Warshaw Subject Category: World Expositions
This material consists primarily of guide books, souvenir books, catalogs, brochures, maps, general images, lithographs, advertising cards, postcards, commemorative stamps, tickets and correspondence created for the World's Fairs. A few trade catalogs (Chicago, 1893), magazines, bubble gum cards (Chicago, 1933-1934) and photographs are also included in the materials. One remarkable item in the world exposition's material is a "peephole" paper toy viewer from the New York 1939-1940 fair.
The amount of material for each fair varies widely. Most of the fairs including Paris 1855, Lausanne 1857, Boston 1883-1884, Bordeaux 1895, Philadelphia 1899, Milan 1906, Albuquerque 1908 and Seattle 1962 have very little information. The Philadelphia 1876 and Chicago 1893 expositions, however, contain a substantial amount of material. A number of expositions are not included among the materials. The container list indicates which fairs the Archives Center has information on in this collection.
A number of the expositions were given a nickname, mostly as a result of the architecture dominating the fair. Examples of those nicknames include the White City (Chicago 1893), the Magic City (Omaha 1898), the Rainbow City (Buffalo 1901), the Ivory City (St. Louis 1904), the Jewel City (San Francisco 1915), and Treasure Island San Francisco 1939-1940).
The World Expositions tend to have a theme or celebrate a special event. "The Age of Steam" was the theme for the first world exposition, held in London in 1851. In 1876, the Philadelphia exposition celebrated a century of American independence. The common name was the "Philadelphia Centennial." The Chicago 1893 fair celebrated the 400th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of America and was referred to as the "World's Columbian Exposition." The Omaha exposition in 1898 is known as the "Invitation to Renewed Expansion of the West." Buffalo's theme in 1901 was "All Americas Exposition", demonstrating the cultural, commercial and technical progress of the Western Hemisphere. Expanding the West was the theme for the St. Louis fair in 1904 to celebrate the lOOth anniversary of the purchase of the Louisiana Territory from France. In 1915, San Francisco celebrated the opening of the Panama Canal. American independence was celebrated again in Philadelphia in 1926 marking 150 years. Chicago's fair in 1933-1934 was called "A Century of Progress" it was incorporated as a city in 1833. The exposition in New York in 1939-1940 had two themes: "Building a World for Tomorrow" in 1939 and "For Peace and Freedom" in 1940. San Francisco's world's fair in 1939-1940 also had two themes: "Dawn of a New Day" in 1939 and "Fun in the Fourties" in 1940. The theme for New York's exposition in 1964-1965, "Peace Through Understanding", celebrated the 300th anniversary of the naming of New York by the British and the 15th anniversary of the United Nations in New York City.
Researchers interested in women's history will find little information on that subject. Most of the expositions had a Women's building, however, there are only a few items referring to them in this collection. Such materials include a book from the Philadelphia 1876 fair which discusses women's work. Another book from the Chicago 1893 fair examines the art and handicraft in the Women's building. A pamphlet also from the Chicago fair contains the official minutes of the Board of Lady Managers.
The materials in boxes one through seventeen are organized in chronological order by the name of the location of the fair. A number of manufacturers and distributors of various products created advertising for the expositions. Such materials remain with those created about the fair. A photocopy of product advertising has been filed in the appropriate subject category in the Warshaw Collection. Box eighteen contains miscellaneous items that could not be identified with a particular exposition. Such materials include photographs, advertising cards and souvenir books.
Other collections in the Archives that relate to world expositions are the Orth and Zimm collections. The Edward J. Orth Memorial Archives of the New York World's Fair 1939-1940 primarily documents the general organization of the New York fair and specific national or corporate pavilions. Holdings include advertising and promotional literature, press kits, maps and official guides, photographs and brochures. Additional material includes scrapbooks, photo album, diaries, postcards and posters. Among the personal papers of Mr. Orth are correspondence and copies of the newsletter, Exposition Collectors and Historians Organization (ECHO). ECHO was organized by Mr. Orth in 1976 for collectors and historians of world's fairs and disbanded upon his death. This collection is stored off site. Researchers are requested to make an appointment to use the materials. The Zim Collection contains materials from a number of the world's fairs. These materials are also stored off site and researchers will need to make an appointment.
