New-York Historical Society ephemera
Call Number
Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
The New-York Historical Society ephemera record group is comprised of print materials generated for distribution by the institution between 1839 and 2019 and documents N-YHS communication, programming, outreach, and promotion throughout its years of operation. Ephemera includes admission tickets; invitations; informational brochures; souvenir exhibition programs and checklists; event programs, handouts, calendars and schedules; library, museum, and membership announcements; bookplates and stationery; posters, postcards, flyers, and other promotional items.
Arrangement Note
The New-York Historical Society ephemera (NYHS-RG 14) record group is organized in two series:
Series I. Ephemera Files (1839-2019)
Series II. Ephemera Scrapbooks (1843-1985)
Scope and Contents Note
The New-York Historical Society ephemera record group is comprised of print materials generated for public distribution by the institution between 1839 and 2019, and documents N-YHS communication, programming, outreach, and promotion over its years of operation.
Materials include (in order of prominence) admission tickets; invitations; souvenir exhibition programs, checklists and small pamphlet-style catalogues; event programs, handouts, calendars and schedules; meeting and election notices; library, museum, and membership announcements; publication and other informational brochures; blank ballots, order forms, membership applications, and stationery; bookplates; form letters; posters, postcards, flyers, and other promotional items; and circulars for subscriptions to building initiatives, the Publication Fund, or other endeavors.
Within the context of this record group, ephemera does not include newsletters or other periodically published bulletins, substantially sized and/or bound volumes, three-dimensional artifacts, items intended for sale, or paper materials not produced in bulk printings. Other items commonly relocated by the archivist to other record groups during processing include: press releases, press kits, clippings and other publicity materials; gift shop catalogs and products; and staff notices, memos, and other items circulated exclusively within the institution. Most notated or otherwise personalized materials have been relocated to other record groups, though a few such documents remain with the ephemera.
Series I. Ephemera Files contains chronological files of N-YHS print material created and distributed between 1839 and 2019.
Series II. Ephemera Scrapbooks contains materials compiled into scrapbooks over time by N-YHS staff between 1843 and 1985; the content largely overlaps with Series I.
Subjects
Organizations
Genres
Topics
Access Restrictions
Materials in this collection may be stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.
Use Restrictions
Taking images of documents from the library collections for reference purposes by using hand-held cameras and in accordance with the library's photography guidelines is encouraged. As an alternative, patrons may request up to 20 images per day from staff.
Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.
Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: https://www.nyhistory.org/about/rights-reproductions
Preferred Citation Note
This record group should be cited as New-York Historical Society ephemera (NYHS-RG 14), The New-York Historical Society.
Location of Materials
Accruals Note
The record group will continue to receive ongoing accruals of ephemera as it is collected, though these items will not necessarily be compiled in any systematic manner.
About this Guide
Processing Information Note
Series I materials were previously organized chronologically into two collections of "Miscellany" and "Ephemera," with documents transferred to archival containers and folders.
Series II scrapbooks were originally assembled over time by N-YHS staff. In 2015, the scrapbooks were disbound by conservation intern Sara Belasco, but arranged and foldered according to their original order as found in the books. Archivist Brynn White integrated these and other relevant materials, made minor changes to the arrangement, removed select materials more relevant to other record groups, and provided description in a finding aid in 2015.
As general policy, five of the best-quality copies of small-format announcements, tickets, and invitations were retained, and three copies retained of other ephemera materials. Excess duplicates are stored in restricted boxes, as noted in the container list.
Additional documents (found in boxes 20 and 31) were added to the record group by archivist Larry Weimer in 2021. These included ephemera from 2017-19, plus older materials found or transferred to the archives after the bulk was processed in 2015.
Sponsor Note
Repository
Series I. Ephemera Files, 1839-2019, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents Note
This series contains chronological files of N-YHS print material created and distributed between 1839 and 2019.
