Descriptive Summary
Ephemera Collection
Ephemera
Collection
Materials are written in
English.
ca. 17
ft.
The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History,
The University of Texas at Austin
Collection of American
ephemeral items--materials defined as transient, everyday items, usually
printed on paper, that are manufactured for a specific limited use, then often
discarded.
NoteHoused with broadsides in 2.227 alcove.
Scope and ContentsCollection of American ephemeral
items--materials defined as transient, everyday items, usually printed on
paper, that are manufactured for a specific limited use, then often discarded.
The Ephemera Collection also includes everyday items that are meant to be
saved, at least for a while, such as keepsakes or souvenirs. Examples of
ephemera are invitations, programs, calendars, bumper stickers, menus,
broadsides, and tickets.
Organization and ArrangementIndividual pieces of ephemera
in the Ephemera Collection are described solely by what they are (their format)
rather than what they are about (their subject content). Items for each
different format are housed in separate boxes, and within each box, items are
further divided in file folders.
Related MaterialNot all ephemera housed in the Briscoe
Center are stored in the Ephemera Collection. Some, especially pamphlets, have
been fully cataloged into the Texas Collection Library and, therefore, are
accessible through the UT Libraries Online Catalog. Ephemera related to the
history of the University of Texas are held in the
UT Ephemera Collection at the Briscoe Center.
Broadsides, another category of ephemera, are housed in the Broadside
Collection and have been described individually in the Broadside Collection’s
card file located in the physical card catalog in the Briscoe Center. Many
postcards are located in the General Postcard Collection, for which a printed
inventory exists. And, finally, many pieces of ephemera of all varieties remain
part of the manuscript collections in which they originated because of their
strong association with these collections.
Access RestrictionsUnrestricted access.
Use RestrictionsUnrestricted use.
Preferred CitationEphemera Collection, The Dolph Briscoe
Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.
Detailed Description of the Papers
Inventory
1
Advertisements: public
notices of the availability of goods or services through purchase or other
means.
1
Advertisements
File 1: Miscellaneous advertisements
File 2: Miscellaneous patent
advertisements
File 3: Miscellaneous Hardwick-Etter Company
advertisements
File 4: Miscellaneous press companies/ book
news
File 5: Miscellaneous investment plans and stock
options
File 6: Miscellaneous political
advertisements
2
Advertisements
File 1: Miscellaneous advertising cards, Texas
vendors
File 2: Advertising cards--Hassan Cigarette cards,
cowboy series
Files 3-6: Miscellaneous advertising cards, non
Texas vendors
3
Advertisements
Miscellaneous advertising
Advertisements--Travel, including White Star Line
brochure,
1904
1
Announcements: small notices
announcing special events and occasions that are generally noncommercial, such
as weddings, exhibitions, conferences, fundraisers, etc. See also:
Advertisements, Programs and Prospectuses.
1
Announcements
File 1: Miscellaneous announcements,
undated
File 2: Miscellaneous announcements,
pre l900
File 3: Miscellaneous announcements,
l900 - l929
File 4: Miscellaneous announcements,
l930 - l949
File 5: Miscellaneous announcements,
l950 - l969
File 6: Miscellaneous announcements,
l970 - l979
File 7: Miscellaneous announcements,
l980 - l989
File 8: Miscellaneous announcements,
l990-1999
File 9: Announcement: City of Boston Ordinance
Regulating Signs,
1845
1
Applications
1
File 1: Miscellaneous applications
1
Autographs: items containing
signatures of individuals
1
Autographs
File 1: Miscellaneous autographs
1
Ballots: sheets of paper,
cards, or other devices used to cast a vote or announce a slate of
candidates.
1
Ballots
File 1: Miscellaneous ballots, Texas
File 2: Miscellaneous ballots, non Texas
1
Bookmarks:
1
Bookmarks
File 1: Miscellaneous bookmarks associated with
Texas bookstores, book dealers, etc.
File 2: Miscellaneous bookmarks
1
Calendars: tabular registers
of days according to a system, usually covering one year and referring the days
of each month to the days of the week; includes "calendars of events"
distributed by museums, theaters, etc.
1
Calendars
File 1: Calendars of events
File 2: Miscellaneous yearly calendars, Texas,
pre l980
File 3: Miscellaneous yearly calendars, Texas,
l980-1989
File 4: Miscellaneous yearly calendars, Texas,
1990- 1999
File 5: Miscellaneous yearly calendars
File 6: Miscellaneous yearly calendars
File 7: Miscellaneous yearly calendars
1919
1
Cards: pieces of thin
paperboard, stiff paper, or other material, which are flat, usually small and
rectangular, and designed to convey messages or other information. See also:
Advertisements-Advertising Cards.
