Private Tour of the Levi Strauss & Co. Archives and The Vault Museum

On a chilly Friday morning in February, over twenty BAACG members gathered outside in Levi Strauss Plaza ready to take a private tour of the Levi Strauss & Co. Archive and Vault Museum.

Once we arrived inside, we were welcomed by archivist Laura O’Hara and then split into two groups so our large group could take turns exploring both spaces in an intimate setting. Upon entering the archive, Laura talked about the history of Levi’s and how rooted its history is in San Francisco. One of the highlights of the day was seeing an original pair of Levi’s jeans dating back to 1876—an extraordinary example of early riveted workwear that has become an icon of American design and durability. Examining the construction details up close underscored just how thoughtfully these garments were engineered and why so many have survived as cultural artifacts. 

Another standout moment was viewing the leather jacket worn by Albert Einstein, famously featured on the cover of Time Magazine on April 4, 1938. Seeing such a personal object connected to a towering historical figure offered a reminder of how clothing can carry powerful narrative weight—bridging fashion, identity, and history.

In addition to the archival tour, we explored the current exhibition at the Levi's Vault Museum, Game On! Which focused on the Levi’s designs featured in sports, celebrating both the upcoming World Cup and the recently finished Winter Olympics. 

As with any good BAACG outing, the day concluded on a convivial note. A group of us walked to a Xica, a Mexican restaurant just around the corner, where we continued conversations about the tour, shared professional insights, and enjoyed the chance to connect outside of our workspaces. These informal moments are often just as valuable as the formal programming, strengthening the sense of community that makes BAACG so special.

Many thanks to the Levi Strauss & Co. Archives team, especially Tracey Panek, for organizing and Laura O’Hara for facilitating!