The
The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and
Printed Ephemera
Henry Francis du Pont
5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur,
Delaware 19735
Telephone: 302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883
OVERVIEW OF
THE COLLECTION
Creator: Reed, Kurt A.
Title: Christmas and other ephemera collection
Dates: circa 1881-circa 1950
Call No.: Col. 995
Acc. No.: 2018x40.3-.4, 2018x64;
2019x44; 2020x15
Quantity: 320 items (4 boxes, 1
folder)
Location: 19 L 6, and map case 3,
drawer 3
BIOGRAPHICAL
STATEMENT
Kurt A. Reed lives in Lake Ariel, Wayne County,
Pennsylvania. He wrote a book, Around Lake Ariel, for the Lake Ariel Region Historical Association, and co-authored
the book Glass Industry in Wayne County,
Pennsylvania. His wife Carol J. Reed
died in 2016.
SCOPE AND
CONTENT
Collection chiefly includes Christmas ephemera, but
also includes a set of paper dolls, a crepe paper craft set, some material
pertaining to the National Grange chapter in Maplewood, Wayne County,
Pennsylvania, a newspaper from a U.S. Army unit stationed in Puerto Rico at the
end of the Spanish-American War, and other items. The
bulk of the collection is comprised of Christmas postcards, most of which
include images of Santa Claus, although two photographic postcards depict
Christmas trees in people’s homes. One
of the Christmas postcards was sent by an army sergeant to his comrades at Camp
Stewart, El Paso, Texas, in 1916. A few
Christmas cards are also found, including two with World War II themes. Photographs and stereographs show Christmas
trees and children visiting Santa Claus.
Scraps, advertisements, parcel post labels, Santa Claus figures, dressed
paper dolls (perhaps meant for Christmas decorations), a few children’s books
with Christmas themes, and Christmas cantatas for children are also included in
the collection.
Non-Christmas items include a paper doll (with
outfits, in original box); “Dennison Flower Outfits” (a box of pre-cut crepe
paper and other supplies for making flowers); assorted pieces of advertising,
including a pen wiper; a songbook printed for use by members of the National
Grange; and three ribbons from the Harvest Grange, the chapter in Maplewood,
Wayne County, Pennsylvania. One of
ribbons is black and was meant to be worn at funerals or memorial
services. The “Cayey News-Letter,” a Christmas souvenir,
was dedicated to the interest of Company H, 47th (N.Y.) U.S. Infy.,
which was stationed in Cayey, Puerto Rico in 1898. A copy of a song by George M. Cohan published
to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of George
Washington is included in the collection.
Also found are 20th century postcards of various places; many
of these post-date World War II.
ORGANIZATION
The items are arranged by type of material
(postcards, photos, greeting cards, ads, etc.).
LANGUAGE OF
MATERIALS
The materials are in English.
RESTRICTIONS
ON ACCESS
Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply.
PROVENANCE
Gift
of Kurt A. Reed, in memory of Carol J. Reed.
ACCESS POINTS
People:
Washington, George,
1732-1799 – Anniversaries, etc.
Topics:
Harvest Grange No. 892
(Maplewood, Wayne County, Penn.)
National Grange.
Amusements.
Children - Pictorial works.
Christmas cards.
Christmas - Collectibles.
Christmas music.
Christmas plays.
Christmas trees - Photographs.
Christmas trees - Pictorial works.
Crafts and decorating.
Crepe paper.
Mourning customs.
Paper dolls.
Ribbons.
Santa Claus - Pictorial works.
Songbooks.
Spanish-American War, 1898
Postcards.
Stereographs.
DETAILED
DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
Location: 19 L 6, and map case 3,
drawer 3
All accession numbers begin with 2018x64, unless
otherwise indicated
Box 1:
Folder 1-2: Christmas postcards, acc. 2018x64.1-.232;
and 2020x15.1
Postcards with Christmas
greetings; mostly circa 1905-1920; some include names, addresses, and
hand-written messages; includes cards printed by Raphael Tuck; photographic
postcards (accessions 2018x64.7-.8, both with images of Christmas trees, one
dated 1905); embossed cards; cards with glitter, and cards with gold foil. Almost all of them have images of Santa Claus,
who is usually wearing a red suit. He
rides on a three-wheel bicycle, floats in hot air balloons, drives cars, talks
on the telephone, listens to the wireless (1909), and flies a plane
(1913). He often carries a tree as well
as toys.
Accession 2018x64.150, which
is postmarked 1916, is printed with a photo of and greeting from Serg. E. P.
