FAQs

Clothing & Textile Collections in the US: A CSA Guide

I want to update the collection information but don’t have my username and password. All institutions listed in the field guide are in our online database with an assigned username and password. To get your assigned name and password, send an email to sally@americasclosets.com. We will verify your account and send the username and password.

Why is there more detailed information for some collections but not for others? 800+ curators and collection managers responded to a survey mailed to 3,000+ institutions. We listed all collection information that was provided to us by March 1, 2005.

How were the images selected for the guide? We included all images provided by the institutions that signed our permission to publish form. We did not charge for the extra coverage as do other similar publications.

I have been working with a collection at a local historical society but they are not listed in the guide. How do we get their information in the next edition? Go to www.americasclosets.com and enter the data under New Registrant.

I would like to give you more information on the collection than is currently listed. Can I do that for the next edition? Yes! Go to the online database and click on collection information. See Maine State Museum in the field guide for a good listing of multiple collections. Or download the survey and mail completed survey to Americas Closets, 2801 S. Joyce Street, Arlington, VA 22202.

We planned a new exhibit and want to tell interested people. We have a new short cut for updating exhibit information. Enter the online database and click on the exhibition screen. Exhibition information asked: name of exhibition, start date, close date, curator, and a brief description of the exhibit. It will take 5 minutes to update your information.

Clothing is on exhibit at our historic house on a rotating basis. Can I list those items as an "exhibit"? Yes, list them as a permanent exhibit.

How do I order additional copies of the guide? Call the Costume Society of America office at 1-800-CSA-9447 to receive your CSA discount. Non CSA members can order online at www.americasclosets.com. Wholesale orders call Texas Tech University Press at 1- 800-832-4042.

How do I tell others about the guide? Share the flyer with friends, show it to your museum store manager and ask them to carry the title, tell your students, order one for the resource library in your department and one copy for the main library.

Other questions? Contact us at americasclosets@comcast.net.

Americas Closets
2801 S. Joyce Street
Arlington, VA 22202
703-836-2407
www.americasclosets.com