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COLLECTION Identifier: Vis 29

Advertising ephemera collection

Overview

This artificial collection contains a variety of advertising materials, including trade cards, clipper ship cards, business cards, labels, and posters. Also included are scrapbooks of advertising trade cards and other ephemera, as well as greeting cards, calling cards and rewards of merit.

Dates

  • Creation: 1800-1970

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research. Some materials may be stored offsite; access requires advance notice. Contact specialcollectionsref@hbs.edu for more information.

Extent

18 linear feet (45 boxes, 3 map case drawers)

This artificial collection contains a variety of advertising materials, including trade cards, clipper ship cards, business cards, labels, and posters. Also included are scrapbooks of advertising trade cards and other ephemera, as well as greeting cards, calling cards and rewards of merit. Advertising materials are organized into series by type of material. Various indexes are available through the reading room for accessing materials within most series.

Series Outline

The collection is arranged in the following series:

  1. Series I. Advertising trade cards and other advertising ephemera, 1860-1910
  2. Series II. Advertising trade cards, 1875-1899 (available in VIA)
  3. Series III. Clipper ship cards, 1850-1870
  4. Series IV. Advertising trade card scrapbooks, 1875-1899
  5. Series V. Greeting cards, calling cards, rewards of merit, vignettes, ca. 1850-ca. 1970
  6. Series VI. Labels, ca.1870-ca.1970
  7. Series VII. Business cards, ca. 1800-1890
  8. Series VIII. Advertising posters, ca.1860-ca.1960

Provenance:

Trade cards and scrapbooks: Gift of Bella C. Landauer; Samuel Avery; E.A. Woods Fund, A. Hay, New Orleans; J. Marker; James S. Robinson; Essex Institute; Mary E. Osgood, 1935; Marjorie Hair; Helen M. Laws, 1957; heirs of George C. Dempsey; Mrs. P.S. Wolcott; Miss Maud E. Backus; Gutman Library, 2009; also two albums donated by Miss Julia M. Maynard to Widener Library in1940 and one album donated by Herbert Kleist were transferred from Widener Library, 1967. Clipper ship cards: Gift of Charles H. Taylor. Labels: Gift of heirs of George C. Dempsey; New England Historical Genealogical Society; and transfer from Groom Collection, 1979. Italian advertising posters: Gift of Prof. Pearson Hunt, 1955. Source of some materials unknown.

Processing Information

Processed: July 2001

By: Margaret Hale

Processed: October 2013

By: Christine Riggle

Processing note: Materials were reviewed and grouped together into the “Advertising Ephemera Collection” in 2001. Much of the material was rehoused and some reprocessing done in 2000-2001. Select trade cards were rehoused, scanned, and cataloged in 1999–2001.

Harmful content note

Users should be aware that this collection may contain offensive, misrepresentative, or euphemistic content, including description of individuals or communities using derogatory or racist language, as well as visual or audiovisual content that may be difficult to view or to listen to. Baker Library Special Collections has not censored terms used by the creator or removed or censored materials from the collection.

Title
Advertising Ephemera Collection, ca.1800-ca.1970: A Finding Aid
Author
Baker Library
Language of description
und
EAD ID
bak00232

Repository Details

Part of the Baker Library Special Collections and Archives, Harvard Business School Repository

Baker Library Special Collections and Archives holds unique resources that focus on the evolution of business and industry, as well as the records of the Harvard Business School, documenting the institution's development over the last century. These rich and varied collections support research in a diverse range of fields such as business, economic, social and cultural history as well as the history of science and technology.

Contact:
Baker Library | Bloomberg Center
Soldiers Field Road
Boston MA 01263 USA
(617) 495-6411