Heather Vaughan Lee is an historian, author, lecturer, and museum consultant who has worked in the intersecting fields of clothing and history for the last 20 years. She has worked with a variety of institutions nationwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, California State Parks, and Turtle Bay Exploration Park & Museum, among others. She has also worked on both permanent and temporary assignments as the Collections Move Coordinator/Collection Manager for Turtle Bay Exploration Park (2025-2026) and as the Museum Technician for California State Parks, Northern Buttes District (2022-2023).
Her previous works include editing and contributing to: Artifacts of American Fashion (2019), Clothing and Fashion: American Fashion From Head to Toe (2015), Fashion: The Definitive History of Costume and Style (DK Publishing, 2012), Essays on Women’s Artistic and Cultural Contributions 1919-1939 (Edwin Mellen Press, 2009), and Greenwood Encyclopedia of Clothing in American History (2008).
She has been a member of the Costume Society of America (CSA) for 15 years and was President of the Western Region from 2012 to 2014. She has a Master’s Degree in Visual Culture: Costume Studies from New York University and BA in English from CSU, Chico. She lives in Northern California.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS & SERVICE
ICOM, Costume Committee (1/2017-Present)
California Association of Museums (2015– Present)
Costume Society of America (2002 – 2023)
Western Region Board (July 2006 – Present/June 2015)
- President (2012 – 2014)
- Program Chair/President-Elect (2010 – 2012)
- Secretary (2006 – 2010)
- Committees: Education, (2007 – Present) Publicity (2007 – Present) Jack Handford Award Committee/Judge (2010)
San Francisco Historical Society and Museum, 2009 – 2011
Oakland Museum of California Member, 2010 - 2011
Daughters of the American Revolution, 2010 – 2013
New York University Visual Culture: Costume Studies Alumni Listserv - Founder and Moderator (2005 – Present)
Popular Culture / American Culture Association, 2007 – 2009
Textile Arts Council (de Young Museum), 2006 – 2010
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, de Young Museum, 2005 – 2007
Western Association of Women Historians, 2005 – 2006
AWARDS
2017 - American Library Association’s 2017 Outstanding References Sources List
2009 - Adele Mellen Prize for Distinguished Contribution to Scholarship
2007 - Merit Service Award, CSA E-News
1996, 1998 - CSU, Chico Dean's Honor List for Undergraduate Education
1997 – Pres.- CSU, Chico Golden Key National Honor Society member
