The online archive
The Vintage Purse Museum
A real-life collection of more than 4,000 handbags from the 1890s to the 2000s, purse accessories, and purse-related ephemera, viewable online, along with handbag facts and histories. Visit our Museum Story page to read about how it all began, and get some answers to frequently asked questions.
A collection in conversation
Every bag has a story.
Whether it's made of beads, leather, plastic, wood, or fabric, each handbag was designed and crafted with a specific patron in mind.
The Vintage Purse Museum brings materials, makers, and memories to our fellow handbag aficionados.
Visit the archive
Scroll down to enter our Photo and History Archive or click Archive in the menu at the top of the page.
