Page to Stage: The Myrna Colley-Lee Collection
Myrna Colley-Lee, a Mississippi transplant, is an internationally recognized theatrical costume designer, philanthropist, and advocate. Beginning her career in the 1960s, she is often cited as one of the leading costume designers in the Black Theatre Movement. Examples of her work include productions such as Wedding Band, Black Nativity, The Lion and the Jewel, and Medea Myth.
Through studying Colley-Lee’s extensive manuscript collection, one can see her design process transform from drawings on a page to the final product on stage. In the collection, one can find the extensive research she has undertaken to accurately represent the historical context of the story being told. This includes snapshots of historical costumes, notes, and fabric swatches. Her renderings show the details of her research and incorporate colors and textures to be featured in a design. Colley-Lee's collection also includes production guides that contain information like costume plots (i.e., plans that document who will wear what and when). Finally, photographs from the productions depict the costumes in action on stage.
Colley-Lee’s designs often incorporate elements of upcycling, the process of taking discarded materials and repurposing them into something new. In addition, Colley-Lee has outfitted many productions with clothing found in thrift stores and has also “rescued” discarded costumes from theatrical throw away piles, illustrating the resourcefulness of costume designers who must work within strict budgets.
In November 2007, Colley-Lee donated her personal papers and costumes to Mississippi State University. The collection contains boxes of papers documenting her impressive career and dozens of historical costumes, all of which are used by students and researchers at MSU and beyond. For more information about the Myrna Colley-Lee Collection, please contact the Division of Archives and Special Collections at Mitchell Memorial Library.
