The Costume Shop at Millersville University, 164 W. Cottage Ave., began as a project of Millersville University to acquire a collection of theatrical costumes to be rented by the public. Over the years, the collection has grown extensively and has been used by members of the community for anything from school plays to costume parties.

The Costume Shop's collection primarily served as a wardrobe for Millersville University's theater department to use in performances. In 1982, Jean Loeb of Lancaster donated a large collection of clothing, which she had acquired from a costuming company in Philadelphia. The company, called Wass & Son, outfitted thousands of people performing in plays and attending costume parties throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, meaning that each piece of the donation was made from authentic, vintage materials. Loeb kept the collection at a warehouse in Columbia until she donated it to The Costume Shop, greatly expanding Millersville's previously modest collection.

The Costume Shop aims to make its collection accessible to people with a range of costuming needs. The shop has rented its inventory out to children who need a historically accurate costume for school projects, high school and college theater actors, and couples that are planning a themed wedding; each customer is allowed to browse the collection and hand-pick his or her desired outfit. "Sometimes people will come in with an idea, so we help them build the outfit they're looking for," said Priscilla Kaufhold of Centerville, who acts as manager of The Costume Shop. "People have more fun when they can get their hands on the costumes."

Kaufhold has been involved with The Costume Shop since 1984 and has watched the collection grow as it has acquired pieces from local stores and theaters. Kaufhold graduated from Hempfield High School in 1977 and wore pieces from Loeb's collection as a dancer in the school's production of "Annie Get Your Gun." Kaufhold earned an undergraduate degree in dance from American University and a master's degree in design and dance from George Washington University. "I had no idea the costuming world was so huge when I started," said Kaufhold. "I've always been involved with shows, but (The Costume Shop) felt like home in a way."

The Costume Shop's collection now includes over 30,000 items, and Millersville University hopes to move it to a new location to make space for its size in the coming year. The Costume Shop is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 3 to 7 p.m. To make an appointment outside of its regular hours, call 717-871-5653.