The Marilyn Monroe Collection

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The Marilyn Monroe Collection

Marilyn Monroe artifacts & archives. Original wardrobe, personal items, and rare ephemera. Exhibitions, institutional loans, and research.

Creator of In Her Shoes. The official fan page for the Marilyn Monroe Collection, the world’s largest private collection of Monroe’s personal property & archives.

06/18/2026

Three Pekingese dogs. A fashion assignment. And one of Marilyn Monroe’s most playful photo sessions.

In February 1955, Look magazine commissioned photographer Milton Greene to photograph oriental-inspired fashions, with Marilyn serving as the model. Styled by artist and close friend Joe Eula, the set featured Asian-inspired furnishings, tasseled cushions, and a decorative screen.

Then Greene and Eula added an unexpected touch: Pekingese dogs. 🧡

The result was a series of photographs that blended glamour with humor, capturing Marilyn laughing, posing, and interacting with her furry co-stars. While one image appeared in Look magazine’s June 14, 1955 issue, the full session remains one of the more charming and lighthearted collaborations between Marilyn and Greene.

Which image from the series is your favorite?

📸 Milton H. Greene | February 1955

Photo copyright: Milton H Greene

06/17/2026

New Collection Piece Added 💫

Among the newest additions to The Marilyn Monroe Collection is this letter from Marilyn Monroe Productions, Inc., dated February 26, 1958, and addressed to photographer and business partner Milton H. Greene.

At first glance, it appears to be a routine business communication concerning a 16mm print of The Prince and the Showgirl. Signed by Marilyn Monroe and embossed with the corporate seal of Marilyn Monroe Productions, the letter outlines arrangements for the print’s delivery and specifies that it was not to be reproduced or exhibited for commercial purposes.

What makes this document extraordinary is not its content, but its date.

February 26, 1958 was the very day the partnership between Marilyn Monroe and Milton Greene was formally dissolved.

Together, Monroe and Greene founded Marilyn Monroe Productions in 1955, creating one of Hollywood’s most groundbreaking independent production companies. Their partnership gave Marilyn unprecedented control over her career and challenged the traditional studio system at a time when few performers, particularly women, possessed such authority.

The Prince and the Showgirl would become the only completed feature film released by Marilyn Monroe Productions. By early 1958, however, business disagreements had brought the partnership to an end.

As a result, this letter represents far more than a routine business transaction. It is a document created on the final day of one of the most important professional relationships in Marilyn’s life, a quiet but powerful artifact marking the close of a chapter that forever changed the course of her career.

This document joins a growing number of artifacts from The Marilyn Monroe Collection currently on exhibition around the world during Marilyn's centenary year. Audiences in Los Angeles, London, Paris, and New York are discovering Marilyn's story through the personal belongings, documents, clothing, and photographs she left behind.

Visit TheMarilynMonroeCollection.com/exhibits for current exhibition information.

06/16/2026

Time leaves its mark on all of us, but few lives continue to resonate across generations quite like Marilyn Monroe’s.

In celebration of Blancpain’s new Marilyn Monroe-inspired timepiece, a selection of artifacts from The Marilyn Monroe Collection is now on display in New York, offering visitors to the Blancpain flagship boutique an opportunity to connect with the woman whose influence continues to transcend fashion, film, and popular culture.

Among the pieces on exhibit are Marilyn’s personal white fox m**f, worn to the November 1953 world premiere of How to Marry a Millionaire; a cast-signed purse from the same film; Marilyn’s personal script from Let’s Make Love; birthday cards she received from her half-sister, Berniece Miracle, and longtime friend and publicist, Pat Newcomb; Marilyn’s personal stationery; original photographs; and other intimate pieces from her life and career.

What I find most meaningful about these objects is that they tell a story beyond the famous photographs and film appearances. They reveal moments of friendship, family, work, and everyday life, reminders that behind one of the most recognizable faces in history was a woman whose story remains as compelling today as it was during her lifetime.