Multiple copies of small-format event announcements and tickets, dating between 1871 and 1982, are stored separately in card boxes. These contain 19th- to early 20th-century monthly and annual meeting notices sent to members, often highlighting a special guest lecturer and presentation topic. Circa the 1920s, announcements and invitations for exhibition previews and concerts also start to appear. Around the mid-1940s, N-YHS incorporated film screenings into its event programming (often projecting titles from its own collection), and began hosting an increasing number of exhibition previews, private receptions, and board of trustees events. Two annual events represented throughout the files from this period forward are the Strawberry Festival, held in late spring, and St. Nicholas Day Festival, a 19th-century tradition revived in 1939 as a holiday season celebration .
Researchers interested in specific periods should also consult the folder files, where further invitations and tickets may appear, in addition to calendars, gallery floor plans, exhibition programs and checklists, and other informational, educational, and promotional items for N-YHS special events, exhibitions, public programming, development, membership, publications, and library/museum collections and services. Calendars and handouts for conferences and symposia hosted by and at N-YHS are also present. Ephemera produced for fundraising and donor events proliferates from the 1990s onward, including materials for the History Makers Gala (annual benefit held since the mid-1980s), movie premieres (The Age of Innocence, The Wings of the Dove), and other society events held onsite (e.g., fashion show by the design house Halston). A small amount of 19th and early 20th century fundraising/subscription circulars and other documents for building construction, general support, Publication Fund, and acquisition of artworks is also in the series.
A diverse group of outside organizations are represented in the series, many of which held meetings and other events onsite at N-YHS, or collaborated on exhibitions or other programming. These include the Daughters of the Revolution, Columbia University, Allied Artists of America, Holland Society, Maiden Lane Historical Society, School Art League Steamship Historical Society of America, and the Long Island Preservation of Antiquities.
The end of the series features general information brochures and/or undated materials for the institution, its library and museum, and the fundraising and membership departments. Other files contain blank postcards, stationery, and bookplates.
Arrangement Note
The bulk of the Series I files are arranged chronologically.
Commencing with the 1990 files, a prior staff member maintained chronological order, but individually foldered all materials by event or exhibition. Folders containing general, miscellaneous, and year-spanning materials introduce each year's run.
General information and undated materials for specific N-YHS departments, and discrete groups of single format materials, are listed at the end of the series container list.
Ephemera. 1839-1859, 1839-1859, Undated
Scope and Contents Note
Includes dinner ticket for N-YHS 40th Anniversary dinner on November 20, 1844 signed on back by Egbert Benson; unsigned tickets of introduction "To Be Delivered at the Door;" one "New-York Gallery ticket; and transferable Member's Tickets. (Undated materials estimated to be from mid 19th century).
Ephemera. 1860-1869, 1860-1869
Scope and Contents Note
Includes annual report of the Committee on Fine Arts (1861-1862); circular for the John Jay Audubon subscription fund (April 1863); circular for the Bryan and Jarves pictures (March 1964); the Rules of the Executive Committee (1864); select tickets have names written on them, others have acquisition notes on back.
Ticket for Strawberry Festival (June 7, 1864) accompanied by 1976 letter from donor Edward Naumburg indicating this is the first recorded evidence of the N-YHS event, despite beliefs it began as early as 1855.
Ephemera. 1870-1879, 1870-1879
Ephemera. 1871-1935. Announcements and Tickets, 1871-1935
Ephemera. 1880-1883, 1880-1883
Ephemera. 1884-1887, 1884-1887
Ephemera. 1888-1899, 1888-1899
Ephemera. 1900-1904, 1900-1904
Scope and Contents Note
Includes letterpress printing of J.L. Beekman poem "A Goddess Distressed," dated December 13 & 14, 1901, relating to the need for building funds.
Ephemera. 1904. N-YHS Centennial, 1904
Scope and Contents Note
Includes program featuring menu, reprinting of original meeting minutes, and illustrations of former N-YHS locations; seating plan for the banquet held at Delmonico's restaurant.
Ephemera. 1905-1910, 1905-1910
Scope and Contents Note
Includes first circular announcing and recruiting donors to the Founders Fund; September 1, 1908 notice of relocation of collections to new location on Central Park West and closure of both buildings until further notice; August 23, 1909 announcement and description of stand for members and their families to view the parades of the Hudson-Fulton Celebration.
