Search Results

Collector:

Orth, Edward J.  Search this

Exhibition Collectors Historical Organization  Search this

Names:

New York World's Fair (1939-1940 : New York, N.Y.)  Search this

Extent:

130 Cubic feet (417 boxes, 25 map-folders)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Souvenirs

Photographs

Pamphlets

Guidebooks

Exhibition posters--1930-1940

Diaries

Ephemera

Film transparencies

Motion picture film

Posters

Place:

Flushing Meadows Park (New York, N.Y.)

New York (N.Y.)

Date:

1835-2000, undated

Summary:

Collection documents the 1939 New York World's Fair in Flushing Meadows, New York. Also includes material relating to other fairs, the Exhibition Collectors Historical Organization (ECHO), New York City tourism and The Walt Disney Company.

Scope and Contents:

Collection primarily documents the conception, planning, construction, management, and operations of the 1939 New York World's Fair located in Flushing Meadows, New York. Materials provide historical context and cultural significance as recorded in publications, artwork, photographs, ephemera, postcards, maps, plans, exhibitor's literature, souvenirs, and motion picture film. Most of the materials were primarily created for people who attended the fair. Some of the materials include scrapbooks created by fair visitors to document their experiences. There is a significant amount of material relating to other fairs, New York tourism, the Exhibition Collectors Historical Organization (ECHO) and the World's Fair Collector's Society. Other forms of entertainment such as festivals, the Olympic games, and Disney World are also found among these materials. There is little information relating to Edward Orth's personal and professional life as a city planner. The collection is arranged into eleven series.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into eleven series.

Series 1, Edward J. Orth Personal Papers, 1915-1989, undated

Subseries 1.1, Correspondence, 1939-1989

Subseries 1.2, Other Materials, 1915-1989, undated

Series 2, Exhibition Collectors Historical Organization (ECHO) and World's Fair Collector's Society, Incorporated Records, 1942-1990, undated

Subseries 2.1, General Information, 1960-1988, undated

Subseries 2.2, Correspondence, 1942-1990, undated

Subseries 2.3, Classified and Wanted Advertisements, 1956-1988, undated

Subseries 2.4, Financial Records, 1976-1989

Subseries 2.5, Newsletters, 1969-1988, undated

Subseries 2.6, Membership Materials, 1970s-1989, undated

Series 3, New York World's Fair, Incorporated Records, 1900-1988, undated

Subseries 3.1, Administrative Files, 1900-1977, undated

Subseries 3.2, Amusement Zone, 1937-1940, undated

Subseries 3.3, Communications and Business Systems Zone, 1939-1965, undated

Subseries 3.4, Community Interest Zone, 1939-1949, undated

Subseries 3.5, Food Zone, 1939-1975

Subseries 3.6, Government Zone, 1939-1940

Subseries 3.7, Production and Distribution Zone, 1939-1940

Subseries 3.8, Transportation Zone, 1939-1940

Subseries 3.9, Ephemera, 1938-1988, undated

Series 4, Photographic Materials, 1939-1968, undated

Subseries 4.1, General, 1939-1940, undated

Subseries 4.2, Amusement Area, 1939-1940, undated

Subseries 4.3, Business Systems Zone, 1939-1940, undated

Subseries 4.4, Communications Zone, 1939-1940, undated

Subseries 4.5, Community Interest Zone, 1939-1940, undated

Subseries 4.6, Food Zone, 1939-1940, undated

Subseries 4.7, Government Zone, 1939-1940, undated

Subseries 4.8, Production and Distribution Zone, 1939-1940, undated

Subseries 4.9, Transportation Zone, 1939-1940, undated

Subseries 4.10, Miscellaneous, 1939-1940, undated

Subseries 4.11, Oversize Photographs, 1939-1940, undated

Subseries 4.12, Color Slides, 1939-1940, undated

Subseries 4.13, Color Transparencies, 1940-1942, undated

Subseries 4.14, Edward Orth, 1967-1968

Series 5, Scrapbooks, 1938-1981

Series 6, Postcards, 1906-1985, undated

Subseries 6.1, Amusement Area, 1939-1940, undated

Subseries 6.2, Business Systems Zone, 1939-1940, undated

Subseries 6.3, Communications Zone, 1939-1940, undated

Subseries 6.4, Community Interest Zone, 1939-1940, undated

Subseries 6.5, Food Zone, 1939-1940, undated

Subseries 6.6, Government Zone, International, 1939-1940, undated

Subseries 6.7, Government Zone, Federal and States, 1939-1940, undated

Subseries 6.8, Production and Distribution Zone, 1939-1940, undated

Subseries 6.9, Transportation Zone, 1939-1940, undated

Subseries 6.10, General, 1940, undated

Subseries 6.11, By Type, 1906-1985, undated

Series 7, Publications Related to World's Fairs, 1922-1989, undated

Subseries 7.1, Magazines, 1922-1988, undated

Subseries 7.2, Newspaper Articles, 1935-1989, undated

Subseries 7.3, Other Publications, 1937-1989, undated

Subseries 7.4, Other Subjects, 1962-1989

Series 8, Materials Relating to Other Fairs, 1851-2000, undated

Subseries 8.1, Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations or Crystal Palace Exhibition, 1851

Subseries 8.2, Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations, 1853-1853

Subseries 8.3, International Exhibition of Arts, Manufactures, and Products of the Soil and Mine or Centennial International Exhibition, 1876

