Fine Arts Library Archival Collections

About the Collection

The collection includes sketches, photographs, correspondence, and fabric samples of Dr. Reinhardt's work from institutions and festivals around the country.

Biography

Paul  Reinhardt received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Tulsa, a Master of Fine Arts degree in theatre history and costume from The University of Texas at Austin, and his doctorate in theatre history from the University of Iowa.

He was a student of Lucy Barton and B. Iden Payne and a colleague of many theatre luminaries, including Oscar Brockett, Angus Bowmer, Douglas Russell, and Alvina Krause. Dr. Reinhardt was one of the leading authorities on the history of clothing and design, with many published articles and countless public lectures on costume history, costume design, period movement for actors, and the history of “blue jeans” (his specialty) to his credit.

In addition to his work at The University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Reinhardt’s academic credits as professor and designer included the Richmond Professional Institute, Northwestern University, the University of Iowa, California State University at Fullerton, the University of Oregon, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, James Madison University, and Western Michigan University.

Dr. Reinhardt’s professional design credits included the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Northwestern Repertory Theatre, the Scott Actor’s Repertory in Fort Worth, Texas, the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts in Santa Maria, California, and ten years as principal designer at the Texas Shakespeare Festival.

He served as a consultant for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and was honored with several exhibitions of his work at a variety of venues, including the United States Institute for Theatre Technology in 1998.

A man of great presence and charisma, Dr. Reinhardt will be remembered for his great intellect, greater talent, and even greater heart. His design aesthetic can best be defined as elegant; he employed deceptive simplicity and flamboyant restraint to say the most with the least.

More than anything, Dr. Reinhardt was a consummate educator and mentor. His former students work all over the country in a myriad of venues. Many are educators themselves, and they, and their students, and their students’ students, perpetuate his legacy of thorough scholarship and refined sophistication in the field of costume design.

Dr. Reinhardt passed away on April 29, 2011, in Silver Spring, Maryland. He served The University of Texas at Austin for twenty eight years as a professor and student advisor in the Department of Theatre and Dance, during which time he also served as head of the department’s costume design program, supervisor of the costume construction shop, and curator of the historical clothing collection.

Citation

Ebarb, J. "In Memoriam: Paul D. Reinhardt." Memorial Resolution published by the Faculty Council of the University of Texas at Austin. 12 Jun. 2012.