Ephemera. 1911-1919, 1911-1919
Scope and Contents Note
Includes December 5. 1919 circular issued by Executive Committee combatting recent accusations of neglect made against N-YHS management.
Ephemera. 1920-1922, 1920-1922
Ephemera. 1923-1924, 1923-1924
Ephemera. 1925-1929, 1925-1929
Ephemera. 1930-1932, 1930-1932
Ephemera. 1933-1935, 1933-1935
Scope and Contents Note
Includes tickets for January 2, 1934 address by Bella C. Landauer, "An Informal Talk on My Collection of Lottery Items, Trade Cards, Transportation Literature, etc."
Ephemera. 1936-1938, 1936-1938
Scope and Contents Note
Includes images of new wing construction; May 5, 1936 program for Jenny Lind songs performed by soprano Crystal Waters (autographed by Waters).
Ephemera. 1939-1945. Announcements and Tickets, 1939-1945
Scope and Contents Note
Includes ephemera indicating an N-YHS graphic design shift from traditional serif and blackletter-style to the sans serif Futura typeface in 1939.
Ephemera. 1939, 1939
Scope and Contents Note
Includes tickets (one for Miss S.H. Haveland) and guidelines for historical cruise aboard the Steamer Chauncey M. Depew on September 14, 1939; pamphlet on "The Story of the New-York Historical Society," which includes descriptions of the new museum galleries.
Ephemera. 1940, 1940
Ephemera. 1941, 1941
Ephemera. 1942, 1942
Scope and Contents Note
Includes a pamphlet describing the Thompson Homestead Memorial, a museum at East Hampton, Long Island, owned and operated by N-YHS in the 1940s.
Ephemera. 1943, 1943
Scope and Contents Note
Includes handout on procedure for staff and visitors during an air raid, dated January 13, 1943.
Ephemera. 1944, 1944
Ephemera. 1945, 1945
Ephemera. 1946-1949, 1946-1949
Scope and Contents Note
Includes type-written supplement to 1946 Strawberry Festival invitations: "In co-operation with Mr. Hoover's emergency food conservation program, each person will be limited to one portion."
Ephemera. 1946-1954. Announcements and Tickets, 1946-1955
Ephemera. 1950-1959 (2 folders), 1950-1959
Scope and Contents Note
Includes postcards from the "New York Fashion in 1869" exhibition; pamphlets on the Carriage Collection and "Collection of Steamboat Pictures that the New-York Historical Society should possess..." and catalog for the DeWitt McClellan Lockman memorial exhibition.
Ephemera. 1952-1959. Event Calendars (2 folders), 1952-1959; 1969-1970
Scope and Contents Note
Includes large seasonal calendars of events, listing special exhibitions, motion picture and music series, education events, lectures and gallery talks, and basic visitor information.
Ephemera. 1955-1982. Announcements and Tickets, 1956-1982
Ephemera. 1960-1969 (2 folders), 1960-1969
Scope and Contents Note
Includes letterpress printing of short-title list of rare books, broadsides, maps, and manuscripts on display in the 1969 exhibition "Treasures of Americana from the Library of the New-York Historical Society."
Ephemera. 1970-1972 (2 folders), 1970-1972
Scope and Contents Note
Includes circulars on Bicentennial Planning Commission and "Audubon and His World" exhibition of original Birds of America watercolors; handout for the 1971 inaugural exhibition of the N-YHS Library Gallery, "Classics of Seventeenth-Century Americana."
Ephemera. 1973-1974, 1973-1974
Ephemera. 1975, 1975
Ephemera. 1976, 1976
Ephemera. 1977 (2 folders), 1977
Scope and Contents Note
Includes revised 1977 edition of pamphlet "The Story of the New-York Historical Society."
Ephemera. 1978-1979, 1978-1979
Ephemera. 1980, 1980
Ephemera. 1981, 1981
Ephemera. 1982 (2 folders), 1982
Ephemera. 1983 (3 folders), 1983
Ephemera. 1984 (2 folders), 1984
Scope and Contents Note
Includes pamphlet for N-YHS lixury cruise along the coast of Canada and southern Alaska on the Royal Viking Star.
