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1939 New York World's Fair postcards

Creation: 1939-1940
 Collection
Accession: 1972-320

Abstract

World's Fairs or International Expositions are large-scale exhibitions that highlight technology, agriculture and other innovations of national or cultural significance. The New York World's Fair took place in Flushing Meadows, Queens from April 30, 1939 to October 31, 1940. The collection consists of postcards featuring exterior and aerial views of the New York World's Fair grounds.

Dates

  • Creation: 1939-1940

Creator

Extent

27 item(s)

General Physical Description

27 prints (postcards) ; 3.5 x 5.5 in. or smaller.

Historical Note

World's Fairs or International Expositions are large-scale exhibitions that highlight technology, agriculture and other innovations of national or cultural significance. These fairs are open to the general public and can run for three weeks to six months.

The New York World's Fair took place in Flushing Meadows, Queens from April 30, 1939 to October 31, 1940. Nearly 45 million people visited the New York World's Fair. The theme was "The World of Tomorrow." Notable structures of this fair was the 18-story Perisphere and the 700-foot Trylon obelisk.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of postcards featuring exterior and aerial views of the New York World's Fair, 1939-1940. Exposition buildings featured include the Perisphere, the Cosmetics Building, the Federal Building, the Hall of Communication, the Swedish Pavilion, the Building of Consumer Interests, the Textile Building, the Du Pont Chemistry Building, the Aviation Building, the United States Steel Building, the AT&T Building, the Ford Motor Company Building and the General Motors "Highways and Horizons" Building. Many of these buildings appear as viewed from above. Gardens and sculptures at the Fair also appear in a number of postcards. These include several images of the Equitable Life Assurance Society's Garden of Security, which was dominated by a large statue group titled "Protection." The Star Pylon, the Trylon, and Constitution Mall with its tulip gardens and large statue of George Washington are also featured. Two postcards feature New York scenes outside of the World's Fair. One shows the entrance to the New York Harbor, while the other features the R.C.A. Building, Rockefeller Center, at night.

Location

GL Box 4.

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Language of Materials

English

Related Names

Subject

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title:
1939 New York World's Fair postcards
Date:
2014
Description rules:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description:
English
Script of description:
Latin

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Audiovisual Collections Repository

Contact:
PO Box 3630
Wilmington Delaware 19807 USA
302-658-2400