Folds of material around the body have existed since humans first fashioned clothing. Invariably, those folds became fashion. Whether made with precision or more freely arranged, folds, pleats, and tucks open wide avenues to design and creation. Ancient Egyptians, archaic & classical period Greeks, Assyrians, Thai, Han, and other culture incorporated folds and pleats into their garments in ways that have continued to inspire designers through the ages.

Modern designers have been no less inspired. in the twentieth century, designers such as Mme. Gres made a high art of deploying pleated fabric on the human form. Over nearly 60 year career she refined and developed her techniques, earning a reputation as a sculptor of fabric.

In turn she inspired others such as Issey Miyake, Mary McFadden, and Isabel Toledo to name just a few. All three of these designers developed their own signature use of pleated textiles in their designs making each’s designs instantly recognizable.

Our designers accepted the challenge to be inspired by pleats in their many forms as they can be found in the Evanston History Center’s Costume Collection. We invite you to come see the results.

Evanston history from its beginnings to today. This wonderful interactive exhibit uses artifacts and archival materials from EHCs collection to tell the story of the community and some of the amazing people who called Evanston home.

A concise and comprehensive look at the prolific accomplishments of Charles Dawes, including his Nobel Peace Prize certificate, countless photographs, memorabilia, and film clips from his public and private appearances.

May 11 – August 31, 2025

The Evanston History Center’s popular House Walk opened doors to the community’s remarkable architectural heritage for fifty years. This exhibit celebrated the many artists, historians, homeowners, supporters, and patrons who made this annual event a fan favorite.

It took a behind-the-scenes look at the research that went into telling the story of a house, with documents and photographs from our archives that traced the history of the people who made each house a home.

The exhibit also highlighted the talented Evanston artists who illustrated our 50 House Walk books.

February 22 – March 23, 2025

The Evanston History Center partnered with the Evanston Art Center on an exhibition, “Picturing Community: Stories in Photographs.”

Photographs from the Evanston History Center archives told a story of Evanston’s growth as a community. The Evanston Art Center issued a call for artists to submit contemporary images of the city inspired by these photographs. The exhibition showcased the historic and contemporary photographs together to illustrate the commonalities the community shared, as well as the changes.

November 2024 – February 2025

The exhibit celebrated Evanston’s iconic contributions to the toy industry while exploring the Evanston History Center’s extensive collection of historic toys and games.

Highlights included many inventions designed by Evanston residents: Tinkertoys created by Charles Pajeau and Robert Petit, and the many eclectic ideas of Marvin Glass, including the game Operation and Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots.

Adding to the extravaganza were hundreds of classics from the Evanston History Center’s historic toy collection, along with a spotlight on Rudolph, the beloved reindeer created by Evanstonian Robert L. May.