Ephemera. 1985 (2 folders), 1985
Scope and Contents Note
Includes three copies of the John J. Audubon first day of issue stamp in related cover.
Ephemera. 1986 (2 folders), 1986
Ephemera. 1987 (3 folders), 1987
Scope and Contents Note
Includes brochures for the debut season of six N-YHS walking tours, "New-York Walks."
Ephemera. 1988 (3 folders), 1988
Ephemera. 1989 (3 folders), 1989
Scope and Contents Note
Includes invitation to opening, and advertisement for woodblock printed in commemoration, of the Paper and Book Conservation Laboratory.
Ephemera. 1990 (14 folders), 1990
Scope and Contents Note
Includes Christmas card hand-illustrated by Laird Ogden depicting and autographed by staff of the Print, Photographs, and Architectural Collections department (see also: 1991 General folder).
Ephemera. 1991 (20 folders), 1991
Scope and Contents Note
Includes promotional postcards for new hours of operation featuring Irving Browning photographs accompanied by note: "Tom [Dunning] - This is all contraband -- all copies supposedly destroyed - but it was given out at Paine Webber opening!! Note caption on reverse and what you can read on front side. Wendy 9/24." Includes materials for The Jewish Museum during its time housed at N-YHS while its building was renovated.
Ephemera. 1992 (16 folders), 1992
Scope and Contents Note
Includes extensive selection of brochures printed for "Markers of Change: Documents of American History" exhibition, on topics ranging from John Winthrop's 17th-century sermon "A Modell of Christian Charity," to Ulysses S. Grant's terms of surrender at Appomattox.
Ephemera. 1993 (3 folders), 1993
Ephemera. 1994 (3 folders), 1994
Ephemera. 1995 (5 folders), 1995
Ephemera. 1995 May-December (5 folders), 1995
Ephemera. Undated, [1995-2004]
Scope and Contents Note
Includes walking tour maps and handout from Halston fashion show hosted at N-YHS.
Ephemera. 1996 (9 folders), 1996
Ephemera. 1997 (11 folders), 1997
Ephemera. 1998 (19 folders), 1998
Ephemera. 1999 (11 folders), 1999
Scope and Contents Note
Includes promotional postcards for the new N-YHS website at www.nyhistory.org.
Ephemera. 1999 May-December (13 folders), 1999
Scope and Contents Note
Includes invitation to August 5 memorial celebration for John F. Kennedy, Jr. hosted at N-YHS by George Magazine and Hachette Filipacchi Magazines.
Ephemera. 2000 (10 folders), 2000
Ephemera. 2001 (4 folders), 2001
Scope and Contents Note
Includes letter from Mayor Rudolph Guiliani addressed to all attendees of the opening of the Henry Luce III Center for the Study of American Culture.
Ephemera. 2002 (5 folders), 2002
Ephemera. 2003 (2 folders), 2003
Ephemera. 2004 (7 folders), 2004
Ephemera. 2005, 2005
Scope and Contents Note
Includes issue of the "New York Amsterdam News" written and distributed in conjunction with the 2005-2006 "Slavery in New York" exhibition.
Ephemera. 2006, 2006
Ephemera. 2007, 2007
Ephemera. 2008, 2008
Ephemera. 2009, 2009
Ephemera. 2010, 2010
Ephemera. 2011 (2 folders), 2011
Ephemera. 2012, 2012
Ephemera. 2013, 2013
Ephemera. 2014, 2014
Ephemera. 2015, 2015
Ephemera. 2016, 2016
Ephemera. 2017-2019, 2017-2019, inclusive
Ephemera. Undated, [1990-2012]
Scope and Contents Note
Includes Festival of St. Nicholas handouts: notes written by Carol Zicklin (adapted from the Papers of John Pintard) and reprintings of Clement Clarke Moore's "T'was the Night Before Christmas" manuscript and the published 1848 edition.
Ephemera. Library, [1890-1990]
Scope and Contents Note
Includes admittance cards for affiliated members of the industrial arts field and various form letters sent in response to research inquiries.