1
Cards
File 1: Miscellaneous business cards
File 2: Miscellaneous campaign cards
File 3: Miscellaneous comic cards
2
Cards
File 1: Miscellaneous dance cards,
l866-l879
File 2: Miscellaneous dance cards,
l880-l899
File 3: Miscellaneous dance cards,
l900-l940
3
Cards
File 1: Miscellaneous membership cards and credit cards
File 2: Miscellaneous sentiment cards
File 3: Miscellaneous visiting cards
File 4: Miscellaneous collecting cards
Caricatures
Carriers' addresses: verses
in broadside or pamphlet format presented at the start of a new year by
newspaper carriers to request a gratuity. Some carriers' addresses are filed in
the Broadside Collection.
Cartoons: humorous,
satirical, or ridiculing images executed in broad or abbreviated manner. See
also: Caricatures
1
Catalogs: enumeration of
items arranged systematically with descriptive details. May have prices.
1
Commercial Catalogs: catalogs issued by businesses and
individuals offering products for sale to retailers or the public; includes
specialized catalogs, such as those for Christmas orders and seeds.
1
File 1: Miscellaneous commercial
catalogs-Texas
1
File 2: Miscellaneous commercial catalogs-non
Texas
1
File 3: Sanger Brothers, Dallas, Texas, Fashion
catalogs nos. 30, 31, 32, 36, 37, 38,
1907-1911
1
Exhibit Catalogs: catalogs of items displayed in art,
museum, or other exhibitions
1
File 1: Miscellaneous exhibit catalogs
1
School Catalogs: catalogs describing course of study,
physical plant, faculty, rules and regulations, etc. for educational
institutions
1
File 1: Miscellaneous catalogs, Texas high
schools
1
File 2: Miscellaneous catalogs, Texas colleges and
universities
1
File 3: Miscellaneous catalogs, non
Texas
1
Certificates: documents
containing certified statements of ownership, membership, fulfilled
requirements, legal status, bonds etc.
1
File 1: Miscellaneous certificates
1
Checks
1
File 1: Miscellaneous checks
1
Diagrams
1
File 1: Miscellaneous diagrams
1
Die cuts: Decorative printed
illustrations machine-cut around the silhouettes of the figures.
1
File 1: Miscellaneous color die cuts: Buffalo Bill,
buffalo hunt, and Indian warfare.
1
Envelopes: flat, usually
paper containers, as for mailing a letter. Typical illustrations include
patriotic themes or business advertisements; introduced for common use in the
l840s.
1
File 1: Miscellaneous envelopes, Texas
1
File 2: Miscellaneous envelopes, non Texas
1
Financial Statements and
Receipts
1
File 1: Financial statements of various banks, San
Antonio, Texas
1
File 2: Receipts for payment of poll tax, Fannin
County, Williamson County, and Travis County, Texas. Also receipts for payment of property tax, Williamson County, Texas.
1
File 3: Miscellaneous receipts
1952
1
Checks, Greenville, Texas,
1914
1
Small ledger showing monthly produce sales,
Greenville, Texas,
1886-1909
1
Teacher contract for Willie Mae Thompson, Greenville,
Texas,
1917
1
Greeting Cards: cards sent or
given on special occasions; usually bearing messages of good will.
Christmas Cards
1
File 1: Miscellaneous Christmas cards
1
File 2: Christmas cards from Garry Mauro,
Commissioner, Texas General Land Office,
l984, l985, l986
1
Valentines
1
File 4: Miscellaneous valentines
1
File 5: Comic valentines, generally with Civil War
theme, produced by the American Valentine Company, New York. Colored by hand
and stencil,
ca. 1862-l865
1
Miscellaneous Greeting Cards
1
File 1: Miscellaneous birthday cards
1
File 2: Miscellaneous Easter cards
1
File 3: Miscellaneous New Years cards
1
File 4: Miscellaneous cards
1
Instruction Manuals: printed
or handwritten works with instructions for using a service or institution or
for instructions for caring for an item.
