The World's Columbian Exposition celebrated the 400th anniversary of the landing of Christopher Columbus in the New World. The fair's dedication ceremonies were held in October 1892. The fair grounds were open to the public from 1 May to 30 October 1893. They occupied 630 acres in Jackson Park, which was at that time eight miles south of downtown Chicago, Illinois.

Leading architects of the day designed the fair's buildings in a classical architectural style that had been adopted as the standard. The physical exhibits in these massive, yet temporary, structures were supplemented by The World's Congress Auxiliary, a series of lectures on a wide range of subjects. The Columbian Exposition was also the first world's fair with a separate amusement area. Still sometimes called the world's greatest world's fair, the World's Columbian Exposition was the largest public exposition to have been held in America to that time.

The bulk of this collection consists of printed ephemera produced by exhibitors at the fair to promote their products. There are brochures, fliers, trade cards (these have the accession number 68×155) and giveaways promoting a wide range of contemporary consumer, professional, and industrial products. There are also transportation schedules for routes to Chicago, an album of train tickets for routes to the fair, and information promoting lodgings and attractions in Chicago itself. Forms that would have been used by fair exhibitors make up another segment of the collection. The collection includes nearly one hundred photographs of the exteriors of the fair's buildings.

As well, the collection contains miscellaneous items such as souvenir ribbons with illustrations of fair buildings woven into the fabric; postcards; a block print textile sample with a design that includes Christopher Columbus, the U.S. Capitol, and stars representing the states; a traveler's notebook; a photograph of a family at the midway; and a deck of souvenir playing cards, each card illustrated with views of different buildings.

Materials in the collection suggest that the papers with the accession number 78×321 may have been accumulated by someone associated with the Essex Institute and Peabody Academy of Science, both exhibitors at the fair.

The materials are arranged in accession number order, with accession 78×321 found in Boxes 1-8; accession number 68×155 (the trade cards) in Box 9; and various accession numbers in Box 10.

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Purchases and gifts from various sources.

Purchases and gifts from various sources.

The Downs Collection also has diaries that record trips taken to the exposition, and drawings of souvenir spoons designed by Charles Osborne. Trade catalogs from the exposition are in the Printed Book and Periodical Collection.

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION Repository code: DeWint File name: co1046.xml Abstract: The World's Columbian Exposition, held in Chicago in 1893, celebrated the 400th anniversary of the landing of Christopher Columbus in the New World. Included in the papers are brochures, fliers, trade cards, and giveaways produced by exhibitors at the fair; photographs of fair buildings; transportation, lodging, and attractions information; and other souvenirs of the fair. Extent: 3 linear feet Date range: 1892-1893 Related materials: Language: English Winterthur Museum, Garden, and Library Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera Winterthur, DE 19732 (302) 888-4853 World's Columbian Exposition Collection Col. 46 Creator: World's Columbian Exposition Title: Collection Dates: 1892-1893 Call No.: Col. 46 Acc. No.: 68×155, 78×321, and others Quantity: 10 boxes Location: 16 H 1-2 RELATED MATERIALS The Downs Collection also has diaries that record trips taken to the exposition, and drawings of souvenir spoons designed by Charles Osborne. Trade catalogs from the exposition are in the Printed Book and Periodical Collection.