The Winterthur Library

 The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum

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