Materials in the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History that relate to the world's fairs can also be found in its Library. The Library has both primary and secondary sources. All of the primary materials have been microfilmed. The library also contains a comprehensive collection of secondary sources on the expositions. Among the secondary sources is a publication The Book Fairs, Materials about World's Fairs, 1834-1916, in the Smithsonian Institution Libraries (1992).
Special collections (Dibner Library) contains about thirty very rare items from various world expositions mostly dating from the 1851 fair and those occurring in the 1880s. Such items are mostly coffee table books created about the fairs. Researchers will need to contact the Dibner library to make an appointment to see original materials.
The Museum's curatorial divisions hold a number of three dimensional objects relating to the fairs. For information on the objects researchers should contact the divisions.
World Expositions is a portion of the Business Ephemera Series of the Warshaw Collection of Business Americana, Accession AC0060 purchased from Isadore Warshaw in 1967. Warshaw continued to accumulate similar material until his death, which was donated in 1971 by his widow, Augusta. For a period after acquisition, related materials from other sources (of mixed provenance) were added to the collection so there may be content produced or published after Warshaw's death in 1969. This practice has since ceased.
Collection is open for research. Some items may be restricted due to fragile condition.
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Archives Center Collection of Business Americana (AC0404)
Forms part of the
Warshaw Collection of Business Americana Subject Categories: World Expositions, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
In 2016, with funding provided by the Smithsonian Institution's Collections Care and Preservation Fund, the Archives Center at the National Museum of American History implemented the use of minimal level processing standards to increase information about and facilitate access to more of our collections.
A large portion of stored material from the original acquisition received minimal level processing, which resulted in additions to this Subject category. This effort included basic arrangement and replacement of non-archival housing for long-term stability, but staples and other fasteners have not all been removed. Revisions to the encoded finding aid were made to reflect the added content in context to the previously processed material.
Minimal level processing and enhancement of the machine-readable finding aid completed by Nicole Blechynden, September 2017.
[Mt. Washington Glass Works advertisement.] [Advertising card, ca. 1876.]
[Mt. Washington Glass Works advertisement.] [Advertising card]
(Scan file no.)
AC0060-00001069.tif (AC Scan No.)
Black-and-white illustration shows two cherubs or putti, one blowing glass, the other working nearby under a curtain, with glass lamps and objects displayed on a table at left. Considerable advertising text on card in several blocks: "...manufacturers of blown[,] pressed & cut glass ware", etc. Sales room at 20 College Place, N.Y. Fading stamp on verso indicates that the company was an exhibitor at the Centennial exhibition: "CENTENNIAL SPACES, / 51 NAVE CENTRE OF MAIN BUILDING, / Also Crystal Fountain. / T 45 SOUTH AVENUE, MAIN BUILDING".
"Official Catalogue and Guide Book to the Pan-American Exposition". [color print on color background].
"Official Catalogue and Guide Book to the Pan-American Exposition". [color print on color background]
AC0060-0001267.tif (AC Scan No.)
Unrestricted research access on site by appointment. Gloves required with unprotected photographs.
Buffalo, New York, U.S.A., 1901.
Tickets, map, small guide and souvenir books
Guide books, catalogs and handbooks
New Indexed Standard Guide Map of the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago, 1893 [map], 1893.
New Indexed Standard Guide Map of the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago, 1893 [map]
040060187.tif (AC Scan No.)
Map of 1893 World's Columbian Exposition from Rand McNally's "Week at the Fair" booklet.
Souvenir books
Including:
- Official Souvenir Programme (folder 7)
- World's Fair Through A Camera (folder 14)
- Illustrations of 242 Languages and Dialects in which the Holy Bible in whole or in part has been printed and circulated (folder 9)
[Photographs from Mutual Life Insurance Pan-American 1901 World Exposition [booklet], 1901.
[Photographs from Mutual Life Insurance Pan-American 1901 World Exposition [booklet], 1901.
[Photographs from Mutual Life Insurance Pan-American 1901 World Exposition [booklet], 1901.
