Interview with Fred Simeone, 2014 December 3
Part of collection: Oral history interviews on Z. Taylor Vinson (2013-265)
Dates
- Creation: 2014 December 3
Biographical Note
Fred Simeone was born on June 8th, 1936. He is a retired surgeon who lives in Philadelphia. He spent much of his spare time throughout his life collecting auto ephemera, as well as automobiles. He met Vinson at the Hershey Car Show and the two formed a friendship based on their mutual interest in automobiles and auto literature. Over the years, Simeone accumulated a vast amount of American auto literature and racing automobiles. Recently, Simeone established the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum to preserve and house his collection, and to make it open for researchers.
Scope and Content
The interview was conducted by Gretchen Pruett, and took place at the Hagley Museum and Library on December 3, 2014.
In the interview, Simeone discusses his early collecting career and interest in cars and how his collecting practices evolved. He details the methods by which pre-internet collectors acquired auto literature and the changes that the internet and evolved communications technologies brought. Simeone talks about Z. Taylor Vinson –as a person, a friend, and as a fellow collector. Simeone also provides information about how the sales literature was produced and the role it played in selling automobiles. Simeone describes how collectors and dealers place value upon auto ephemera. He also discusses collecting as a lifelong pursuit that, for him, tells the story of the technological innovation of the automobile and its impact on modern society. [ID: 2013265_20141203_Simeone]
General Physical Description note
7 M2T Files. TRT 01:52:00.
Extent
From the Collection: 3 item(s)
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Additional Description
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for research.
Related Names
Subject
- Simeone, Frederick A., 1936- (Interviewee, Person)
Creator
- From the Collection: Hagley Museum and Library. Library. Oral History Project Office (Organization)
- From the Collection: Pruett, Gretchen (staff) (Person)
Repository Details
Repository Details
Part of the Audiovisual Collections Repository