC.332 Stephen Burrows collection, 1969-2012
Cover of 1949 Fashion CalendarUS.NNFIT.SC.362

Ruth Finley collection, 1945-2016