[Photographs from Mutual Life Insurance Pan-American 1901 World Exposition [booklet]
040060189.tif (AC Scan No.)
040060190.tif (AC Scan No.)
040060191.tif (AC Scan No.)
Photographs from Mutual Life Insurance Pan-American 1901 World Exposition Booklet: one depicts an "Indian Congress," another a constructed Philippine village, and a third an African dance.
Pan-American World Exposition, Buffalo 1901 [map], 1901.
Pan-American World Exposition, Buffalo 1901 [map]
040060188.tif (AC Scan No.)
Map of Pan-American World Exposition Fairgrounds, Buffalo, N.Y. 1901 from World Fair event booklet published by A.B. Floyd.
Souvenir books with photographs, lithographs and general images of the fair
Bird Eye's View Map of Louisiana Purchase 1904 World Exposition Fairgrounds [map], 1904.
Bird Eye's View Map of Louisiana Purchase 1904 World Exposition Fairgrounds [map]
040060192.tif (AC Scan No.)
Bird Eye's View Map of Louisiana Purchase 1904 World Exposition Fairgrounds from Official Booklet published by Byrnes Photographic Company.
The Singer Pavilion in the Manufactures Building at the St. Louis Exposition [advertisement], 1904.
The Singer Pavilion in the Manufactures Building at the St. Louis Exposition [advertisement], 1904.
The Singer Pavilion in the Manufactures Building at the St. Louis Exposition [advertisement]
AC0060-0001599-1.tif (AC Scan, Front)
AC0060-0001599-2.tif (AC Scan, Back)
Front depicts image and verso contains text.
Shown in Archives Center display, "Meet Me in St. Louis"--A Year Late: Remembering the Louisiana Purchase at the 1904 World's Fair," 2003.
Discovery of the Mississippi by Marquette A.D. 1673 [advertisement: reproduction of a painting], 1904.
Discovery of the Mississippi by Marquette A.D. 1673 [advertisement: reproduction of a painting], 1904.
Discovery of the Mississippi by Marquette A.D. 1673 [advertisement: reproduction of a painting]
AC0060-0001598-1.tif (AC Scan, Front)
AC0060-0001598-2.tif (AC Scan, Back)
Front depicts image, signed in painting by J.N. Marchand, and back contains text about the discovery of the Mississippi and the Singer Sewing Company.
Shown in Archives Center display, "Meet Me in St. Louis"--A Year Late: Remembering the Louisiana Purchase at the 1904 World's Fair," 2003.
LaSalle Taking Possession of Louisiana A.D. 1682 [Advertisement, reproduction of painting], 1904.
LaSalle Taking Possession of Louisiana A.D. 1682 [Advertisement, reproduction of painting], 1904.
LaSalle Taking Possession of Louisiana A.D. 1682 [Advertisement, reproduction of painting]
AC0060-0001596-1.tif (AC Scan, Front)
AC0060-0001596-2.tif (AC Scan, Back)
Front depicts image of LeSalle taking possession of Louisiana and back contains text about the event and the Singer Sewing Machine Company. Signed J.N. Marchand in painting.
Shown in Archives Center display, "Meet Me in St. Louis"--A Year Late: Remembering the Louisiana Purchase at the 1904 World's Fair," 2003.
Art Palace [illustrated note card], 1904.
Art Palace [illustrated note card], 1904.
Art Palace [illustrated note card]
AC0060-0001605-1.tif (AC Scan, Front)
AC0060.0001605-2.tif (AC Scan, Back)
Front depicts image on card and verso contains handwritten note: "Please forward all our mail to 4248 [West] Belle Place, St. Louis Mo."
Shown in Archives Center display, "Meet Me in St. Louis"--A Year Late: Remembering the Louisiana Purchase at the 1904 World's Fair," 2003.
Liberal Arts Building [illustrated note card], 1904.
Liberal Arts Building [illustrated note card], 1904.
Liberal Arts Building [illustrated note card]
AC0060-0001604-1.tif (AC Scan, Front)
AC0060-0001604-2.tif (AC Scan, Back)
Front depicts image and back contains text and handwritten signature of John [Garpan] Lambert.
