New-York Historical Society ephemera
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Abstract
The New-York Historical Society ephemera record group is comprised of print materials generated for distribution by the institution between 1839 and 2019 and documents N-YHS communication, programming, outreach, and promotion throughout its years of operation. Ephemera includes admission tickets; invitations; informational brochures; souvenir exhibition programs and checklists; event programs, handouts, calendars and schedules; library, museum, and membership announcements; bookplates and stationery; posters, postcards, flyers, and other promotional items.
Arrangement Note
The New-York Historical Society ephemera (NYHS-RG 14) record group is organized in two series:
Series I. Ephemera Files (1839-2019)
Series II. Ephemera Scrapbooks (1843-1985)
Scope and Contents Note
The New-York Historical Society ephemera record group is comprised of print materials generated for public distribution by the institution between 1839 and 2019, and documents N-YHS communication, programming, outreach, and promotion over its years of operation.
Materials include (in order of prominence) admission tickets; invitations; souvenir exhibition programs, checklists and small pamphlet-style catalogues; event programs, handouts, calendars and schedules; meeting and election notices; library, museum, and membership announcements; publication and other informational brochures; blank ballots, order forms, membership applications, and stationery; bookplates; form letters; posters, postcards, flyers, and other promotional items; and circulars for subscriptions to building initiatives, the Publication Fund, or other endeavors.
Within the context of this record group, ephemera does not include newsletters or other periodically published bulletins, substantially sized and/or bound volumes, three-dimensional artifacts, items intended for sale, or paper materials not produced in bulk printings. Other items commonly relocated by the archivist to other record groups during processing include: press releases, press kits, clippings and other publicity materials; gift shop catalogs and products; and staff notices, memos, and other items circulated exclusively within the institution. Most notated or otherwise personalized materials have been relocated to other record groups, though a few such documents remain with the ephemera.
Series I. Ephemera Files contains chronological files of N-YHS print material created and distributed between 1839 and 2019.
Series II. Ephemera Scrapbooks contains materials compiled into scrapbooks over time by N-YHS staff between 1843 and 1985; the content largely overlaps with Series I.
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Access Restrictions
Materials in this collection may be stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.
Use Restrictions
Taking images of documents from the library collections for reference purposes by using hand-held cameras and in accordance with the library's photography guidelines is encouraged. As an alternative, patrons may request up to 20 images per day from staff.
Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.
Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: https://www.nyhistory.org/about/rights-reproductions
Preferred Citation Note
This record group should be cited as New-York Historical Society ephemera (NYHS-RG 14), The New-York Historical Society.
Location of Materials
Accruals Note
The record group will continue to receive ongoing accruals of ephemera as it is collected, though these items will not necessarily be compiled in any systematic manner.
About this Guide
Processing Information Note
Series I materials were previously organized chronologically into two collections of "Miscellany" and "Ephemera," with documents transferred to archival containers and folders.
Series II scrapbooks were originally assembled over time by N-YHS staff. In 2015, the scrapbooks were disbound by conservation intern Sara Belasco, but arranged and foldered according to their original order as found in the books. Archivist Brynn White integrated these and other relevant materials, made minor changes to the arrangement, removed select materials more relevant to other record groups, and provided description in a finding aid in 2015.
As general policy, five of the best-quality copies of small-format announcements, tickets, and invitations were retained, and three copies retained of other ephemera materials. Excess duplicates are stored in restricted boxes, as noted in the container list.
Additional documents (found in boxes 20 and 31) were added to the record group by archivist Larry Weimer in 2021. These included ephemera from 2017-19, plus older materials found or transferred to the archives after the bulk was processed in 2015.