Costume Society of America Fellow Honor


The Costume Society of America Fellow Honor is the highest honor bestowed by CSA. It recognizes the dedication, commitment, leadership, and outstanding contributions of CSA members to the Costume Society of America and to the field of costume.


 The presentation of the Costume Society of America Fellow Honor is made at the CSA National Symposium. Award recipients are recognized by articles in the CSA Newsletter, Dress, and local media in the Fellow’s area. Fellows continue to be recognized every year at CSA National Symposia and serve as guides, mentors, and examples to the membership by encouraging and stimulating extraordinary participation and contribution to the field of costume and to the Costume Society of America.

  • Eligibility

    Candidates must meet the following requirements:


    • have been a member of CSA for a minimum of 10 years
    • have worked professionally in the field of costume
    • have promoted the field of costume through scholarly output
    • have, through their significant contributions, increased the visibility and reputation of the field of costume and of the Costume Society of America

    Nominees for the Costume Society of America Fellow Honor will be evaluated by their:


    • significant service to and leadership of the Costume Society of America
    • significant and lasting contribution to the field of costume
    • demonstrated excellence and innovation of professional work in the field of costume, including scholarly output
  • Nomination Procedure

    Each nomination for the Fellow Honor requires a sponsor, or several people serving as co-sponsors; all sponsors must be members of the Costume Society of America. To nominate a candidate, sponsors must contact the potential nominee and secure their consent to be nominated. Then, by November 1, 2023, sponsors fill out this online submission form, which includes:


    • a brief overview of how the sponsor knows the nominee, including in what capacity and how long (if multiple sponsors, please include a statement from each sponsor)
    • a brief statement of how the nominee meets the specific eligibility criteria, including specific contributions that led to the sponsor’s support of the nominee
    • a brief description of why the nominee deserves the designation of Fellow, including specific examples of exceptional service to and leadership of CSA and to the field of costume

    The Fellow Honor Committee chair verifies the eligibility of each nominee and notifies the sponsor(s). Sponsors of eligible nominees are then responsible for assembling the nominating packet (see below) and submitting it by December 1, 2023 via an online form that will be supplied to the sponsors.


    Nomination packets must include:


    • the sponsor(s) letter of support, which serves as a cover letter
    • the nominee’s résumé/C.V.
    • a list of the supporters whose letters are included
    • a summary of highlights mentioned in the supporting letters
    • ten (10) letters of support from CSA members, and optional additional letters of support from non-CSA members. These letters, addressed and sent to the sponsor and preferably typed, should include:

    - brief overview of how the supporter knows the nominee, including in what capacity and how long

    - brief description of why the nominee deserves the honor of being designated a Costume Society of America Fellow, including specific examples of exceptional service to and leadership of CSA and to the field of costume

  • Award Schedule

    The Fellows Award Committee will notify all sponsors and nominees of the outcome of the selection process by January 31, 2024. New Fellows will be honored at the CSA National Symposium and presented with a certificate.

Please Contact the Committee Chair

Melissa Marra-Alvarez, for more information.

Contact Melissa Marra-Alvarez

Class of 2023

Abby Lillethun


Teaneck, NJ

Class of 2022

Mary Gibson

San Diego, CA


Sheryl Farnan Leipzig

Kansas City, MO

Class of 2021

Patricia Hunt-Hurst

Athens, GA


Gayle Strege

Columbus, OH

Class of 2020

Anne Bissonnette

Edmonton, AB


Howard Vincent Kurtz

Maitland, FL


Jean L. Parsons

Columbia, MO


Elaine L. Pedersen

Bellingham, WA

Class of 2019

Shelly Foote

Ventura, CA


A. Newbold Richardson

Alexandria, VA


Kaye K. Boyer Ryan

Palm Coast, FL

Class of 2018

Martha Winslow Grimm

Phoenix, AZ


Harold F. Mailand

Indianapolis, IN


Sara B. Marcketti

Ames, IA

Class of 2017

No award granted

Class of 2016

Marilyn DeLong


St. Paul, MN

Class of 2015

Kathy Mullet


Corvallis, OR

Class of 2014

Robert Hillestad


Lincoln, NE

Class of 2013

Judith Mathey


Mendocino, CA

Class of 2012

Vicki Berger

Phoenix, AZ


Barbara Broudo

Beverly, MA


Phyllis Tortora

Briarcliff Manor, NY

Class of 2011

Elizabeth Wayland Barber

Pasadena, CA


June Burns Bové

Ridgewood, NJ

Class of 2010

Caralee Biery Smith


Aledo, TX

Class of 2009

Patricia Reiff Anawalt

Los Angeles, CA


Joanne Bubolz Eicher

St. Paul, MN

Class of 2008

No award granted

Class of 2007

Sally Helvenston Gray

Haslett, MI


Rosalyn Lester

Blackburg, VA

Class of 2006

Edward F. Maeder


Deerfield, MA

Class of 2005

Kay King


Houston, TX

Class of 2004

Margaret Ordoñez

Kingston, RI


Linda Welters

Kingston, RI

Class of 2003

Nancy Bryant

Corvallis, OR


Joy Emery

West Kingston, RI


Sally Queen

Alexandria, VA

Class of 2002

Joan Severa


Madison, WI

Class of 2001

Patricia C. Warner


Belchertown, MA

Class of 2000

Jane Farrell-Beck

Ames, IA


Claudia Brush Kidwell

Washington D.C.

Class of 1999

Class of 1998

Colleen Callahan

Richmond, VA 


Patricia Cunningham

Columbus, OH 

Class of 1997

No award granted

Class of 1996

Richard Martin


New York, NY

Class of 1995

Inez Brooks-Myers

Oakland, CA


Otto Charles Thieme

Cincinnati, OH


Helene von Rosenstiel

Brooklyn, NY

Class of 1994

Robert Riley


Truro, MA

Class of 1993

Jean Druesedow

Kent, OH


Phyllis Specht

Pasadena, CA

Class of 1992

Alicia M. Annas

San Diego, CA


Elizabeth S. Brown

Belle Mead, NJ 


Patricia A. Trautman

Enfield, CT


Polly Willman

Washington D.C.

Please Contact the Committee Chair

Melissa Marra-Alvarez, for more information.

Contact Melissa Marra-Alvarez
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