1
File 1: Miscellaneous instruction manuals
1
Invitations: requests to be
present or to participate (especially in inaugural balls, political events and
social activities)
1
File 1: Miscellaneous invitations,
l800-l859
1
File 2: Miscellaneous invitations,
l860-l899
1
File 3: Miscellaneous invitations,
l900-l939
1
File 4: Miscellaneous invitations,
l940-l969
1
File 5: Miscellaneous invitations,
l970-l979
2
File 1: Miscellaneous invitations,
l980-l983
2
File 2: Miscellaneous invitations,
l984-l986
2
File 3: Miscellaneous invitations,
l987-l989
2
File 4: Miscellaneous invitations,
undated
2
File 5: Miscellaneous invitations,
1990-1999
1
Keepsakes: works produced to
mark the occasion of a gathering or event; given or sold to those in attendance
and not usually otherwise available.
1
File 1: Miscellaneous souvenir viewbooks
1
File 2: Souvenir Programme Grand Dedication Ball, New
State Capitol Building, Austin, Texas, Color lithograph program, 2 copies,
May l8th, l888
1
File 3: Miscellaneous keepsakes
1
Labels: Slips of paper affixed or meant to be attached
to something for identification.
1
File 1: Miscellaneous labels
1
File 2: Miscellaneous liquor labels
1
Letterheads and
Billheads
1
File 1: Miscellaneous letterheads and billheads,
Texas
1
File 2: Miscellaneous letterheads and billheads, non
Texas
Lottery Tickets: See
"Tickets, Lottery"
1
Menus: lists of the dishes
that may be ordered in an eating establishment or that are to be served at a
banquet or other occasion.
1
File 1: Miscellaneous menus, Texas,
pre l900
1
File 2: Miscellaneous menus, Texas,
l900-l949
1
File 3: Miscellaneous menus, Texas,
l950-current
1
File 4: Miscellaneous menus, non Texas
1
File 5: Bills of fare aboard Mississippi River
steamboats,
ca. 1870
1
File 6: Menus from Texas cafes and hotels in Waco,
Dallas, San Antonio, Galveston,
ca. l930s
1
File 7: Menus from Doering Hotel Coffee Shop,
l930-l931
1
Packages: Coverings or
containers. See also Envelopes
1
File 1: Miscellaneous packages, Texas
1
File 2: Miscellaneous packages, non Texas
1
Pamphlets
1
File 1: Pamphlets--political
1
Paper dolls
1
File 1: Paper dolls
1
Prayer Books: religious
prayer books containing prayers, biblical stories, or sermons
1
File 1: Miscellaneous prayer books
1
Placemats:
1
File 1: Miscellaneous placemats
1
Postcards:
1
File 1: Miscellaneous postcards
Premium Lists
Premiums: items available
without charge or at less than the usual price with the purchase of a product
or service, or as a result of a subscription or membership. May be packaged
with the product or available through a coupon.
1
Price lists: enumerations of
costs for goods or services; on one or several sheets, and, if longer, usually
lacking descriptive details.
1
File 1: Miscellaneous price lists, Texas,
l800-l899
1
File 2: Miscellaneous price lists, Texas,
l900--
1
File 3: Miscellaneous price lists, non
Texas
1
Programs: brief, usually
printed outlines of the order to be followed, of feature(s) to be presented,
and of person(s) participating in a public exercise, performance, or
entertainment. This category of ephemera has been artificially divided into the
subdivisions listed below.
