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- Trade Card for the 1901 Pan-American Exposition, Pearlicross Coffee and York's Favorite Coffee, 1899 - In the last third of the nineteenth century, an unprecedented variety of consumer goods and services flooded the American market. Advertisers, armed with new methods of color printing, bombarded potential customers with trade cards. Americans enjoyed and often saved the vibrant little advertisements found in product packages or distributed by local merchants. Many survive as historical records of commercialism in the United States.
- 1901
- Collections - Artifact
Trade Card for the 1901 Pan-American Exposition, Pearlicross Coffee and York's Favorite Coffee, 1899
In the last third of the nineteenth century, an unprecedented variety of consumer goods and services flooded the American market. Advertisers, armed with new methods of color printing, bombarded potential customers with trade cards. Americans enjoyed and often saved the vibrant little advertisements found in product packages or distributed by local merchants. Many survive as historical records of commercialism in the United States.
- General Electric Thomson Recording Wattmeter, circa 1903 - Elihu Thomson, engineer, inventor and cofounder of the Thomson-Houston Electric Company, developed a commutator-type wattmeter in the late 1880s. His recording watt-hour meter helped transform the nascent electric power industry. The sturdy device provided companies that supplied electricity to consumers a way to accurately track and bill electrical power use.
- circa 1903
- Collections - Artifact
General Electric Thomson Recording Wattmeter, circa 1903
Elihu Thomson, engineer, inventor and cofounder of the Thomson-Houston Electric Company, developed a commutator-type wattmeter in the late 1880s. His recording watt-hour meter helped transform the nascent electric power industry. The sturdy device provided companies that supplied electricity to consumers a way to accurately track and bill electrical power use.
- "African Proverbs" Juneteenth Festival of Buffalo, 1997 - Community organizers founded the Juneteenth Festival of Buffalo (New York) in 1976 to bring people together and spark revitalization in the city's Black business district. The annual celebration, which always featured food, art, and entertainment, expanded over the years to meet changing community needs. For the 1997 Juneteenth Festival, organizers added a health fair, job fair, and book swap.
- 14 June 1997-15 June 1997
- Collections - Artifact
"African Proverbs" Juneteenth Festival of Buffalo, 1997
Community organizers founded the Juneteenth Festival of Buffalo (New York) in 1976 to bring people together and spark revitalization in the city's Black business district. The annual celebration, which always featured food, art, and entertainment, expanded over the years to meet changing community needs. For the 1997 Juneteenth Festival, organizers added a health fair, job fair, and book swap.
- H. J. Heinz Memorial Statue Dedication, "A Golden Day," at Heinz Main Plant, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, October 11, 1924 - H.J. Heinz valued a strong relationship between his company and its employees. This resulted in a world-class employee welfare program which included amenities, programs, and policies with consideration for employees' well-being. In 1924, to commemorate the company's 55th anniversary, employees erected a memorial statue as a token of their gratitude for their employer. This is a program from the celebration, called "A Golden Day."
- 1925
- Collections - Artifact
H. J. Heinz Memorial Statue Dedication, "A Golden Day," at Heinz Main Plant, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, October 11, 1924
H.J. Heinz valued a strong relationship between his company and its employees. This resulted in a world-class employee welfare program which included amenities, programs, and policies with consideration for employees' well-being. In 1924, to commemorate the company's 55th anniversary, employees erected a memorial statue as a token of their gratitude for their employer. This is a program from the celebration, called "A Golden Day."
- Pan-American Exposition Souvenir Paperweight, 1901 - In 1901, visitors to the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, could purchase a variety of souvenir and decorative items. These mementos usually contain the name of the fair and a view of a prominent building. This glass paperweight displays the fair's Electric Tower. Keepsakes like this provided a lasting remembrance of the fairgoer's trip.
- 1901
- Collections - Artifact
Pan-American Exposition Souvenir Paperweight, 1901
In 1901, visitors to the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, could purchase a variety of souvenir and decorative items. These mementos usually contain the name of the fair and a view of a prominent building. This glass paperweight displays the fair's Electric Tower. Keepsakes like this provided a lasting remembrance of the fairgoer's trip.
