Pilgrimage to Tomorrow: 1939 New York Worlds Fair souvenir diary and photograph album
Creation: circa 1938Abstract
World's Fairs or International Expositions are large-scale exhibitions highlighting technology, agriculture, and other innovations of national or cultural significance. The New York World's Fair occurred in Flushing Meadows, Queens, from April 30, 1939, to October 31, 1940. The theme was "The World of Tomorrow." This souvenir diary and photograph album combines official drawings and photographic images of buildings at the 1939 New York World's Fair with a personal photograph album and diary section, in which the reader was to record his or her own memories of the fair. The diarist who completed this souvenir remains unidentified.
Dates
- Creation: circa 1938
Creator
- New York World's Fair (1939-1940 : New York, N.Y.) (Organization)
- Underwood & Underwood (Photographer, Organization)
- Unknown (Writer of added commentary, Organization)
Extent
1 volume(s)
Physical Description
1 album ; 7 x 5 in. (closed) containing 42 photographic prints : b&w ; 3.5 x 5.5 in. or smaller.
Historical Note
World's Fairs or International Expositions are large-scale exhibitions highlighting 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 occurred 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 were the 18-story Perisphere and the 700-foot Trylon obelisk.
Scope and Contents
This souvenir diary and photograph album combines official drawings and photographic images of buildings at the 1939 New York World's Fair with a personal photograph album and diary section, in which the reader was to record his or her own memories of the fair. An unidentified person has written in the diary section and added over forty photographs to the book, both in the album section of the book and on the diary pages. These images are a mixture of personal and professional images of building exteriors and sculptures at the fair. Several newspaper clippings about the closing of the fair are pasted into the diary section.
Access Restrictions
No restrictions on access, this collection is open for research.
Language of Materials
English
Finding Aid & Administrative Information
- Title:
- Pilgrimage to Tomorrow: 1939 New York Worlds Fair souvenir diary and photograph album
- Author:
- Lisa Gensel
- Date:
- 2002
- Description rules:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description:
- English
- Script of description:
- Latin
Revision Statements
- 2023: Laurie Sather
Repository Details
Repository Details
Part of the Audiovisual Collections Repository