Shown in Archives Center display, "Meet Me in St. Louis"--A Year Late: Remembering the Louisiana Purchase at the 1904 World's Fair," 2003.
Educational and Social Economy Building [illustrated note card], 1904.
Educational and Social Economy Building [illustrated note card], 1904.
Educational and Social Economy Building [illustrated note card]
AC0060-0001603-1.tif (AC Scan, Front)
AC0060-0001603-2.tif (AC Scan, Back)
Front depicts image and back contains handwritten note: "Dear Mrs. G, Have wished a dozen times that you could be with us. The fair is wonderful and we are having such a good time. Only wish you and pa were along. Love to all and hope your [sic] well. Yours as ever, [Stephen]."
Shown in Archives Center display, "Meet Me in St. Louis"--A Year Late: Remembering the Louisiana Purchase at the 1904 World's Fair," 2003.
Bird's Eye View of World's Fair [illustrated note card], 1904.
Bird's Eye View of World's Fair [illustrated note card], 1904.
Bird's Eye View of World's Fair [illustrated note card]
AC0060-0001602-1.tif (AC Scan, Front)
AC0060.0001602-2.tif (AC Scan, Back)
14 Landmarks identified by key: Grand Entrance, Germany's Building, Mines & Metallurgy, Liberal Arts, Cascades, Educational & Social Economy, Manufacturers, Horticultural, Jerusalem, Electricity, Agricultural, Machinery, Varied Industries, Transportation. Front depicts image and contains key. Back is blank with handwritten cataloging number.
Shown in Archives Center display, "Meet Me in St. Louis"--A Year Late: Remembering the Louisiana Purchase at the 1904 World's Fair," 2003.
The Most Popular Brewery in the World [advertisement], 1904.
The Most Popular Brewery in the World [advertisement], 1904.
AC0060.0000022.tif (AC Scan, Front)
AC0060.0000023.tif (AC Scan, Back)
Front depicts image and verso contains advertisements for other companies including: Merchants-Laclede National Bank, St. Nicholas Hotel, New Waverly Hotel and Bath House, and the Paquin Immune Company.
Shown in Archives Center display, "Meet Me in St. Louis"--A Year Late: Remembering the Louisiana Purchase at the 1904 World's Fair," 2003.
Philippine Exposition [pamphlet]
AC0060-0001592-1.tif (AC Scan, Front)
AC0060-0001592-2.tif (AC Scan, Back)
Front depicts image and back contains image.
Shown in Archives Center display, "Meet Me in St. Louis"--A Year Late: Remembering the Louisiana Purchase at the 1904 World's Fair," 2003.
Philippine Exposition / World's Fair / St. Louis, 1904 [Booklet].
Philippine Exposition / World's Fair / St. Louis, 1904 [Booklet].
AC0060-0001972-01 (AC Scan No.: cover)
AC0060-0001972-02 (AC Scan No.: cover)
Town & Country Volume 59, Number 5 [periodical], 1904.
Town & Country Volume 59, Number 5 [periodical], 1904.
Town & Country Volume 59, Number 5 [periodical]
AC0060.0000026.tif (AC Scan, Front)
AC0060.0000027.tif (AC Scan, Page from Periodical)
Front depicts cover of April 9, 1904 Edition, Volume 59, Number 5. Page from periodical contains beginning of text for article "St. Louis Society and the Exposition" by Mildred Niedringhaus.
Shown in Archives Center display, "Meet Me in St. Louis"--A Year Late: Remembering the Louisiana Purchase at the 1904 World's Fair," 2003.
Grandeur of the Universal Exposition at St. Louis: Official Publication [Book], 1904.
Grandeur of the Universal Exposition at St. Louis: Official Publication [Book]
AC0060-0001588.tif (AC Scan)
With text and engravings.
Shown in Archives Center display, "Meet Me in St. Louis"--A Year Late: Remembering the Louisiana Purchase at the 1904 World's Fair," 2003.
Louisiana Purchase Centennial: World's Exposition. St. Louis, U.S.A. [book], 1904.