- E.R. Thomas Motor Company Factory (Maker of the Thomas Flyer) Buffalo, New York, 1908 - In 1908, six automobiles raced around the globe from New York City to Paris, France. This contest took 169 days, covered 22,000 miles and spanned three continents. The American team, the eventual winner of the race, drove a Thomas Flyer. This lantern slide shows the Buffalo, New York factory were the automobile was made.
- 1908
- Collections - Artifact
E.R. Thomas Motor Company Factory (Maker of the Thomas Flyer) Buffalo, New York, 1908
In 1908, six automobiles raced around the globe from New York City to Paris, France. This contest took 169 days, covered 22,000 miles and spanned three continents. The American team, the eventual winner of the race, drove a Thomas Flyer. This lantern slide shows the Buffalo, New York factory were the automobile was made.
- Postcard, "Buffalo Public Library, Buffalo, N.Y.," circa 1938 - Until the 20th century, most book collections were not available to everyday Americans. They were either privately owned, accessible only by paid subscription, or stored away haphazardly. This building, which opened in 1887, originally housed the private subscription library of the Young Men's Association of Buffalo, New York. It became a free public library through an agreement with the city in 1897.
- circa 1938
- Collections - Artifact
Postcard, "Buffalo Public Library, Buffalo, N.Y.," circa 1938
Until the 20th century, most book collections were not available to everyday Americans. They were either privately owned, accessible only by paid subscription, or stored away haphazardly. This building, which opened in 1887, originally housed the private subscription library of the Young Men's Association of Buffalo, New York. It became a free public library through an agreement with the city in 1897.
- Photographic Postcard Showing Young Adults Celebrating Halloween with Carved Jack-O-Lanterns, 1907 - In the 20th century, Halloween's superstitious origins gave way to a national celebration of mystery and innocent fun. Early gatherings were designed as matchmaking parties for young people, with games to "predict" matrimonial futures and ample opportunity for flirtation. Here, revelers pose with jack-o-lanterns--a unique blend of immigrant customs and native harvest crops that came to symbolize the American Halloween.
- 1907
- Collections - Artifact
Photographic Postcard Showing Young Adults Celebrating Halloween with Carved Jack-O-Lanterns, 1907
In the 20th century, Halloween's superstitious origins gave way to a national celebration of mystery and innocent fun. Early gatherings were designed as matchmaking parties for young people, with games to "predict" matrimonial futures and ample opportunity for flirtation. Here, revelers pose with jack-o-lanterns--a unique blend of immigrant customs and native harvest crops that came to symbolize the American Halloween.
- Thomas Flyer Leading the Way on a Street in Buffalo, New York during the New York to Paris Race, 1908 - In 1908, six automobiles raced around the globe from New York City to Paris, France. The contest took 169 days, covered 22,000 miles and spanned three continents. The cars and their racing teams had to endure cold, snow, mud, poor roads and other hardships. This lantern slide shows the American team in a Thomas Flyer heading into Buffalo, New York.
- February 16, 1908
- Collections - Artifact
Thomas Flyer Leading the Way on a Street in Buffalo, New York during the New York to Paris Race, 1908
In 1908, six automobiles raced around the globe from New York City to Paris, France. The contest took 169 days, covered 22,000 miles and spanned three continents. The cars and their racing teams had to endure cold, snow, mud, poor roads and other hardships. This lantern slide shows the American team in a Thomas Flyer heading into Buffalo, New York.
- Broadside, Transportation on the Erie Canal Merchants Line, 1832 - The first half of the 19th century was the heyday of canals in the United States, opening up new territories to settlement and commerce. The Erie Canal, connecting Albany to Buffalo, began in 1817 and was completed in 1825. This broadside, printed July 1, 1832, advertised the "Merchants Line" of boats, a daily line that transported freight and passengers.
- July 01, 1832
- Collections - Artifact
Broadside, Transportation on the Erie Canal Merchants Line, 1832
The first half of the 19th century was the heyday of canals in the United States, opening up new territories to settlement and commerce. The Erie Canal, connecting Albany to Buffalo, began in 1817 and was completed in 1825. This broadside, printed July 1, 1832, advertised the "Merchants Line" of boats, a daily line that transported freight and passengers.