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National Museum of American History  Search this
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Published Date:
Thu, 29 Nov 2018 19:11:10 +0000
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<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Many noses are pressed against the case that houses Dorothy's Ruby Slippers each day. The famous shoes from <em>The Wizard of Oz</em> attract a lot of attention—the site of many selfies and squeals during the gallery's opening weekend.</p><p>But how many people notice the case that holds them? Very few.</p><p>Acting like a "preservation chamber," it does much more than provide security for the precious shoes. It keeps all 20 materials in the Ruby Slippers in an ideal environment to preserve them for generations to come.</p><p>Here's what's special about the case of the Ruby Slippers.</p><figure class="image media-element file-default"><img alt="In a display case, the Ruby Slippers, kitten heels covered in red sequins with a bow. Behind them, &quot;We're not in Kansas anymore&quot; quote in white, all-caps, bold typeface on a mural that is green with big, red poppies." rel="lightbox" src="https://americanhistory.si.edu/sites/default/files/Ruby_Slippers_case.jpg"><figcaption>Back on display after a trip to the museum's Conservation Lab, the Ruby Slippers sparkle in a new, hard-working display case.</figcaption></figure><h4><strong>Finding just the right environment for an 80-year-old pair of shoes</strong></h4><p>Each material in the Ruby Slippers reacts to temperature and humidity differently, so identifying the perfect environment for long-term preservation was a big challenge for Objects Conservator Dawn Wallace and Chief Conservator Richard Barden. To determine the conditions preferred by each material, Wallace and Barden worked with scientists at the Smithsonian's Museum Conservation Institute to identify the materials and research their particular needs. Most of the materials are organic—the leather in the shoes' construction, the gelatin in the sequins—and those can be tricky because they can be very sensitive to some humidity and temperature ranges.</p><p>After identifying ideal conditions for each material, it was a game of finding just the right compromise. Many materials require a cooler temperature with a steady humidity level around 47–50%. If the humidity level drops too low, other materials may become brittle.</p><figure class="image media-element file-default"><img alt="Woman wearing purple latex gloves presses gently into the inside of one of the Ruby Slippers into a case." rel="lightbox" src="https://americanhistory.si.edu/sites/default/files/Ruby_Slippers_Install.jpg"><figcaption>Objects Conservator Dawn Wallace installs the Ruby Slippers&nbsp;in the museum's new gallery.</figcaption></figure><h4><strong>Lights! Camera! No wait, LESS lights!&nbsp;</strong></h4><p>Light is one of the most damaging environmental factors and has to be minimized, but visitors also need to be able to see and appreciate Dorothy's sparkling shoes. The case's glass protects the shoes against harmful ultraviolet wavelengths.</p><h4><strong>Keep it steady</strong></h4><p>Once Wallace and Barden had the light, temperature, and humidity settings just right, their work wasn't done—and it never will be. Maintaining a steady environment with minimal fluctuations is critical. In Washington, D.C., we have heat waves, snow days, and lots of unpredictable weather in between. Our Preservation Services team will be monitoring carefully to make sure conditions for the Ruby Slippers remain optimal. The Ruby Slippers' case provides that data in real time and can detect sudden changes. It will notify staff so they can set things right.</p><h4><strong>Keep out the bad guys</strong></h4><p>Yes, protecting against theft is important. Another pair of Ruby Slippers was stolen from a Minnesota museum in 2005 and <a href="https://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/recovered-ruby-slippers" target="_blank">recently recovered</a>—and we take object security extremely seriously. But there are other baddies we need to keep at bay: pollutants. Dust and other environmental pollutants are not welcome in the case, thanks to a sophisticated system to filter out harmful particles. After Wallace individually <a href="https://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/conservation-ruby-slippers" target="_blank">cleaned</a> each sequin with a tiny vacuum, she's especially motivated to keep this pair of shoes as clean as possible.</p><figure class="image media-element file-default"><img alt="Ruby Slippers in a case with a black bottom and clear top. Rectangular. Gallery has a green circle on the floor with grey around it. &quot;There's no place like home&quot; in white on wall with mural of red poppies on green background." rel="lightbox" src="https://americanhistory.si.edu/sites/default/files/Ruby_Slippers_Gallery.jpg"><figcaption>Surrounded by a curtain and a mural featuring big, colorful poppies, the Ruby Slippers gallery is carefully lit to maximize visibility while protecting the objects.</figcaption></figure><h4><strong>Don't steal the spotlight</strong></h4><p>Despite the many components working hard within the case to keep the Ruby Slippers preserved, the case's exterior remains sleek to give the shoes the spotlight. The case fits attractively into the gallery's overall design without calling attention to itself. When the Ruby Slippers move to our entertainment exhibition, the case will work seamlessly into its new setting.</p><p>So when you come to admire the Ruby Slippers, take a moment to behold the case that preserves them. Everyone at the museum is especially thankful for our "Keep Them Ruby" Kickstarter backers who not only supported the conservation of Dorothy's shoes but also helped us provide them with this hardworking, sophisticated case.</p><figure class="image media-element file-default"><img alt="Group photo in front of a colorful mural. Many smiling staff members, most of them wearing red shoes. One in front has a section of prop yellow brick road." rel="lightbox" src="https://americanhistory.si.edu/sites/default/files/Staff_Ruby_Slippers.jpg"><figcaption>The museum's staff members pose with their red shoes to celebrate the return of the Ruby Slippers.</figcaption></figure><p><em>Erin Blasco manages the museum's social media and blog. She highly recommends this blog post on <a href="https://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/10-things-exhibition-installation" target="_blank">10 things you should know about exhibition installation</a>.&nbsp;</em></p><p><em>The Museum extends its thanks to supporters of the Ruby Slippers conservation effort through Kickstarter.</em></p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-authors field-type-text field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Author(s):&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Erin Blasco</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-posted-date field-type-datetime field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Posted Date:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">Monday, April 22, 2019 - 08:30</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-blog-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Categories: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/blog-tags/collections">From the Collections</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1"><a href="/blog-tags/film-television">Film &amp; Television</a></li></ul></div><div class="feedflare"><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?a=9uTFi2_cFd0:vtmKfxuCryc:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?a=9uTFi2_cFd0:vtmKfxuCryc:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?a=9uTFi2_cFd0:vtmKfxuCryc:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?i=9uTFi2_cFd0:vtmKfxuCryc:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?a=9uTFi2_cFd0:vtmKfxuCryc:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?i=9uTFi2_cFd0:vtmKfxuCryc:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?a=9uTFi2_cFd0:vtmKfxuCryc:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/OSayCanYouSee?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/OSayCanYouSee/~4/9uTFi2_cFd0" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>
Topic:
American History  Search this
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National Museum of American History
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