Ephemera. Museum, [1880-1950]
Scope and Contents Note
Includes notice to members encouraging them to introduce visitors of the city to the exhibition galleries (late 19th-century); blank invitations to become N-YHS member; floor plan guides for museum visitors (ca. 1930-1945).
Ephemera. General Information (1 of 3), [1850-1940]
Scope and Contents Note
Includes pamphlet on N-YHS publications through 1924 and early 20th-century membership handout.
Ephemera. General Information (2 of 3), [1960-1995]
Scope and Contents Note
Includes general information brochures for the museum, library, school programs, and Department of Prints, Photographs, and Architectural Collections; several versions of promotional brochure titled "The Importance of Being Hyphenated."
Ephemera. General Information (3 of 3), [1996-2010]
Ephemera, Miscellaneous, 1950s-2011, inclusive
Ephemera. Fundraising and Development, [1965-1995]
Scope and Contents Note
Includes brochures on planned giving and coroporate sponsorships; blank acknowledgement for gifts; blank donation form listing amount of gift, format of acknowledgment, and installment schedule; "With the Compliments of the New-York Historical Society" gift cards (all undated).
Ephemera. Membership, [1980-circa 2004]
Scope and Contents Note
Includes general information brochures about N-YHS membership.
Ephemera. Postcards, ca. 1920
Scope and Contents Note
Includes multiple images of 170 Central Park West building, reading room, and Henry Dexter Hall as well as highlights from collection such as the Beekman Family Coach.
Ephemera. Bookplates, ca. 1940-1960
Scope and Contents Note
Includes bookplates for volumes purchased using the Trust Fund of Lathrop Colgate Harper, Mrs. Lathrop Colgate Harper Fund in Memory of Francis P. Harper, and the James B. Wilbur fund; bookplates featuring blank space for entering purchaser name; and copperplate illustrated with N-YHS logo and address.
Ephemera. Bookplate Sheets (2 folders), ca. 1900-1950
Scope and Contents Note
Includes sheets of labels for library volumes purchased using the Demilt Fund, Grosvenor Fund, Thomas Fund, Ewer Legacy, and Griswold Legacy. In poor condition.
Ephemera. Folders, ca. 1985-1995
Scope and Contents Note
Includes folders used for press kits and other sets of distribution materials.
Ephemera. Stationery, [1950-2005]
Scope and Contents Note
Includes blank memorandum forms, gift acknowledgments, package labels, envelopes, and other stationery featuring N-HYS letterhead. The bulk features red letterpress printing, with some letterheads personalized for James B. Bell (Director) and Larry E. Sullivan (Librarian), Norman Pearlstein (Chairman), Betsy Gotbaum (President), or Wilbur L. Ross, Jr. and Herbert S. Winokur, Jr. (Co-Chairmen).
Ephemera. Staff Telephone Directories, 1982-2009
Scope and Contents Note
Directories includes staff person's name and department (earlier directories) or title (later directories), or sometimes both, thereby providing an overview of staffing.
Ephemera. Program & Exhibition Listings, 2005-2019, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Semi-annual booklets distributed to the public listing upcoming programs, speakers, exhibitions, etc.
Excess Ephemera. 1930-1955 [Restricted], 1930-1955
Scope and Contents Note
This box includes only excess copies of tickets and other ephemera culled from the folders in the record group. Because the material is redundant it is available for internal use only.
Excess Ephemera. 1965-2012 [Restricted], 1965-2012
Scope and Contents Note
This box includes only excess copies of tickets and other ephemera culled from the folders in the record group. Because the material is redundant it is available for internal use only.
Excess Ephemera. 1985-2000 [Restricted], 1985-2000
Scope and Contents Note
This box includes only excess copies of tickets and other ephemera culled from the folders in the record group. Because the material is redundant it is available for internal use only.
Series II. Ephemera Scrapbooks, 1849-1985
Extent
Scope and Contents Note
This series contains chronologically assembled scrapbook pages of N-YHS print material created and distributed between 1843 and 1985. A majority of the materials -- which were alternately glued, stapled, or slid into plastic sleeves -- overlap with content found in Series I, though with some variation. Due to varying degrees of paper brittleness and adhesive deterioration in many of the files, researchers are advised to consult Series I first.