Varcoe, and was addressed to someone in Co. E, 13th Pennsylvania
Infantry, based at Camp Stewart in El Paso, Texas. Accession 2018x64.211 includes Uncle Sam, who
is shaking hands with Santa Claus.
Accessions 2018x64.157, .160,
and .173 have greetings in Norwegian.
Accession 2018x64.206 was
mailed from France in December 1918.
Accession 2018x64.221
includes a photograph of a woman.
Folder 3: Christmas and winter photographs and
stereographs, acc. 2018x64.233-.240
.233 Stereograph:
“Awful Told, but Lots of Fun.” Three
children in the snow, two sitting in a small sleigh (from Keystone View
Company, no. 2316, copyright 1898);
.234 Stereograph: “The Christmas Carol.” Five little girls singing, holding music
books, standing in front of Christmas tree (from Underwood & Underwood,
copyright 1890 by Strohmeyer & Wyman);
.235 Christmas
tree, with farm scene at foot of it (log cabin, pond with geese, etc.), dated
1920;
.236 Christmas tree inside a church;
.237 Christmas
tree, with toys at foot of tree;
.238 Santa
Claus standing next to fireplace, with hanging stockings;
.239 teenage
boy and girl with Santa Claus, in folder decorated with winter view, 1940s?;
.240 young
boy sitting on Santa’s lap, in folder printed with Christmas 1946, the May
Company;
Folder 4: Christmas cards: acc. 2018x64.241-.258
.241 fireplace,
with fire that folds open, revealing Santa, on a wheel so he changes from
dumping toys to bringing Christmas and New Year wishes;
.242 card
which opens to a slot for a coin;
.243 card
which opens to a slot for currency, copyright 1947;
.244-.249 cards, chiefly with images of Santa Claus;
.250 Santa
flying a plane, could be card or gift tag;
.251 two-sided
card with fringe; on one side, girl sits in blooming apple tree; on other, girl
picks berries;
.252 card
with glitter;
.253 World
War II card, designed by Pvt. Chic Stone, France, 1944; private in French
village dreams of big American city;
.254 World War II card, from N.S.D. Guam [Naval
Supply Depot, Guam];
.255 Santa with feathery beard;
.256 Santa painting at easel;
.257-.258 two cards with envelopes
Folder 5: Christmas ephemera, acc. 2018x64.259-.261
.259 paper
napkin with image of Santa Claus and holly;
.260-.261 parcel post labels in boxes, one set with Santa Claus, the
other with mailman carrying large bag of gifts;
Folder 6: Trade cards, advertising, trade catalog, with
Christmas references, acc. 2018x64.262-.270
[note:
.269-.270 are oversized and are in map case or Box 4]
.262 trade card: 5000 Taxi Service, Scranton,
Pa., with Christmas greeting on reverse;
.263 blotting
sheets, with Santa and sleigh on cover, held together with brad decorated with
bells, from Claude C. Graeff, Manufacturing Pharmacist, Boyertown, Pa.;
.264-.265 advertisements for bank “Christmas Clubs,” from South Side
Bank and Trust Company, Scranton, Pa. (.264a-d), and from First National Bank
of Jermyn (.265);
.266 from
Bell Telephone Company of Pennsylvania: ad for princess phone, and
encouragement to sue Christmas seals;
.267 Coca-Cola ad, 1955, removed from magazine; on reverse: ad for Union
Carbide, about reaching for the moon;
.268 “Santa
Claus is on hand and will be at Gleazen & Nichols’ Shoe Store …,” 1889;
on reverse:
Bird’s-eye View of Binghamton, N.Y., where the shoe store was probably located;
.268 trade
catalog from Jack Edwards Store, Carbondale, Pa.: “Billy and Ruth 1939 March of
Toys”;
.269 “Scranton
Tribune Christmas Number 1894”: four pages of ads for businesses in Scranton,
Pa. (most of the ads are not Christmas oriented); - OVERSIZE – in MAP CASE
.270 “Santa’s
Modern Sleigh: American Railroads,” drawn by Jim Berryman for Association of
American Railroads; Santa riding on top of flying train – OVERSIZE - in BOX 4
Folder 7: Scrap,
with some Christmas images, acc. 2018x64.271-.273
.271 sheet
of stickers and the bag in which it came (probably 1920s-1930s);
.272 sheets
of “Lovely Old Fashioned Scrap Pictures,” reproductions for Merrimack
Publishing Corp., still in original plastic bag;
.273 loose
page from scrapbook, including trade cards for Day’s Soap with images of Santa
Claus (in brown coat; also head of a woman, an African American man with two
children, and flowers
Folder 8: Santa
Claus ephemera, acc. 2018x64.274-.284
.274a-c three blotters[?] from National School Studios; Santa
hanging picture;
.275 damaged
piece of scrap, Santa with food and toys;
.276 Santa
with tree, toys, oranges; a tag which could be used for an ornament;
.277 head
of Santa;
.278 standing
Santa;
.279 Santa
carrying toys and tree, with message “Now get your stocking ready”; initials in
scrap on back: R T H;
.280 “walking”
Santa carrying a sled and bag of toys;
.281 “Santa
Sack”: Santa figure with small paper bag attached to his back, 1920s;
.282 stocking
with small paper bag attached to back, 1910s;
.283 unopened
package of wrapping paper, with separate mustache and feathers which could be
added to Santa’s face, and with a gift tag;
.284 embossed
stand-up figure of Santa, ringing a bell – OVERSIZE
- in BOX 4
Box 2:
Folder 1:
Entertainments, play, with Christmas themes (acc. 2018x64.285-.287)
.285 Yale,
Elsie Duncan. Christmas at Jollyville Junction: A Play for Young Folk. (Chicago: Hope Publishing Co., 1924)
.286 Kellogg, Alice M. Christmas
Entertainments. (Philadelphia: Penn
Publishing Co., 1925). Includes drills,
acrostics, songs, tableaux, plays, recitations.