Louisiana Purchase Centennial: World's Exposition. St. Louis, U.S.A. [book]
AC0060-0001586.tif (AC Scan)
Souvenir book with engravings of the various buildings at the world's fair. Engravings by G. Cramer Dry Plate Co. Also includes World's Fair Ground Plan and Map of St. Louis.
Shown in Archives Center display, "Meet Me in St. Louis"--A Year Late: Remembering the Louisiana Purchase at the 1904 World's Fair," 2003.
[Two images (on two pages) from "Forestry, Fish and Game Building" and "Mexican Pavilion" photos from "Jackson's Famous Photographs of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, 1803 - St. Louis - 1904, Over 200 Views and Scenes"]. [book pages].
AC0060-0001224.tif (AC Scan No.: two pages)
Unrestricted research access on site by appointment. Gloves required with unprotected photographs.
Photographs by C. S. Jackson, copyright 1904 by Metropolitan Syndicate Press.
Anglo-Boer War / Official Program / Historical Libretto [Program], 1904.
AC0060-0001587.tif (AC Scan of cover)
World Expositions series, Box 12.
With text and reproductions of black-and-white photographs. Cover illustration of battle scene with soldiers on horseback. "Copyright 1904 / J.F. Hilton" at bottom of cover. Entire right side of cover has dark stain.
Shown in Archives Center display, "Meet Me in St. Louis"--A Year Late: Remembering the Louisiana Purchase at the 1904 World's Fair," 2003.
Poor condition, fragile. Losses on cover, right side, with loose fragment.
[Pictures of "Old Negroes" in Virginia from a 1907 Jamestown Exhibition Official Booklet : booklet,] 1907.
[Pictures of "Old Negroes" in Virginia from a 1907 Jamestown Exhibition Official Booklet : booklet]
040060194.tif (AC Scan No.)
Pictures of "Old Negroes" in Virginia from a 1907 Jamestown Exhibition Official Booklet.
[Jamestown 1907 Exposition Booklet Logo featuring two Native Americans : booklet], 1907.
[Jamestown 1907 Exposition Booklet Logo featuring two Native Americans : booklet]
040060193.tif (AC Scan No.)
Jamestown 1907 Exposition Booklet Logo featuring two Native Americans looking out at a ship coming into the shore where they sit.
Souvenir books with general images of the fair
Souvenir books with general images of the fair
World's Fair Souvenir Book / A Century of Progress, Chicago [book] 1934.
World's Fair Souvenir Book / A Century of Progress, Chicago [book]
AC0060-0001229.tif (AC Scan No.: Mayan Temple)
Unrestricted research access on site by appointment. Gloves required with unprotected photographs.
"Mayan Temple" page from spiral-bound book, the "World's Fair Souvenir Book, A Century of Progress, Chicago, 1934".
Displayed in Archives Center exhibition, "Americans Experience Mexico," Sept. 1-Nov. 30, 2010; Craig Orr, curator.
Leaflets and pamphlets from different companies
Postcards
Leaflet presenting the Folies Bergère in the California Auditorium
Tickets, promotional cards, correspondence, maps, fact fliers, and report. Expos and features include World's Fair Grounds Esquimaux Village, World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago (1893), World's Fair St. Louis (1904), New York World's Fair (1939), Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company.
Materials relate to world expositions held in the United States and abroad. The oversize items are comprised of printed advertisements, brochures, maps, souvenir photo albums, pamphlets, architectural plans, and souvenir designs. The material dates primarily from the mid nineteenth to the mid twentieth centuries. The materials are arranged by date.
Exposition Universelle de 1889 [Paris] / 92. Fontaine monumentale [silver albumen photoprint,] 1889.
Exposition Universelle de 1889 [Paris] / 92. Fontaine monumentale [silver albumen photoprint,]
AC0060-0000886.tif (Nonacc. no.)
Unrestricted research access on site by appointment. Unprotected photographs must be handled with gloves.
Mount board brittle, damaged, with major losses at upper left and lower right.
Sculpture and fountain in foreground, Eiffel Tower in background. Photographer unidentified.
Saint Louis, Missouri
New York, New York
Oversize World Exhibitions
Monograph.
Spiral bound.
Two volumes in French. Vol 1: issues #1-40. Vol 2: issues #41-77, in enclosure.