Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the James W. Holmes Karting Collection

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0787
Creators:
Holmes, James W.
Di Nozzi, Robert
Dates:
1961-1979
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
2 Cubic feet
7 boxes
Repository:
Collection documents James Holmes, an advertising agent who specialized in advertising for the Karting industry. Holmes created magazine advertising, product catalogs and event promotional materials as well as logo and patch designs for manufacturers and karting sport sanctioning organizations.

Scope and Contents note

Scope and Contents note
The collection spans the years 1961-1979, but the majority of the documentation is from the 1960s. The collection is arranged into seven series.
Series 1: James W. Holmes Advertising Agency, 1979, consists of invoices from the Holmes Advertising Agency.
Series 2: Manufacturers, ca. 1960s, is arranged alphabetically by manufacturer name (clients Holmes handled) and consists of negatives and some photographs of parts produced by the manufacturers. The negatives were used to create catalogs for various companies selling go-karts.
Series 3: Go-Kart Races, 1961-1978, undated, is arranged alphabetically by the race site. Almost exclusively negatives, there are some photographs and two microfilm reels depicting races throughout the United States.
eries 4: Go-Kart Associations, 1964-1968, undated, contains documentation on associations, councils and clubs associated with the go-karting industry. Of interest are seven issues of the
Grand Prix Press
, a newspaper published by Meadowdale International Raceways, Inc.
Series 5: Miscellaneous, undated, consists of one folder of material which includes newspaper clippings, business cards, art work, and articles.

Arrangement

Arrangement
Collection is aranged into five series.

Biographical/Historical note

Biographical/Historical note
The first go-kart was built in southern California by Art Ingels in 1957. Three other individualsBBill Rowles, Duffy Livingstone, and Roy DesbrowBfounded GoKart Manufacturing Company in 1957, and offered the first commercially available kart, the GoKart 400. James Holmes was a prominent advertising agent involved with the karting industry in the midwest from the 1960s to 1980s. He created magazine advertising, product catalogs and event promotional materials as well as logo and patch designs for manufacturers and karting sport sanctioning organizations. Some of Holmes= clients included: G.E.M. Products, Evans Supply Company, Max-Torque, Inc., Rolfe Aircraft Associates, Rupp Mfg., and Simplex Mfg.

Administration

Author
Alison Oswald
Immediate Source of Acquisiton
Collection donated to the Archives Center, National Museum of American History by Robert DiNozzi, January 16, 2002. Items donated are from the personal collection of Mr. James Holmes of the James Holmes Advertising Agency
Processing Information
Processed by Alison Oswald, 2002.

Using the Collection

Preferred Citation
James W. Holmes Karting Collection, 1961-1979, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Conditions Governing Use
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.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Black-and-white photographic prints -- Silver gelatin -- 1950-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Posters -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Design drawings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Go-Karts Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Correspondence -- 1960-1990 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Decals Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Microfilms Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Karting Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Karts (Automobiles) Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
advertising Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Programs -- Sports Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Business records -- 1950-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Black-and-white negatives Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Specifications Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Newsletters -- 1950-2000 Genre Form 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