.287 Preston, Effa E. The
Christmas Gayety Book. (Dayton:
Paine Publishing Co., 1924.) Includes recitations,
dialogues, drills, songs, pantomimes, tableaux, and plays.
Folders 2-3: Christmas
songs, music, cantatas (acc. 2018x64.288-.297)
.288 “Christmas
Carols” (provided by Traders Building and Loan Association, Scranton, Pa.,
copyright 1959; includes information about its Christmas Club);
.289 “At the End of the Santa Claus Trail,”
compiled by Harriette Wilbur (Franklin, Ohio: Eldridge Entertainment House,
1920) [play with music];
.290 “In Quest of Santa Claus: Christmas
Operetta in Four Scenes, for Children,” words by Lena M. Harry; music by Otis
M. Carrington. (Redwood City, Calif.: Myers & Carrington, 1929);
.291 “Not Guilty, or Santa Acquitted: A
Children’s Christmas Cantata,” book and lyrics by Carolyn R. Freeman; music by
Ira B. Wilson. (Dayton: Lorenz
Publishing Co., 1930);
.292 “Santa Claus in Slumberland: A Juvenile
Cantata for Christmas,” libretto by J. W. Carpenter, music by Chas. H.
Gabriel. (Chicago: Hope Publishing Co.,
1907);
.293 “Santa’s Advance Man: A Christmas Cantata
for the Sunday School,” book and lyrics by Rowland H. Radcliffe, music by
Arthur Radcliffe. (Millville, N.J.: Arthur
Radcliffe Publishing Co., 1915);
.294 “Santa’s Airplane: A Cantata for Sunday
Schools, Public Schools, Etc.,” libretto by Rene Bronner, music by Ira B.
Wilson. (Dayton: Lorenz Publishing Co.,
1918);
.295-.296 “Santa’s Clinic: A Children’s Christmas
Cantata,” libretto by Carolyn R. Freeman; music by Ira B. Wilson. (Dayton: Lorenz Publishing Co., 1927); [two
copies];
.297 “Santa’s Santaplane: A Christmas Cantata
for Young People,” music by Arthur Radcliffe, book by B. B. James, (Millville,
N.J.: Arthur Radcliffe Publishing Co., 1912);
Folder 4: Books, magazines, with Christmas themes
(acc. 2018x64.298-.302)
.298 Household Guest Magazine, vol. 4, no. 2
(December 1881), with Christmas illustrations (in black-and-white);
.299 The Jolly Christmas Book, copyright by
Alice Henius Radt, 1948; this copy given out by Scranton Dry Goods Co.
Toyland. (includes stories, poems,
songs);
.300 Merry Christmas ABC. (New York:
McLoughlin Bros., 1899);
.301 A Visit from Saint Nicholas, by Clement
C. Moore (engraved by N. Orr & Co., printed by C.A. Alvord, no date); with
torn pages; added cloth spine;
.302 Christmas Book (Newark, N.J.: Charles E.
Graham & Co., no date; St. Nicholas series 043); - OVERSIZE - in BOX 4
Folder 5:
songbook (not Christmas) (acc. 2018x64.303)
.303 Grange Melodies, published by the National
Grange of Patrons of Husbandry for use in the Granges of the United States. Edited and complied by James L. Orr. (Philadelphia: Geo. S. Ferguson Co., 1911).
