For these Ruby Slippers, There's No Place Like Home . . .

In my museology class today, our professor brought to our attention a recent "controversy" involving Oprah Winfrey and a pair of ruby slippers apparently worn by Judy Garland during the filming of The Wizard of Oz. These shoes are usually on display at the Smithsonian Institute's American History Museum in Washington, D.C. but were flown specially to Chicago for a recent episode of Oprah's show, travelling first-class with the protection of armed guards. The "controversy" arose when, even as the museum director Dr. Brent Glass tried to get across the message that the shoes were fragile and needed proper care, Oprah insisted that she be allowed to pick them up, and then allegedly waved them around, and according to one viewer who posted on a discussion board dedicated to this topic, "the slippers touched and touched hard as far as I can tell." And she'd checked her tivo. I can't, however comment the specifics of her handling of the shoes -- the video has disappeared from youtube, and I can't find it to verify for myself.

So what's at issue here? Basically, it comes down to the fundamental question of access versus preservation. As Dr. Glass said, not everyone would have the chance to visit D.C. and see the shoes for themselves. But by taking them out of the museum, putting them on a plane and subjecting them to the whims of Oprah Winfrey, the museum was putting them at risk of irreparable damage. And for what gains? Well, the show was certainly good publicity for the museum. And Oprah got to have her fun. But seeing the ruby slippers on video in no way compares to seeing them in person.

At the end of the day all museums have to face the difficult question of whether to keep fragile artifacts in storage where they are safe from deterioration or to put them on display where the public can learn from them and enjoy them. So, too, must archivists face this important challenge. Modern technology, and especially digitization, can go a long way to improve access to fragile documents and artifacts. But I don't think anyone would argue that there is something very special about actually being in the presence of an historic artifact, and millions of visitors to the Smithsonian each year feel that way about the ruby slippers.

There is no easy answer to this question. But we can only hope that Oprah's little faux-pas did some good, after all: maybe it got people thinking about the objects they see in museums, and how important it is to take good care of them.