Hi, David--I'm pretty sure the first exhibition you're referring to was John
Michael Vlach's exhibition on plantation architecture, "Back of the Big House,"
which was accompanied by an edifying and well-illustrated catalogue including
the photographs that were found by some to be objectionable.  Actually reading
the catalogue and exhibition text might have provided a rationale for the
display of these images, but what I've learned from the resulting controversy (I
was living down the street from the LoC at the time) is to hold "sensitivity
workshops" whenever displaying items that might be perceived as offensive. 
Dealing with some of the potential issues before they can arise individually
seems to help prevent the proliferation of misconceptions.

All best,
Christian

Christian Carr
Director, Sweet Briar Museum
Assistant Professor of Arts Management
Sweet Briar College, Sweet Briar, VA

Quoting "David E. Haberstich" <[log in to unmask]>:

> In a message dated 2/7/2005 10:42:28 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
> [log in to unmask] writes:
> 
> << The Library of Congress had some problems w/ photographs of slave
>  plantations about a decade ago.  Also some with an exhibit on Freud,
>  although I can't remember why. >>
> 
> All I really know about these exhibitions was what I read in the newspapers
> 
> at the time.  I saved the clippings, but darned if I can find them now.  To
> the 
> best of my recollection, African American employees of the Library objected
> 
> to the first show because the subject was painful for them and they demanded
> 
> that it be removed (they succeeded).  In the second case, some people
> (probably 
> academics, although I don't recall the details) objected to the Freud show 
> simply on the grounds that Freud's theories are in disrepute and it was felt
> that 
> the mere act of doing an exhibition on one of the most influential figures of
> 
> the 20th century would be interpreted as an endorsement.  The Library's 
> capitulation to the forces of censorship was most unfortunate and wimpy, in
> my 
> opinion.
> 
> David Haberstich
> 
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