Step Into Celebrity History At Philly's Shoe Museum
By Jessica Dean
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Now for a place every shoe lover should see: the secret "shoe museum." This fashionable find is right here in Philadelphia.
You might pass it every day and never see it. Step inside the ordinary office building, up the elevator to the 6th floor, and the secret is revealed: the first glimpse of Nancy Reagan's rhinestone encrusted pumps, Mamie Eisenhower's elegant jade opera shoes, Leonore Annenberg's ivory brocade finery, Lady Bird Johnson's black silk heels, and many more.
Visitor Gayle Keating said, "I love shoes, and when I heard there was a museum, I was the first one to be on board."
The so-called "shoe museum" is actually a series of glass cases lining the hallways of Temple's University School of Podiatric Medicine. Barbara Williams is curator, a part-time medical archivist with a full-time footwear passion.
Shoe lovers can get a personal tour of the collection. It's by appointment only, and it's free.
"You can really almost tell more about people and people's lives from their feet than from clothes," Williams said.
There are about 250 shoes on display at any given time, but the entire collection is much bigger, about 900.
There are the vintage, like the wedding shoes from the 1800s to the 20th century, and Victorian-era laced boots "with buttons and leather. It's gorgeous. You don't see shoes like that anymore," visitor Kate Rucki said.
Then there are the ancient, like the Egyptian burial sandals, whose leather is "a couple thousand years" old, Barbara said.
For years, Barbara has asked celebrities to donate. Billie Jean King signed her tennis shoes. Phillies player Mike Schmidt gave red Nikes from his last season. There are black and white oxfords designed for Ringo Starr, and evening pumps worn by Joan Rivers. Actress Sandy Duncan donated a pair of Peter Pan boots.
Actress Sally Struthers personally donated blue platform wedges she wore on the TV show "All in the Family."
"When she was carrying them, she said, 'Not only did I wear these, they made me practice wearing these. Because I'm so short and Rob Reiner was so tall, they wanted every inch they could get,'" Barbara said.
Visitor Jacqueline Dutton said, "The history is fascinating. It's been an amazing, informative tour."
Barbara says everyone walks out with a new way of looking at the world. "You never quite think of your feet the same way," she said.
Tours are by appointment. To find out how to set up a tour, call The Shoe Museum at the Temple School of Podiatric Medicine at 215-625-5243 or email bwilliams@tuspm.temple.edu.