Blind
embossed: Harvest Grange P. of H., Maplewood, Pa.;
Part of
index (p. 199-200) has been removed;
Folder 6:
Scrapbook (acc. 2018x64.304)
.304 scrapbook
of [name in German script], 1900 and Anna Koster, 1904; includes pictures with
captions in German, trade cards (two from a grocery store in Brooklyn),
Christmas and Easter cards, scrap (some Christmas scenes), nursery catalog
pages, and a hand-painted picture. Most
of the items are in English.
Box 3:
Folder 1: paper
doll (2018x64.305)
.305a-j “Sweet Abigail,” designed by Marguerite McDonald,
printed by Raphael Tuck & Sons, 1894; from The Prince and Princess Series
of Dressing Dolls; in original box, doll, 4 dresses, two hats, two tiaras;
The box has
the name Miss May Walker, Hamlinton, Wayne Co., Penna., written on it. (Nothing further is known about her.)
Folder 2: craft
project (2018x64.306)
.306 “Dennison
Flower Outfits,” complete materials for making pink chrysanthemums (outfit no.
24) [box lid shows mums in yellow, but box contains materials for making pink mums];
includes pre-cut crepe paper for petals and leaves, wires for stems, tube of
art paste, and instruction booklet (which includes instructions for all the
different flower available); produced by Dennison Manufacturing Co. of
Framingham, Mass., no date [circa 1910-1930]
Folders 3-4:
Advertising ephemera (non-Christmas) (acc. 2019x44.1-.9; and 2020x15.3-)
.1 Cow Brand Soda [i.e. baking soda],
booklet, for Dwight’s Soda;
.2 Williams, Clark & Co., high grade
bone fertilizers, booklet;
.3 Phenix Iron Works, Williams Bros.,
Ithaca, N.Y., illustrated booklet, with prices;
.4 Geo. D. Wetherill & Co.: calcite
for kalsominging & decorating walls; folder, with paint samples, copyright
1884;
.5 Revere Paint Co.: “Revere” Metallic
Paint, card with smaples;
.6 Koch, Haas & Keck, Fine Footwear,
Allentown, Pa. (large trade card, with a penciled message on back about
“wailbones” [whalebones]);
.7 Antikamnia Chemical Company, ST. Louis:
Antikamnia Tablets, with 1910 calendar;
.8 Chas. M. Higgins & Co.: Higgins’
American Liquid Drawing Inks, printed on fabric, could be used for a pen wiper;
.9 Coles & Company, New York:
corrugated barrel caps, apple barrel cushions, [etc.]
2020x15.3 General Electric Radio, includes the new 1940 table models,
plus a model which permitted television audio;
2020x15.4 Luden’s Menthol Cough Drops: a Paint Book which included
pictures for children to color, along with advertising material for adults;
2020x15.5 Charles E. Hires Co. [Hires Root Beer]: “Hires Throws a Square
Dance with Chris Sanderson, probably 1950s;
2020x15.6 Seaside
Brand California Lima Beans, pamphlet with recipes;
2020x15.7 Nash Cars: calendar for 1952, from Boyd Bros., Honesdale, Pa.
[scenic pictures, not pictures of cars];
2020x15.8 Foley & Co.: Foley’s Family Almanac, advertising the
company’s products;
2020x15.9 Piso’s Cures: small booklet with music, advertising Piso’s
Cures for Consumption and Catarrh
Folder 5:
Painting Book (acc. 2020x15.2)
Printed by McLoughlin
Bros.; with pictures to be colored; includes some colored pictures, to give an
idea of what could be done
Folder 6: Trade
cards and advertisements (acc. 2020x15.10-.22)
.10 Heaton,
Cole & Ballard, Newark, N.J.: children’s carriages;
.11 Moore’s
Throat & Lung Lozenges;
.12 Phenix
Iron Works, Williams Bros., Ithaca, N.Y.: pamphlet specifically about the
Ithaca Wheel Rake (patented 1877), with illustrations and price list of parts;
.13 Wm.