It is an honor to share these artifacts as part of this special collaboration and to see Marilyn’s legacy celebrated through both exceptional craftsmanship and authentic pieces of history.

As Marilyn’s centennial year continues, artifacts from The Marilyn Monroe Collection are currently on view in exhibitions across the United States and Europe. To learn more about these exhibitions and view a complete schedule, visit TheMarilynMonroeCollection.com.

If you’re in New York, I hope you’ll take the opportunity to experience the exhibition in person at Blancpain , 40 East 57th Street, now through June 26th.

06/15/2026

The Hollywood Premiere of Marilyn’s Dark Paradise

On May 29, I had the privilege of attending the Hollywood premiere of Marilyn's Dark Paradise at the historic Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. The film screened alongside Marilyn Monroe’s 1953 classic, Niagara, making for a memorable evening celebrating one of Hollywood’s most enduring icons.

Written, produced, and directed by Remi Gangarossa, Marilyn’s Dark Paradise is a fictional story that blends time travel with themes of resilience, identity, self-worth, and the longing to rewrite the past, as a time traveler attempts to save Marilyn Monroe. From its earliest stages, Remi worked closely with author Gary Vitacco-Robles and me to help shape the film’s historical atmosphere and authenticity.

As one of the film’s creative producers, it has been incredibly rewarding to watch this project connect with audiences and earn recognition on the international film festival circuit, receiving multiple awards and official selections.

Following the screening, Remi and members of the cast participated in a discussion about the making of the film. I was then honored to moderate a second panel discussion featuring Greg Schreiner, April VeVea / The Constructed Glamour Project and Elisa Jordan / LA Woman Tours exploring Marilyn’s appearance in Niagara.

The evening felt especially meaningful given the venue. Long before she became Marilyn Monroe, Norma Jeane attended movies at the Egyptian Theatre as a young girl. To premiere a film inspired by her life in a place where she once sat dreaming of Hollywood made the occasion all the more special.

Special thanks to the American Cinematheque for making this evening possible, and to and for their sponsorship and support.

Congratulations to Remi, the cast, crew, and everyone involved with Marilyn’s Dark Paradise. A special nod to Stephanie Stuart / Stephanie Stuart as MM for her portrayal of Marilyn. She captured Marilyn’s spirit beautifully.

Fun fact: Several authentic Marilyn Monroe artifacts from my collection were incorporated into Marilyn’s Dark Paradise, adding an extra layer of historical authenticity to the film.

06/14/2026

Now on exhibit in New York. 🍎

Fromthe Marilyn Monroe Collection, Marilyn Monroe’s personal lime green Emilio Pucci blouse currently on display at “Manifesting Marilyn: The Making of an Icon” at Genesis House New York .

In this reel, the blouse is shown on exhibit alongside rare color footage of Marilyn wearing it during the final months of her life. Seeing the garment displayed today and then seeing Marilyn wear it more than sixty years ago is a powerful reminder that these objects were once part of her everyday life.

Marilyn wore this blouse on several notable occasions in 1962, including rehearsals for her performance of “Happy Birthday Mr. President,” while visiting New York City in May 1962, and during her stay at the Cal-Neva Lodge in the final weeks of her life. In fact, She wears this blouse in the last ever photos taken of her that weekend at Cal-Neva.

Today, the blouse helps tell the story of a woman who was far more than a Hollywood icon. It is one of many personal artifacts that connect us directly to Marilyn Monroe’s life, work, and legacy. Thanks to Patrick Mackie for this footage.

📍 Manifesting Marilyn: The Making of an Icon
Genesis House
New York City

06/13/2026

IN HER SHOES • January 15, 1960

On January 15, 1960, Marilyn Monroe and Yves Montand hosted a cocktail party for Let’s Make Love at the Fox Commissary on the 20th Century Fox lot.