1
Sports Programs
1
File 1: Miscellaneous sports programs
1
File 2: Miscellaneous football programs
1
File 3: Miscellaneous rodeo programs
1
File 4: Miscellaneous Football programs
1937-1943
1
. Meeting programs for non-formal organizations
(programs for meetings of persons not associated with one another on a formal
basis who assemble for a specific purpose, such as to acquire training or to
honor a person or event)
1
File 1: Miscellaneous meeting programs, non formal
organizations,
l800-l899
1
File 2: Miscellaneous meeting programs, non-formal
organizations,
l900-l929
1
File 3: Miscellaneous meeting programs, non formal
organizations,
l930-l959
1
File 4: Miscellaneous meeting programs, non formal
organizations,
l960-l979
1
File 5: Miscellaneous meeting programs, non formal
organizations,
l980-1989
1
Meeting programs for established organizations
(programs for meetings of members of formal organizations, such as women's
clubs, patriotic societies, and professional associations, at which members
come together to reaffirm goals, conduct business, and hold special events,
such as annual conferences or banquets)
1
File 1: Miscellaneous meeting programs, formal
organizations,
pre l900
1
File 2: Miscellaneous meeting programs, formal
organizations,
l900-l929
1
File 3: Miscellaneous meeting programs, formal
organizations,
l930-l949
1
File 4: Miscellaneous meeting programs, formal
organizations,
l950-l969
1
File 5: Miscellaneous meeting programs, formal
organizations,
l970-l979
1
File 6: Miscellaneous meeting programs, formal
organizations,
l980-l989
1
File 7: Miscellaneous meeting programs, formal
organizations,
1980-1989
1
File 8: Miscellaneous meeting programs, formal
organizations,
1990-1999
2
File 1: Miscellaneous arts and letters
programs
2
File 2: Miscellaneous history groups
programs
2
File 3: Miscellaneous business and civic groups
programs
2
File 4: Miscellaneous political programs
2
File 5: Miscellaneous teacher’s groups
programs
2
File 6: Miscellaneous Texas press associations and
editorial associations programs
1
Music and dance programs: programs for performances
and recitals by singers, musicians, bands, dancers, etc., including concerts
and ballets
1
File 1: Miscellaneous music and dance programs,
pre l870
1
File 2: Miscellaneous music and dance programs,
l870-l899
1
File 3: Miscellaneous music and dance programs,
l900-l919
1
File 4: Miscellaneous music and dance programs,
l920-l939
1
File 5: Miscellaneous music and dance programs,
l940-l959
1
File 6: Miscellaneous music and dance
programs,
l960-l979
1
File 7: Miscellaneous music and dance programs,
l980-l989
1
File 8: Miscellaneous programs,
undated
2
File 1: Chautauqua programs, Cuero, Texas,
l918-1923
1
Playbills: programs for plays, opera, and theater
productions, including vaudeville
1
File 1: Miscellaneous playbills,
l800-l899
1
File 2: Miscellaneous playbills,
l900-l929
1
File 3: Miscellaneous playbills,
l930-1939
1
File 4: Miscellaneous opera programs
1940-1949
Playbills: programs for plays, opera, and theater
productions, including vaudeville
2
File 1: Miscellaneous playbills,
1940-1949
2
File 2: Miscellaneous playbills,
1950-1959
2
File 3: Miscellaneous playbills,
1960-1969
Playbills: programs for plays, opera, and theater
productions, including vaudeville
3
File 1: Miscellaneous playbills,
1960-1969
3
File 2: Miscellaneous playbills,
1970-1979
3
File 3: Miscellaneous playbills,
1980-current
3
File 4: Miscellaneous opera programs
3
File 5: Miscellaneous vaudeville programs
3
File 6: : Miscellaneous playbills,
[ca. 1940s-1950s]
1
Religious Programs: programs for religious
services
1
File 1: Miscellaneous programs,
l800-l899
1
File 2: Miscellaneous programs,
l900-current
1
School Programs: programs for school activities
relating to enrollment, curriculum, or graduation; entertainments or other
performances (school plays, sports competitions, etc. are located under other
subdivisions "playbills" and "athletic programs," respectively). See also,
Catalogs
1
File 1: Miscellaneous programs,
l800-l899
1
File 2: Miscellaneous programs,
l900-current
1
Prospectuses: a preliminary
statement, usually printed, issued by promoters of an enterprise, the publisher
of a literary work, or the administration of a school or college, intended to
give advance information and to arouse interest and support
1
File 1: Miscellaneous prospectuses
1
File 1: Miscellaneous prospectuses for forthcoming
publications
1
Reading Lists: lists produced
for the purpose of providing readers advisory
1
File 1: Miscellaneous reading lists
1
File 2: Rosenberg Library reading lists
Ribbons: See
Labels
Rewards of merit: small
printed or handwritten documents awarded in schools in recognition of good
behavior or scholastic achievement
Rosters: list of members and
officers of an organization
1
Schedules: lists showing
times of departure and arrival and scheduled stopping points between two
terminals
1
File 1: Miscellaneous Schedules
Sheet Music: Most sheet music
is cataloged separately into the Texas Collection Library. In addition, the
Natchez Trace Collection contains approximately 3,500 pieces of l9th-century
sheet music. See also Song Sheets
1
Signs: lettered boards or
other displays used to give directions or information, to identify a place of
business or public facility, or give warnings or directions. Usually textual or
symbolic rather than pictorial
1
File 1: Miscellaneous signs: l9th century
1
File 2: Miscellaneous signs: 20th century
1
Song Sheets: single-sheet
verses without musical notes, usually printed on one side of letter paper and
frequently illustrated with a colored headpieces of battle scenes, portraits,
vignettes, views, and other decorations. Popular beginning l850s and intended
for use by those for whom the tune was familiar but the words were new.