Deering & Co., Chicago: Deering binder and mower;
.14-.15 H.E. Bucklen & Co., Chicago: for Bucklens Arnica Salve and for
Dr. Kings New Life Pills, both with poems (in English) about anthropomorphic
pigs; but the text on the back is in German
.16-.22 The Fifth Avenue Shop, Easton, Pa.: advertising its men’s clothing,
but with pictures of men’s styles, 1725-1840; each card with a calendar for a
month in 1911: April, May, July, August, October-December
Folder 7: Music
and programs (acc. 2020x15.23-.25; see also .26 in box 4)
.23 “The
Live Wire: Collection of Prohibition Songs,” compiled by Dr. J. B. Herbert for
the Rodeheaver Company (Chicago), no date, but most of the songs were
copyrighted in 1912;
.24 Academy
of Music, New York, program for week beginning Oct. 14, 1907, with cast for
“The Old Homestead”;
.25 Radio
City Music Hall, program for April 30, 1953, featuring the movie “Shane” (but
with music and a ballet on the program as well)
.26 “Father
of the Land We Love,” by George M. Cohan, written to commemorate the 200th
anniversary of birth of George Washington – IN BOX 4
Folder 8: Miscellaneous
items (acc. 2020x15.27-.31)
.27 Valentine,
or Reward of Merit: small card, with two hearts, flowers, hand-painted; the
name [illegible] Perkins is written on one of the hearts;
.28 tag:
“Save that shovelful of coal a day for Uncle Same,” is printed on one side; on
the other are “Hints on Saving Coal,” issued by U.S. Fuel Administration;
.29-.30 two small packets of fabric samples, from John Wanamaker store,
Philadelphia;
.31a-f stationery from the Cunard Line, R.M.S. “Queen Mary,” decorated
with image of the ship
Folder 9:
Postcards
.32 booklet
with views of Philadelphia, smaller than postcard, but could be mailed;
.33 West
Point, U.S. Military Academy; booklet, mailed in 1928;
.34a-o “Beautiful Washington”: envelope with postcards, views of various
public buildings in Washington, D.C.; envelope was to have held 25 views, but
not all are present;
.35a-m “George Washington”: envelope with postcards of paintings of the
family and photos of Mount Vernon;
.36a-g views of Monticello, home of Thomas Jefferson; plus the Overlook
Motel, near Charlottesville, Va.;
.37a-e views of Jamestown, Virginia, including the ships;
.38a-k views of Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia; two were mailed in 1959;
also includes a view of the motel Tioga Court, in Williamsburg;
.39a-b views from Yorktown, Virginia: the Victory Monument, and a display
in the National Park Service visitor center;
.40a-g views of Fort Delaware, Narrowsburg, New York
Box 4: oversize box (acc. 2018x64, unless otherwise
specified) (acc. 2020x15.26, .41-.42)
[.307-.308 – numbers
not used]
.309 ribbon: Harvest Grange, P. of H., No. 892,
Pennsylvania: blue silk ribbon, with letters printed in gold; gold color metal
bar at top of ribbon, and gold fringe at bottom
.310 ribbon: Harvest Grange, No. 892, Wayne Co.,
Maplewood, Pa., Organized Oct. 17, 1889: blue silk ribbon, with letters printed
in silver; gold fringe at bottom of ribbon;
overlaid with
red, white and blue ribbon, at top of which is a pin decorated with P.H. and
two American flags, and at bottom of which is a round badge printed with
Patrons of Husbandry, a sheaf of wheat, various farm implements, and two
shaking hands; this round badge was made by Torsch & Lee of Baltimore,
Maryland
.311 ribbon: “We Mourn Our Loss, Till We Meet
Again,” Harvest Grange, No. 892, Maplewood, Penn., Organized Oct. 17, 1889:
black silk ribbon, with letters printed in silver; black rosette at top of
ribbon, and silver fringe at bottom
acc.
2018x40.3-.4 Dressed paper dolls,
perhaps for use as Christmas decorations;
both have
printed torso and head; skirts made of fabric and tulle, trimmed with bits of Dresden
scrap; and hand-drawn legs with shoes;
2018x40.3: doll
with blond hair and blue jacket: written on back: Miss L[illegible]; note:
parts of the skirt are held in place with magnets;
2018x40.4: doll
with black hair and pink bodice
(Also in this box: 2018x64.270 and .302; see
descriptions above)
2020x15.26 sheet music: “Father of the Land We Love,” written
for the American people by George M. Cohan, written to commemorate the 200th
anniversary of birth of George Washington; illustrated with a picture of
Washington on horseback, in front of a map of the United States, “painting
contributed by James Montgomery Flagg”; with additional scenes from life of
Washington on the back cover; issued by the United States George Washington
Bicentennial Commission;
2020x15.41 “Cayey News-Letter,” a Christmas souvenir,
dedicated to the interest of Company H, 47th (N.Y.) U.S. Infy.;
Cayey, P.R. [Puerto Rico], December 25, 1898;
2020x15.42 Saturday
Globe, Utica, August 27, 1892; includes news of a railroad strike in
Buffalo; the newspaper has been folded,
but not all the pages are cut, so caution must be exercised in opening the
paper