Samples from a 1990 USDA AMS study were used. A total of 78 cotton samples representing different US gins and different production areas, grown in 1989 and originally analyzed in 1990, were evaluated. HVI data from the original 1990 study were compared with HVI measurements taken on the same samples in 2001, and with spectrophotometric color measurements including CIELAB and Hunter L*, a* and b* measurements, different standard illuminants and observer functions. The spectrophotometric measurements were also taken in 2001. Simple statistics were used to evaluate changes in samples between 1990 and 2001, as determined by the two sets of HVI measurements, and to compare 2001 HVI and color spectrophotometric measurement methods.