The Lilly Library is a treasure trove of rare artifacts, books and manuscripts in the heart of IU’s Campus. From something like a first edition copy of Walt Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass” to one of the only Gutenberg Bibles still in existence today, the library’s archives provide endless knowledge and history.
Part of that history includes a collection of "The Wizard of Oz” artifacts, which is free for members of the public to enjoy, especially ahead of the Jacobs Live at the Movies performance of “The Wizard of Oz” opening Friday.
The collection consists of about 120 items including books, film scripts, toys and merchandise related to “The Wizard of Oz.” Erika Dowell, the associate director and curator of modern books and manuscripts at the Lilly Library, said the story is an “icon” of literature for children.
“It’s a true American fairytale,” Dowell said.
One of the oldest artifacts in the collection is a first-edition copy of the original “Wizard of Oz” book written by L. Frank Baum, with illustrations by W.W. Denslow. Published in Chicago in 1900, the edition features printing techniques, illustrations and coloring that were innovative for their time.
Dowell said the book’s unique art style of its text being printed over pictures and color was a new technique for the time it was published.
“Baum and Denslow got together to talk about making a really beautiful book that was pretty much unlike any other children’s book that had been published at that time, and that is for a couple of reasons,” Dowell said. “The quality of the storytelling is part of it, but the production of the book is too, because it took advantage of innovations in color printing of the time.”
Additionally, the collection includes a “Wizard of Oz” themed board game from 1921, which features some of Denslow’s original illustrations. The game was purchased by the library from American bookseller Justin Schiller, who deals in rare children’s books.
The Lilly Library also owns a photocopy of a prompt book from a 1902 stage play of “The Wizard of Oz.” The show premiered at the Chicago Grand Opera House, 37 years before the popular film adaptation was released.
Although these objects are just a few within a much larger collection, the other “Wizard of Oz” artifacts are readily available for members of the public to view.
However it’s not just “Wizard of Oz” memorabilia that can be found in its archives, the Lilly Library houses over eight million manuscripts, about half a million books and various other collections of artifacts, including comic books and puzzles.
The Lilly Library is non-circulating, meaning the materials in its collections must never leave the library; however, students are free to request an appointment in the library’s Reading Room, where they can choose to view or interact with any collections or items they wish.
While materials can be requested for any purpose, students often request to view certain collections when researching specific subjects. Whether students are interested in the original typed manuscripts of “James Bond” with Ian Fleming’s handwritten edits or a collection of Kurt Vonnegut’s rejection letters, the library’s vast archives include a wide variety of materials related to certain topics.
Michelle Crowe, the assistant dean of engagement, strategic partnerships and communication for IU Libraries, encourages students to devote themselves to at least one research project during their time at IU and use the library’s resources to enhance that learning experience.
“We want it to be as easy as possible for students to come and look at the materials and use them to turn any assignment into something really special,” Crowe said. “The Lilly Library is a collection of collections, and it is just waiting for students to dig in and find things.”
Appointment requests require a user account in order to access the Lilly Library Request System, and visits must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance. Library attendees can search for specific items or collections on IU's online library catalog or Archives Online. This access to such an abundance of rare books and items is not exclusive only to IU students but is available to anyone interested.
“We have one of the greatest rare book libraries right here in Bloomington,” Crowe said. “And even better than that, we have access that is unlike what most rare book libraries provide. We are here for anyone who is curious.”
Despite a revival of materials such as vinyl records in the past couple of years, physical media is not nearly as popular as it once was. CDs are replaced with Spotify playlists, physical books are traded for e-readers and demand for physical media items has become a niche interest. Nevertheless, these materials still exist and can add depth and value to the way we interact with the stories we love, like “The Wizard of Oz” and so many more.
Joel Silver, the director of the Lilly Library, emphasized the benefits of handling physical media in comparison to digital interactions.
“There’s something special about seeing and handling these original objects,” Silver said. “In the case of the first edition of ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ no matter how many times you see the illustrations from it reproduced or see an online facsimile of it, it’s not at all the same as seeing and viewing the original three dimensional object and being in the presence of it. There’s a certain magic to it.”
