There are few iconic personalities that have reached the level of undeniable fame matching that of Marilyn Monroe. She is a one-of-a-kind icon, both lauded and abused by Hollywood, the media and society. Thomas Card had the unique opportunity, honor, and privilege to document and photograph all of her belongings prior to Christie’s auction. Through this process and his individual research, Card gained a unique perspective shared by few others. Now, these belongings are scattered around the globe, but Card’s insights remain intact. Card was one of the first invited into the Monroe vault and tasked with recommending to the curators the style of photography that should be used to capture this unique collection. He proposed a documentary style with the intent of allowing the objects to tell the tragic and inspirational story of the misunderstood star. And so began Card’s adventure to tell Monroe’s story through the documentation of her belongings, locked in a vault for days on end, contemplating a life unmatched by others. Card directed the narrative of her story through both her belongings and her own words, which he discovered hidden in her powder compacts and other belongings. Card recalls that her possessions told the story of a person seeking out connections, forced to maintain a public façade very different from her own internal being. He uncovered scripts hidden away in her possessions to help her navigate the press and fans alike. He examined the lip marks still residing on her favorite lipsticks, strands of her iconic hair still nestled in the bristles of her hairbrush, and cottonwood seeds still clinging to her jeans. Card developed a deep respect for the person who was Marilyn Monroe and dedicated himself to showing the world her inner strength by presenting the artifacts at their very best. This collection is an awe-inspiring selection of some of Monroe’s most iconic and meaningful belongings captured brilliantly with a lens sensitive to Monroe’s humanity and dignity. There are superstars, and then there is Marilyn. These are her simple belongings, the everyday things that give us a glimpse into the real life of Marilyn Monroe.