1
File 1: Miscellaneous song sheets
1
File 2: English song sheets, several relating to
slaves and slavery, ca. 1820s-1830s, each headed with woodcut illustration,
some with decorative borders. Provenance: M. Heaston, 1989, Littlefield Fund.
1
1) The Boatman of Ohio.
London: H. Such, Printers & Publisher, n.d.
1
2)Billy Pattison.
London: J. Disley, Printer, n.d.
1
3) Come into My Canoe.
Bloomsbury: Ryle & Co., Printers, n.d.
1
4) Happy Are We Us Niggers So
Gay. London: H. Disley, Printer n.d.
1
5) I'm Off to Charlestown
[London] J. Disley, Printer, n.d.
1
6) A Life by the Gally
Fire [London?] Hodges, from PITTS, Wholesale Toy and Marble Warehouse,
Dudley Street, n.d.
1
7) Mass's in de Cold
Ground [London] W. S. Fortey, General Steam Printer and Publisher, n.d.
1
8) Miss Lucy Long.
Birmingham: T. Watts, n.d.
1
File 3: Allan's Lone Star Ballads song sheets. Song
sheets written by Francis D. Allen during the Civil War. Some carry printed
illustrations or decorations. Printed in Galveston and Houston.
1
1) Missouri: or, A voice from
the South. By Harry MacCarthy [same page] The
Volunteer: or, It is My Country's Call. By Harry MacCarthy. Provenance:
Gift of William H. Morrow
1
2) Ladies! to the
Hospital. Personne, Corr. of Charleston Courier. Provenance: Gift of
William H. Morrow
1
3) God Bless Our Southern
Land. Solo and Chorus. Telegraph Print.
1
4) Lone Star - Banner of the
Free - Air "Rule Britannia," Words by E. W. Cave As sung at the Concert
for the Benefit of soldier's families, Houston, Dec. 26, '62. Telegraph Print
1
5) The Battle of
Galveston. By Mollie E. Moore. Tyler: January l5th, l863. Telegraph
Print. Provenance: Gift of William H. Morrow.
1
File 4: Miscellaneous l9th-century Texas song
sheets
1
1) Yellow Rose of
Texas. Philadelphia, Pa.: A. W. Aunder, Song Publisher & Printer,
n.d.
1
2) Will You Come to Our
Flag? National Air. n.p., n.d. [on reverse, broadside]
1
3) Grand Concert and
Supper! Academy Hall, Houston,
November 30, 1860
1
File 5: Miscellaneous Civil War song sheets
1
1) The Marseilles Hymn.
[reads:] Translated by W. W. Mann, Nov. 1862. n.p. possibly Galveston.
Provenance: Gift of William H. Morrow
1
2) The Southrons Are Coming.
Air "The Camels are Coming." n.p., n.d. Parrish & Willingham 6559.
Provenance: Heaston, l990
1
3) Great Big Bethel Fight.
Awful Calamity. Air--"Dixie." Parrish and Willingham 6339. Provenance:
Heaston, l990
1
4) Land of the South!
Air--"Happy Land." Parrish & Willingham 6397. Provenance: Heaston,
1990
1
5) Song. Recognition of the
Southern Confederacy. Air--"Rosseaus Dream." Parrish and Willingham
6495. Provenance: Heaston, l990.
Stationery
1
Stickers: self-adhering
messages or designs on slips of paper that are gummed or otherwise treated to
adhere to a surface; includes bumper stickers. See also Labels
1
File 1: Miscellaneous stickers
1
File 2: Miscellaneous bumper stickers
1
Tax Stamps: revenue stamps
affixed to various materials
1
File 1: Miscellaneous tax stamps
1
File 2: Miscellaneous liquor tax stamps
1
Stamps:
1
File 1: Miscellaneous, including Texas Centennial
stamp of dancing cowboy
1
Tickets: slips of paper,
cardboard, or other materials used for admission or passage. Also see Lottery
tickets.
1
File 1: Miscellaneous tickets for
admission
1
File 2: Miscellaneous tickets for passage
1
File 3: Democratic Party tickets, national and
state
1
File 4: U.S. Congressional Visitor Passes
1
File 5: Lottery Tickets
1
File 6: Miscellaneous tickets
1
Texas Lotto Tickets, First date of sale,
May 29, 1992
Trade Catalogs
Travel Guides:printed
brochures promoting tourism, economic development, or other attractions in a
city.