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World's Fair ephemera

Creation: 1933-1965
 Collection
Accession: 2011-210

Abstract

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. This is a small collection of ephemera from various World's Fairs.

Dates

  • Creation: 1933-1965

Creator

Extent

22 item(s)

Physical Description

1 item (20 photographic prints) : 2 x 3 in. 1 item ; 6.5 x 10 in. 1 item ; 2.5 x 3.5 in.

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 Century of Progress International Exposition was held along Lake Michigan and Northerly Island Park in Chicago, Illinois, from May 27, 1933, to October 31, 1934. The theme was "Science Finds, Industry Applies, Man Conforms." The fair had more than 48 million visitors. A notable structure was the Sky Ride, and one of the highlights was the flight of the Graf Zeppelin airship.

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.

The 1964 New York World's Fair was held in Flushing Meadows, New York from April 22, 1964 to October 18, 1964, and then again from April 25, 1965 to October 17, 1965. The theme was "Peace Through understanding." The fair had more than 50 million visitors. The fair is remembered as emphasizing technology and space exploration and has often been described as "Space Age." Highlights of the fair was a twelve story, stainless-steel globe called the Unisphere, the New York State Pavillion which still remains today, the General Motors "Futurama II' exhibit showing superhighways and ultramodern architecture, RCA's color television and Ford's Mustang.

Scope and content

This is a small collection of ephemera from various World's Fairs. The collection consists of a souvenir trivet or hot pad from the 1933 Chicago World's Fair showing the Chicago skyline from the waterfront, a souvenir set of twenty miniature photographs from the 1939 New York World's Fair, and an admission ticket from the New York World's Fair, 1964-1965.

Location

GL Box 1.

Access Restrictions

No restrictions on access; this collection is open for research.

Language of Materials

English

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title:
World's Fair ephemera
Date:
2015
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