The Wizard of Oz remains a significant piece of cinematic history, not only for its pioneering use of Technicolor and its impact on Judy Garland’s career but also for the lasting fascination with its memorabilia. One of the film’s iconic costumes, a dress worn by Garland as Dorothy, was recently rediscovered at the Catholic University of America after being missing for decades.
In 1973, Mercedes McCambridge, a noteworthy Hollywood actress and friend of Garland, gifted the dress to Reverend Gilbert Hartke, the head of the university’s drama program. The dress was intended to inspire hope and courage among students. Over the years, its whereabouts became a mystery, with its existence largely forgotten after Hartke’s death in 1986.
The dress was unexpectedly found in June 2021 by Matt Ripa, a lecturer at the university, during preparations for building renovations. It was tucked away in a box atop faculty mailboxes, a surprising discovery that reignited interest in its history.
To authenticate the dress, experts from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History were consulted. They examined details such as a secret pocket for Dorothy’s handkerchief and Garland’s name written in a distinctive script, which matched characteristics of other authenticated dresses from the film. Although the Smithsonian experts are not authorized to officially authenticate the dress, the evidence strongly supports its authenticity.
The dress is now housed in the university’s Special Collections, preserved under controlled environmental conditions to maintain its condition. This rediscovery highlights the enduring legacy and intrigue surrounding The Wizard of Oz and its associated artifacts.