Can I visit the museum?
Unfortunately no, as the collection is privately stored in Tucson, Arizona. The good news is that many of our items are viewable on our Photo and History Archive, as well as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
The museum story
A monumental collection
The Vintage Purse Museum grew from one woman's infatuation with vintage clothing, jewelry, and accessories. But it was handbags that became an accidental favorite.
Where it began
Decades of fascination
Wendy Dager combined her love of vintage fashion with her career as a professional freelance writer in 2007, when she began posting photos of her collection online. She now focuses solely on handbag history, scouring newspaper archives, trade publications, and genealogy records, as well as interviewing relatives and former employees of midcentury bag makers to document their stories.
Over the last forty years, she's accumulated a trove of handbags, purse accessories, and purse-related ephemera, which she shares on our website, blog, and social media, along with handbag facts and histories, free to the global public.
The Vintage Purse Museum Collection
Some of our frequently asked questions
Are you buying or selling handbags?
We don't sell the items in our collection, and are not currently looking for bags to purchase.
Do you accept donations?
While we've received handbags from some of our lovely friends, we always tell people who wish to donate that we are not a nonprofit. Therefore, we suggest you consider donating your bag to a family member, fashion school, local museum, or theatre group.
Our longterm goal
The Vintage Purse Museum's Mission Statement
To preserve and share the artistry, history, and personal stories behind vintage handbags so that every piece continues to inspire collectors.
Explore the collection