Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Tommy Tucker the Squirrel Photographs and Ephemera

Summary

Correspondence
Correspondence
Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.1286
Creators:
LeMartine, Elaine
Bullis, Zaidee
Dates:
1944-1955, undated
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
1 Cubic foot
3 boxes
Repository:
Collection relates to Tommy Tucker, a squirrel kept as a pet, who entertained the public in an effort to sell World War II savings bonds.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Collection primarily documents Tommy Tucker's efforts to sell war bonds across the United States from 1943-1949. It includes booking and tour materials, photographs, correspondence, magazine articles, a biography, certificate of copyright, and newspaper clippings. There are a few documents relating to the personal life of Zaidee Bullis. Materials are arranged in chronological order.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged in one series.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Tommy Tucker was a male squirrel who was orphaned in the back yard of the Washington, DC Bullis family residence. Zaidee C. Bullis adopted the baby squirrel as a pet in 1942. Bullis, born to Richard William Waldron (March 9, 1854-August 29, 1918) and Virginia Brandon Waldron (October 1, 1868-June 5, 1909), was a homemaker and wife to Dr. Mark Carlton Bullis (February 12, 1875-July 13, 1954) a dental surgeon. She created clothing for Tommy and in 1943 began touring the country with him as he performed tricks entertaining children while selling war bonds for World War II. Tommy sold war bonds until his death on June 25, 1949.
Sources: Ancestry.com

Administration

Author
Marian Tatum Webb and Vanessa Broussard-Simmons
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by the estate of Elaine LeMartine in 2012.
Processing Information
Processed by Marian Tatum-Webb, volunteer, 2012; supervised by Vanessa Broussard-Simmons, archivist, 2012.
Separated Materials
Tommy Tucker's stuffed and mounted body can be viewed in the Archives Center.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation
Tommy Tucker the Squirrel Photographs and Ephemera, 1944-1955, undated, 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.
Related Materials
For materials relating to savings bonds, consult the following collections:Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Warshaw Collection of Business Americana Subject Categories: Stocks and Bonds, NMAH.AC.0060.S01.01.Stocks
Japanese American Documentary Collection, NMAH.AC.0305
Princeton University Posters Collection, NMAH.AC.0433
Eisler Engineering Company Records, NMAH.AC.0734
United States Savings Bond Stamp Collection, 1949-1970, NMAH.AC.0758
Smithsonian Institution Archives Records, 1949-1991, Record Unit 486, SIA.FARU0486
For materials relating to World War II efforts, consult the following collections:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Herbert M. Faust Papers, 1918-1949, NMAH.AC.0397
American Relief Administration. European Children's Fund, NMAH.AC.1199
Archives of American Art
Hildreth Meière papers, 1901-2011, bulk 1911-1960, AAA.meiemari
National Air and Space Museum Archives
World War II Propaganda Leaflets, NASM.XXXX.0846
For materials relating to squirrels, consult the following collections:
Smithsonian Institution Archives
National Museum of Natural History. Division of Mammals, Correspondence, 1934-1939, 1956-2017, SIA.FA18-100
Robert S. Hoffmann Papers, Accession 91-159
National Zoological Park. Department of Zoological Research, circa 1963-1996, Accession 20-094
Correspondence, circa 1965-2001, SIA.FA09-005
Gerrit Smith Miller, Jr., Papers, 1908-1940, SIA.FARU7173
Records, circa 1867-1971, SIA.FARU0208
Animal Research Records, 1967-1997, SIA.FA15-220
Office of Product Development and Licensing, Product Development and Licensing Records, SIA.FA00-112
National Zoological Park, Photographs, 1955-2005, SIA.FA16-065
Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution
Lilian Swann Saarinen Papers, circa 1909-1977. AAA.saarlili

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Articles -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Animals Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Animal welfare Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Anthropomorphism Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Biographies Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Copyright Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Entertainers Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Entertainers -- United States Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Entertainment -- Photographs -- 1920-1970 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ephemera -- 1940-1970 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Letters (correspondence) -- 20th century. Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs -- 1940-1960 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
World War, 1939-1945 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Savings bonds Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Squirrels Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Typescripts Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women's fashion Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Clothing -- American Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Children -- 20th century Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Fund raising -- World War, 1939-1945 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Savings bonds -- United States 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
Business Number: Phone: 202-633-3270
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