About

The Bates College Clothing Archive (BCCA) is a research and study collection of historical clothing owned by Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. The garments in this collection were donated over the course of decades; some were used for theatrical costumes, other for dress history research, but most languished in boxes in costume storage. The BCCA was formed during the 2023-2024 academic year by Grace Acton '24, B. Christine McDowell, and Dr. Anelise Shrout, in partial completion of Acton's Honors Thesis in Interdisciplinary Studies. 

The collection spans from roughly 1840 to 1930. We hold a collection of clothing owned by the family of Harry W. Rowe, Bates College's first Dean of Faculty, as well as items belonging to Barbara Wiggin of Lewiston, Maine, all from 1910 to 1940. Our collection is strongest, however, in late nineteenth century middle-class women's clothing, such as day bodices, skirts, and outerwear.  

Mission

The Bates College Clothing Archive (BCCA) is a publicly-accessible resource for students, scholars, and enthusiasts seeking historical clothing to support dress history research, reproduction, and exhibition.