PHOTO GALLERY: Exhibit uses clothing to explore civic virtue in America

October 4, 2012 | 1:41 p.m. CDT

"Civic Virtue: Wearing Red, White and Blue", a new exhibit at Stephens College's Historic Costume Gallery, uses clothing to explore changing time and civic engagement in the United States.

A hand-embroidered dress from 1925 hangs on a mannequin in the exhibit "Civic Virtue: Wearing Red, White and Blue" on Wednesday in the Historic Costume Gallery at Stephens College. The exhibit displays red, white and blue clothing from over the years to showcase symbolic expressions of civic virtue and explore themes of citizenship, public good, volunteerism and stewardship. | Jaime Henry-White

Visitors browse through the mannequins on display Wednesday at "Civic Virtue: Wearing Red, White and Blue," a new exhibit at the Historic Costume Gallery at Stephens College. The exhibit features 74 mannequins and runs from Sept. 20 to Dec. 9. | Jaime Henry-White

Gene Kelly looks around the civic virtue exhibit with his wife on Wednesday at the Historic Costume Gallery at Stephens College. "We are delighted we came over," Kelly said. | Jaime Henry-White

A nutshell containing tiny pictures of the 1904 St. Louis World Fair sits in a display case at the Historic Costume Gallery at Stephens College. | Jaime Henry-White

Two mannequins don blue and red "first lady" attire in the new exhibit at the Historic Costume Gallery at Stephens College, "Civic Virtue: Wearing Red, White and Blue." | Jaime Henry-White