The Graphic Arts sub-collection of the Marilyn Vance papers consists of production artworks. The production files series primarily consists of costume design drawings and character boards (costume design collages), storyboards, and production design drawings.

There are 475 costume design drawings in the collection. Highlights include watercolor costume design illustrations of Bruce Willis, Sandra Bernhard, and Richard E. Grant for HUDSON HAWK (1991), Ben Stiller, Janeane Garofalo, William H. Macy, and Hank Azaria for MYSTERY MEN (1999), and Billy Campbell, Timothy Dalton, and Alan Arkin for THE ROCKETEER (1991). There are also pencil sketches of the characters played by Ben Savage, Fred Savage, and Howie Mandel in LITTLE MONSTERS (1989). Other highlights include drawings for the characters played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jesse Ventura, Bill Duke, and Carl Weathers in the film PREDATOR (1987) and three sketches of different versions of the red dress worn by Julia Roberts in PRETTY WOMAN (1990) as well as a watercolor illustration of the final design. The collection also contains a simple pencil sketch of the pink prom dress worn by Molly Ringwald in PRETTY IN PINK (1986).

The collection contains 139 character boards created by Vance. Highlights include character boards for the main cast of THE BREAKFAST CLUB (1985): Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson, Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, and Ally Sheedy. There are also boards for several of Julia Roberts’ costumes in PRETTY WOMAN (1990) including her outfits for the polo, restaurant, opera, and Rodeo Dr. scenes. A board for PRETTY IN PINK (1986) includes Polaroids of Marilyn Vance demonstrating how to create the iconic pink prom dress worn by Molly Ringwald in the film. There are also boards for the characters played by Billy Campbell, Alan Arkin, Timothy Dalton, and Margo Martindale in the film THE ROCKETEER (1991) and boards for the characters played by Robert de Niro, Sean Connery, and Kevin Costner in THE UNTOUCHABLES (1987), for which Vance was nominated for an Academy Award.

The photograph sub-collection of the Marilyn Vance papers spans the years 1980-2008 and encompasses 1,453 photographs. The Motion Picture Production Photographs series consists of negatives, color prints, black and white prints, and oversize photographs. Most of the photographs in the collection are wardrobe test Polaroids for various films, including Molly Ringwald, Jon Cryer, and James Spader in PRETTY IN PINK (1986), Anthony Michael Hall in WEIRD SCIENCE (1985), and Demi Moore, Viggo Mortensen, and Anne Bancroft in GI JANE (1997). The series also includes 64 lighting and wardrobe tests photographs of Julia Roberts for PRETTY WOMAN (1990). There are also production photographs depicting actors in costume such as John Candy and Richard Pryor in BREWSTER’S MILLIONS (1985), Jodi Foster and Richard Gere in SOMMERSBY (1993), Matthew Broderick, Jennifer Grey, and Mia Sara in FERRIS BEULLER’S DAY OFF (1986), and black and white publicity stills for SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL (1987) and THE UNTOUCHABLES (1987).

The manuscript sub-collection of the Marilyn Vance papers spans the years 1985-2008 and encompass 1.5 linear feet of manuscripts. The production files are comprised of scripts, call sheets, research materials, production materials, cast and crew lists, storyboards, press kits, and photographs. Production files for the films G.I. JANE (1997), THE GETAWAY (1994), and HARD CASH (2002) include scripts, call sheets, cast lists, online schedules, production schedules, contact numbers, invitations to cast and crew screenings, and magazine clippings of men’s and women’s wardrobe used for costume research. The series also includes film stills of the main cast of PREDATOR (1987): Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sonny Langham, Carl Weathers, and Richard Chaves. Also included are photocopies of production photographs of actors in costume including a photograph of Kevin Costner with Marilyn Vance on the set of THE UNTOUCHABLES (1987). Other materials include measurements for Arnold Schwarzenegger for PREDATOR (1987) and Billy Campbell and Terry O’ Quinn for THE ROCKETEER (1991). Other materials for THE ROCKETEER (1991) include two comic books by creator Dave Stevens, a movie guide magazine, a press kit explaining the makeup process for actor Tiny Ron, a film prop, storyboards, and a VIP pass to the film’s premiere. There is also a movie guide for THE UNTOUCHABLES (1987) that highlights Marilyn Vance’s process in creating the costumes. Materials for PRETTY WOMAN (1990) include scripts for screen tests, memos regarding screen tests and wardrobe, and notes on costume changes. The subject files series includes materials from the exhibit “Hollywood Costume,” including two plaques describing Vance’s costumes for DIE HARD (1988) and PRETTY WOMAN (1990), a program for screenings of THE BREAKFAST CLUB (1985) and FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF (1986), and a newspaper article promoting the exhibit.

Marilyn Vance is a costume designer and producer. She is credited with designing costumes for over 60 film and television productions. She is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and a former sportswear designer. Among her notable film credits are THE BREAKFAST CLUB (1985), BREWSTERS MILLIONS (1985), DIE HARD (1988), FERRIS BUELLERS DAY OFF (1986), 48 HRS (1982), G.I JANE (1997), PREDATOR (1987), PRETTY IN PINK (1986), and UNCLE BUCK (1989). She was nominated for an Academy Award and BAFTA in costume design for THE UNTOUCHABLES (1987). Vance also received a BAFTA nomination in costume design for PRETTY WOMAN (1990). She was also nominated for a Saturn Award for MYSTERY MEN (1999) and won the Saturn for her costumes for THE ROCKETEER (1991). She served as a producer on THE GETAWAY (1994), JUDGMENT NIGHT (1993), and TIMECOP (1994) among other films. Marilyn is one of the first costume designers to design for the action film genre and the first to use designer clothing such as Armani and Cerruti for product placement.