Disney Archives Welcomes Star Wars Props, Costumes

D23.com says a full-sized X-wing is part of the collection coming to Burbank….

Archives. “Arrrrrchives.” When you hear the word, one imagines the echoing warehouse from a particular Lucasfilm franchise.

However, there are few parallels (despite the photographic similarities, see below) between the assemblage of the government warehouse of Raiders of the Lost Ark (later revealed to be Area 51 in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) and the actual Walt Disney Archives.

Meanwhile, I can vouch for this fact: There are, in fact, “top [people]” handling every item in the Disney Archives very, very carefully.

*When I was a visitor, The Walt Disney Archives featured The Haunted Mansion. Image: John Bishop.*

Star Wars Comes to Burbank

Moreover, first and foremost among the group welcoming over 3000 Star Wars props and costumes to the archives will be Madlyn Moskowitz – Lucasfilm collections and exhibitions archivist.

*Just some of the boxes making their way to Burbank. Images: D23.com.*

Moskowitz acknowledged the exciting announcement on her Twitter feed with an ancient emoticon worthy of an archivist:

🙂 https://t.co/8vNMFsLaOz
— Madlyn Moskowitz (@alohamaddy) August 19, 2021

And, as an aside, in 2019 Moskowitz was a guest on the late, great “The Star Wars Show”; there, Madlyn showed off some of the best stuff from The Rise of Skywalker.

But I digress.

It says here in D23.com that…

Keeping track of this otherworldly collection and making sure it safely arrives at its new home at the Walt Disney Archives is not an easy task. And with Dok-Ondar busy tending to his own collectibles and creatures in his Den of Antiquities at Black Spire Outpost (part of the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge lands at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts), the job of overseeing this collection transition falls on Madlyn Moskowitz, the Lucasfilm collections & exhibitions archivist. As custodian of the stolen plans, er… Star Wars props, artifacts, and costumes, Moskowitz is herself also making the journey from a galaxy far, far away to join the Walt Disney Archives.

“I’m very excited to join,” Moskowitz told D23.com of the move to the greater Los Angeles area. “I’ll be part of the research team… I’ll be a good point of contact for all things Lucasfilm.”

Speaking of “all things,” D23.com asked Moskowitz how archivists choose what items are saved and which are destined for the round file.

“In deciding what items we collect and preserve, we want to represent the creative process and the story itself,” said Moskowitz, who recently presented the talk, “Preserving Lucasfilm’s Collection with Archivist Madlyn Moskowitz” at The Walt Disney Family Museum.

Oh, and what a story these items (and Moskowitz) have to tell.

*Just a few of the props that made the cut. Images: D23.com.*

Finally, read the whole article over at D23.com, and check out all the photos from the new collection.

About Post Author

John Bishop

A graduate of Boston U. and Northeastern University, John Bishop, became the beat reporter for BostonBruins.com before the Boston Bruins 2006-07 NHL hockey season. While with the Black & Gold, “^BISH” traveled North America and Europe to cover the team’s every move via laptop, blog, and smartphone. The co-author of two books, “Bygone Boston” and “Full 60 to History: The Inside Story of the 2011 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins,” John also covered the XXI Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver in 2010 and the Bs 2011 Stanley Cup championship run and banner raising before taking a faculty/communications position at a prep school outside Boston in 2013. He lives with his wife Andrea, and sons Jack, Scott, and Luke, in central Massachusetts.

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