Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Division of Social and Cultural History Cinema Posters Collection

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0656
Creators:
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Cultural History
Dates:
1932-1958, undated
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
1,000 Posters
1 box, 109 map folders
Repository:
A collection of 1000 cinema advertising posters from the early to mid-20th century.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Movie posters mostly from the early to mid-20th century, representing a wide range of popular films from the Golden-Age of Hollywood (1930s-1950s), including both adult and children's films, live action and animated, and studio and independently made films. Some posters document independent or "poverty row" releases as well.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged into one series.
Series 1: Cinema Posters, 1932-1958, undated.
This series contains 1000 cinema posters from the early to mid-20th century housed in 109 folders. The posters are arranged in alphabetical order by motion picture title within groups housed in folders. This collection maintains the order as arranged by the Division of Social and Cultural History.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
This collection was donated to the Division of Social and Cultural History in 1983. There is a companion collection of cinema lobby cards that compliment the motion picture titles in this collection.

Administration

Author
Craig Orr, updated by Franklin A. Robinson, Jr., 2022
Immediate Source of Acquisiton
A transfer from the Division of Cultural History, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, 1998. Oringinally acquired by the Divison of Social and Cultural History, 1983 (1983.0072, .0001 thru .1000)
Processing Information
Collection processed by the Division of Social and Cultural History, 1983.

Using the Collection

Restrictions on Access
Collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation
Division of Social and Cultural History Cinema Poster Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Film posters Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Posters -- Motion pictures -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Motion pictures Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
archivescenter@si.edu