Early scrapbooks are captioned by prior staff, whom also prepared indexes based on lecturer name, and inputted description of events for which they did not maintain associated ephemera. Further details and specific highlights of individual scrapbooks may be found in the container list.
External organizations represented in the ephemera scrapbooks, many of which held meetings and other events onsite, or collaborated with N-YHS on exhibitions or other programming: Modjeska Club, American Jewish Historical Society, Ukrainian Academy of Arts and Sciences, Municipal Art Society, Railway and Locomotive Historical Society, National Sculpture Society, Netherlands Aid Society, Polish Institute of Art and Sciences, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Steamship Historical Society of America, New York Folklore Society, National Council of Jewish Women, Society of Architectural Historians, Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities, and most significantly, Allied Artists of America, who organized annual competitions for exhibitions; the School Art League, who hosted a medal and scholarship presentation; and the New York Society for General Semantics, who offered a popular seminar series at N-YHS.
The scrapbooks contain a few formats outside the record group's defined parameters for ephemera, chiefly newsletters and press releases.
Arrangement Note
The Series II materials were originally collected and compiled by a prior staff member in 10 chronological scrapbooks; the original order was maintained during and after their disassembly and foldering by a conservator in 2015. The container list transcribes the original title assigned to each scrapbook; the original cover and spine appears before each run of files attributed to the respective scrapbook.
Scrapbook. Lecture Cards. Volume 1 (6 folders), 1843-1923
Scope and Contents Note
Includes tickets to 1854 semi-centennial celebration dinner at the Metropolitan Hotel; 1860 commemoration of the birthday of Washington Irving; 1903 laying of the corner-stone of the new building (both for platform seating and regular admission); 1905 centennial banquet at Delmonico's (pink ticket for balcony admission, which was designated for female members); 1917 reception and "Father Knickerbocker Pageant;" 1917 series of illustrated lectures for children. Final folder contains index for speaker names.
Scrapbook. Lecture Cards. Volume 2 (6 folders), 1924-1949
Scope and Contents Note
Includes musical lectures and recital handouts; 1941 Christmas program. Final folder contains index for speaker names.
Scrapbook. Tickets. Volume 3 (4 folders), 1943-1976
Scrapbook. Exhibition Cards, 1909-1942
Scope and Contents Note
Includes announcements for exhibitions. Scrapbook spine also includes labels for "Miscellaneous Cards" and "Gold Medal for Achievement in History" materials, but these were not present in the scrapbook.
Scrapbook. Special Events (7 folders), 1939-1951
Scope and Contents Note
Includes programs, tickets, order forms, and calendars for musical programming, special and press previews, exhibitions, symposia, and other special events. Special items of note include materials from the fight to preserve the Aquarium in Battery Park and the Thompson Homestead Memorial museum briefly operated by N-YHS.
Scrapbook. Special Events. Posters, 1939-1951
Scope and Contents Note
Poster for special exhibition "Our City Hall in History" (October 1949-Feburary 1950) and posters for undated "How Early America Lived" demonstration for American history students on the operation of early household inventions.
Scrapbook. Special Events (3 folders), 1951-1963
Scope and Contents Note
Includes programs, handouts, invitations, and chiefly calendars (see also: oversize folder of Series I).
Scrapbook. Tickets (8 folders), 1963-1971
Scope and Contents Note
Includes programs, calendars, and invitations in addition to tickets.
Scrapbook. N-YHS Exhibition Brochures, Calendar of Events, Stationery, Gazettes, etc. (7 folders), 1971-1982
Scope and Contents Note
Contents are true to titles. Many materials have come loose from the scrapbook pages and are housed in sleeves.
Scrapbook. N-YHS Exhibition Brochures, Calendar of Events, Stationery, Gazettes, etc (2 folders), 1981-1983
Scope and Contents Note
Contents are true to title. Materials have been removed from plastic sleeves and placed in paper slings to retain semblance of original placement.
Scrapbook. Promotional Publications (4 folders), 1983-1985
Scope and Contents Note
Contents are true to title. Materials have been removed from plastic sleeves and placed in paper slings to retain semblance of original placement.