The Emily P. Reynolds Costume Collection is a repository of culture focusing on clothing, textiles and related items. The collection reveals how such objects serve as a record of life through collection, preservation, and study. A three-themed approach governs its collecting:

1. Is the item representative of NDSU, North Dakota, or the Northern Plains region? Does it tell about a person, place, or a time period?

2. Is the item a good example of the history of fashion?

3. Does the item represent an international or culturally diverse perspective?