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Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Guide to the William L. Bird Holidays on Display Collection
Summary
- Collection ID:
- NMAH.AC.1288
- Creators:
-
Bird, William L.
- Dates:
-
1877 - 2010
- Languages:
-
Collection is inEnglish. Some materials inGermanandItalian.
- Physical Description:
-
6.5 Cubic feet19 boxes, 1 oversize folder
- Repository:
The collection consists of archival materials assembled by National Museum of American History Curator William Lawrence Bird. The materials were used as background research for the publication of his book Holidays on Display (New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2007), and as exhibit objects for the exhibit by the same name that opened shortly after the museum's architectural renovation (November 2009-September 2010). The materials include advertising and trade literature, especially for department stores and with emphasis on the display of toys; catalogs; photographs and slides; postcards; parade programs; design drawings; correspondence; stock certificates, and miscellaneous items relating to department stores and their displays, parades and the amusement industry.
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of archival materials assembled by National Museum of American History Curator William Lawrence (known as Larry) Bird. The materials were used as background research and as exhibit objects for the exhibit "Holidays on Display" (November 2009-September 2010). The materials include advertising and trade literature (especially for department stores and with emphasis on the display of toys); catalogs; photographs and slides; postcards; parade programs; design drawings; correspondence; stock certificates, and miscellaneous items relating to department stores and their displays, parades, and the amusement industry.
Arrangement
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into fourteen series.
Series 1, Advertisements, 1925, 1954, undated
Series 2, Articles/Newspaper clippings, 1922-2009 and undated
Series 3, Artwork/Drawings, 1952, 1966
Series 4, Buttons/Pins (souvenir), 1901-2009
Series 5, Certificates, 1975-1976
Series 6, Correspondence, 1928
Series 7, Department Stores, 1903-2001
Series 8, Design/Display Companies, 1890-2001
Subseries 8.1, Adler-Jones Company, 1947
Subseries 8.2, American Decorative Flower Company, Inc., undated
Subseries 8.3, Chance Manufacturing Company, Inc., 1975
Subseries 8.4, Chicago Artificial Flower Company, 1938-1939, 1951
Subseries 8.5, Eden Musee, 1892-1910 and undated
Subseries 8.6, Dennison Manufacturing Company, 1913-1956
Subseries 8.7, Display Sales, 2008 and undated
Subseries 8.8, Garrison-Wagner Company, 1949-1952, 1959
Subseries 8.9, Gasthoff's Display Service, Inc., 1937-1938, 1956
Subseries 8.10, General Electric, 1931, 1938, 2000
Subseries 8.11, D. Glosser and Associates, Inc., undated
Subseries 8.12, Hamberger Displays, Inc., 1989., 1997-1998, 2001
Subseries 8.13, Intamin AG (observation towers), undated
Subseries 8.14, International Register Company, 1931
Subseries 8.15, Heinrich Mark, undated
Subseries 8.16, Maytag Parade Floats and Moving Displays, [1938?]
Subseries 8.17, Roberto Meluzzi, undated
Subseries 8.18, Messmore & Damon, 1890-1960s
Subseries 8.19, Modern Art Studios, circa 1920s
Subseries 8.20, Motion Machines, Inc., undated
Subseries 8.21, Phoenix Decorating Company, 2006-2010
Subseries 8.22, Pinfari, undated
Subseries 8.23, Pittsburgh Display Advertising, Inc., 1952
Subseries 8.24, S.B. Ramagosa and Sons, 1974
Subseries 8.25, Rubies Costume Company, Inc., 2000
Subseries 8.26, Schack's Artificial Flower Company, 1922
Subseries 8.27, Anton Schwarzkopf, undated
Subseries 8.28, Sherman Display Guide, 1942
Subseries 8.29, Vaughan's, Inc., 1950s, 1992 and undated
Subseries 8.30, Venture Ride Manufacturing, Inc., 1975
Subseries 8.31, Victory Corporation, 1978-2000
Series 9, Parade Programs, 1909-2009
Series 10, Photographs, 1877-2009
Subseries 1, Parades, 1877-1980s
Subseries 2, Window Displays, circa 1930s-2000s
Subseries 3, Miscellaneous, 1935-1965 and undated
Subseries 4, Slides, 1948-1976
Subseries 5, Lantern Slides, undated
Series 11, Postcards, 1909-1973 and undated
Series 12, Publications, 1938-1989, 2007
Subseries 12.1, Amusement Business, 1962-1967
Subseries 12.2, Chicago Railroad Fair Official Guide Book, 1948
Subseries 12.3, Commercial Christmas Decor, 2001-2002
Subseries 12.4, Department Store Economist, 1963 July
Subseries 12.5 Display World, 1949, 1950-1952
Subseries 12.6, The Fellow Worker (Jordan Marsh Company), 1928 December
Subseries 12.7, Good Year News (Good Year Tire and Rubber Company), 1962 November
Subseries 12.8, The Holiday Messenger, 1891-1892
Subseries 12.9, The Hudsonian (J. L. Hudson Company), 1937-1954
Subseries 12.10 International Correspondence Schools, 1946-1956
Subseries 12.11, Jolly Book for Boys and Girls (John Wanamaker and Company), 1929-1931
Subseries 12.12, Koester School Year Book, [circa 1920s?]
Subseries 12.13, Merchants Record and Show Window, 1906,1917, 1918
Subseries 12.14, Signs of the Times (National Journal of the Advertising Display), 1953 January
Subseries 12.15, Sparks (R.H. Macy and Company), 1938-1947
Subseries 12.16, Store Chat (Strawbridge and Clothier), 1949, 1951, 1957
Subseries 12.17, Time Magazine, 1948 December 27
Subseries 12.18, Tourist Attractions and Parks, 1989 February
Subseries 12.19, Childrens Souvenir Books, 1926-2003 (bulk 1920s)
Series 13, Travel/Tourism, 1927-2007
Series 14, Tru-Vue, circa 1940s
Historical Note
Historical Note
The collection consists of archival materials assembled by National Museum of American History Curator William Lawrence Bird. The materials were used as background research for the publication of his book Holidays on Display (New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2007), and as exhibit objects for the exhibit by the same name that opened shortly after the museum's architectural renovation (November 2009-September 2010).
Administration
Author
Alison Oswald.
Custodial History
Collection transferred to the Archives Center from the Division of Political History (now Division of Political and Military History) in 2012.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was assembled and donated by William L. Bird.
Accruals
One cubic foot was received from William L. Bird on April 16, 2015. One half cubic foot of material was received from William L. Bird in 2018.
Processing Information
Processed by Alison Oswald, archivist, 2012.
Using the Collection
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
The collection is open for research. Gloves must be worn when handling unprotected photographs, negatives, and slides.
Preferred Citation
William L. Bird Holidays on Display Collection, 1877-2010, undated, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
Related Materials
Related Materials
Materials held in the Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Messmore & Damon Company Records, 1892-1998 (AC0846)
Landy R. Hales Papers, 1908-1969 (AC0906)
Hudson-Fulton Celebration Photograph Album, 1909 (AC1149)
More Information
Bibliography
- Lehman Brothers Collection, Harvard Business School, Baker Library, Historical Collections (http://www.library.hbs.edu/hc/lehman/chrono.html?company=macy_credit_corp) (accessed August 9, 2012)
- Bird, William L. Holidays on Display. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2007.
- "Eden Musee Faces Bankruptcy," New York Times, June 8, 1915.
- Kobler, John. "Where Are they Now? The Pride of the Eden Musee," New Yorker, November 20, 1943.
Bibliography
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
archivescenter@si.edu