The photograph featured in this reel captures a remarkable gathering. Seated together are Marilyn Monroe and her husband, playwright Arthur Miller; actor Yves Montand and his wife, actress Simone Signoret; and entertainer Frankie Vaughan, who appeared alongside Marilyn and Montand in the film.

At the time, Let’s Make Love had just started production. The evening brought together members of the cast, their spouses, invited guests, and the press to cover this film.

More than sixty-six years later, the remarkable thing is how little has changed.

The mural visible behind the group remains on the wall today. The seating area is still recognizable. Standing in the room, it is easy to identify the exact location where this photograph was taken and where Marilyn and her guests spent that evening.

On June 6, 2026, I stood in the same spot.

Unlike many locations associated with Hollywood’s Golden Age, this corner of the Fox Commissary survives largely unchanged. The same mural that appears behind Marilyn, Arthur, Simone, Yves, and Frankie in 1960 can still be seen today, creating a direct visual connection to that moment in time.

History often feels distant when viewed through photographs. But occasionally, a place survives long enough to collapse the distance between then and now.

Same place.
The same mural.
Sixty-six years later.
“In Her 👠s!”

06/12/2026

🎙️ NEW EPISODE NOW AVAILABLE

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2055797/episodes/19334313-live-panel-discussion-recording-marilyn-s-last-interview-lost-photographs-and-the-stories-behind-them

Recorded live before a packed audience at the Los Angeles Public Library on May 29, this special centennial episode of the All Things Marilyn Podcast explores one of the most significant Marilyn Monroe projects in decades: Marilyn: The Lost Photographs & The Last Interview.

Joining us are Marilyns Lost Photos authors Chris Flannery and Jason Greene, along with Meredith Landis, daughter of journalist Richard Meryman, and Karin Grant, widow of LIFE magazine photographer Allan Grant.

In this episode:

🎤 Hear actual excerpts from Marilyn Monroe’s final interview in her own voice.

🎤 Learn the story behind Marilyn’s final professional portrait sitting and last major magazine photo shoot.

🎤 Discover the colors Marilyn was wearing in Allan Grant’s famous black-and-white photographs.

🎤 Listen to a special telephone appearance by legendary Marilyn Monroe superfan James Haspiel.

🎤 Go behind the scenes with the families who protected Marilyn’s final interview and photographs for more than sixty years.

More than a discussion about a book, this is a conversation about history, trust, integrity, and giving Marilyn Monroe the opportunity to tell her own story, in her own words.

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

06/11/2026

Now on Exhibit in London 🇬🇧

Among the personal belongings featured in Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait at the National Portrait Gallery are Marilyn Monroe’s own pair of white Salvatore Ferragamo heels, part of The Marilyn Monroe Collection.

More than a fashion statement, these shoes reflect Marilyn’s long-standing relationship with Ferragamo, whose designs became a defining part of her public image and personal wardrobe. After moving to New York, Marilyn became a regular client of Ferragamo, purchasing shoes created specifically for her using custom lasts made to fit her feet.

Worn, loved, and unmistakably Marilyn, these heels offer a rare glimpse into the everyday choices behind one of the most recognizable silhouettes in popular culture.

Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait is on view at the National Portrait Gallery in London through September 6, 2026, celebrating Marilyn’s life, career, and enduring legacy through photographs, artwork, and personal artifacts.

Thanks to and for sharing these videos with me.

I’ve not yet seen this exhibit in person but will be in London next month to visit!

06/10/2026

Now on exhibit in Paris. 🇫🇷

On display at is Marilyn Monroe’s silk evening cape, worn on March 9, 1955, during a pivotal moment in her life and career.

Elegant, dramatic, and unmistakably Marilyn, the cape is among the many artifacts from The Marilyn Monroe Collection currently being exhibited around the world in celebration of Marilyn’s centenary. You can see artifacts from the collection in Paris, London, Los Angeles, and New York. Visit marilynmonroecollection.com for details.

One hundred years later, her story continues to captivate audiences across generations.

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https://www.themarilynmonroecollection.com/

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