Subseries 8.4, World's Columbian Exposition or Chicago World's Fair, 1893

Subseries 8.5, Exposition Internationale D'Anvers, Antwerp, Belgium

Subseries 8.6, Tennessee Centennial and International Exposition, 1897

Subseries 8.7, Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition, 1898

Subseries 8.8, Expositions, 1901

Subseries 8.9, Louisiana Purchase Exposition, 1906

Subseries 8.10, Jamestown Tercentennial Exposition, 1907

Subseries 8.11, Alaska, Yukon, Pacific Exposition, 1909

Subseries 8.12, Panama-California Exposition, 1915-1916

Subseries 8.13, Bronx International Exposition of Science, Arts, and Industries, 1918

Subseries 8.14, Sesquicentennial Exposition, 1926

Subseries 8.15, Barcelona International Exposition, 1929

Subseries 8.16, L'Exposition Coloniale, Paris, 1931

Subseries 8.17, Olympics, 1932

Subseries 8.18, A Century of Progress International Exposition, 1933

Subseries 8.19, Expositions, 1933-1935

Subseries 8.20, Expositions, 1936-1937

Subseries 8.21, Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne, 1937

Subseries 8.22, Golden Gate International Exposition, 1939

Subseries 8.23, Festival of Britain, Britain, London, United Kingdom, 1951

Subseries 8.24, Milan Fair, 1955

Subseries 8.25, Exposition Universelle et venti Internationale de Bruxelles, 1958

Subseries 8.26, American National Exhibition, 1959

Subseries 8.27, New York's World Fair, 1961-1977, undated

Subseries 8.28, Century 21 Exhibition, 1961-1962

Subseries 8.29, International and Universal Exposition or Expo 67, 1967

Subseries 8.30, Long Beach, California, 1967-1968

Subseries 8.31, HemisFair 68, 1968

Subseries 8.32, Expo 70 or Japan World Exposition, 1970

Subseries 8.33, Expo 74 or International Exposition on the Environment

Subseries 8.34, Expo 75 or International Ocean Exposition, 1975

Subseries 8.35, American Revolution Bicentennial, 1776-1976, 1976

Subseries 8.36, Queen's Bicentennial Festival, 1975-1976

Subseries 8.37, Plovdiv International Exhibition of 1981 or Expo 81

Subseries 8.38, Kobe Port Island Exposition or Portopia 81, 1981

Subseries 8.39, Knoxville International Energy Exposition or 1982 World's Fair, 1982

Subseries 8.40, Louisiana World Exposition, 1984

Subseries 8.41, Games of the XXIII Olympiad, 1984

Subseries 8.42, The International Exposition, Tsukuba, Japan or The International Science Technology Exposition, 1985

Subseries 8.43, Queen's Festival, 1985

Subseries 8.44, 1986 World Exposition on Transportation and Communication or Expo 86, 1986

Subseries 8.45, World Expo 88, 1988

Subseries 8.46, Universal Exposition of Seville or Expo 92, 1992

Subseries 8.47, Expo 2000, 2000

Subseries 8.48, Other Events and Celebrations, 1886-1989

Subseries 8.49, Combined Fairs, 1968-1994

Subseries 8.50, General information about world's fairs, 1964-1980

Series 9, Ephemera, 1892-1989, undated

Subseries 9.1, New York and New York World's Fair, 1892-1989, undated

Subseries 9.2, Other States and Countries, 1835, 1939, undated

Subseries 9.3, Motion Picture Film and Entertainment, 1937-1981, undated

Series 10, Audio Visual Materials, 1939, 1964-1965, undated

Subseries 10.1, Moving Images, 1939, 1964-1965, undated

Subseries 10.2, Sound Recordings, undated

Series 11, Oversize, 1835-1992, undated

Biographical / Historical:

Biographical / Historical

Edward Joseph Orth grew up with a strong interest in history, particularly the history of the 1939 New York World's Fair. Orth's visit to the fair as a twelve-year-old boy led to a life-long passion of collecting. At the time of his death, he had amassed enough materials to fill two homes in California. Orth also collected materials from several other fairs. In addition, he saved some of the records of the Exhibition Collectors Historical Organization (ECHO) and the World's Fair Collector's Society.

Orth was born April 19, 1927, to Andrew Joseph Orth and Florence Minnie Gordon Orth in Glendale, New York. In the 1930s, the Orth family lived in several locations in New York including Ridgewood, Brooklyn, Glendale, and Queens. The home that made the most impact in young Orth's life came in 1935 when the family moved to St. Albans, Queens seven miles from Flushing Meadow Park, the future site of the 1939 fair. Sadly in 1939 there were several deaths in the family including three grandparents. The severe loss of life limited family social activities but a drive by the future site of the fair provided Orth a glimpse of the Trylon and Perisphere. He would later remark that the sight appeared to be magic. In the summer of 1939, he went to the fair with his classmates from Public School 136. The next summer Orth and his father purchased a 10-admission ticket from an elementary school in Hollis, Queens, New York. He saved every souvenir and any information he could find about the fair. He filled scrapbooks with images from newspapers and postcards from the Curt Teich and Manhattan Postcard companies. When his family moved from an apartment to a house, he acquired a fair bench which was kept in the backyard.

In 1941, Orth attended Newton High School in Elmhurst, and Queens, New York. The high school offered a college preparatory program with heavy emphasis on mathematics, science, mechanical drawing, and workshop courses. Orth's education and training combined with the knowledge he gained from motion picture films viewed at the fair, including Thomas Edison's "The City of Light," Ford Motor Company's "Road of Tomorrow," "Democracy," and General Motors' "Futurama" provided the foundation and inspiration for a career in architecture and landscaping. He ultimately became a city planner for the state of California. By 1943, Orth was exploring used magazine and bookstores in New York City to acquire more fair materials before enlisting in the United States Army in 1945. Upon his discharge he resumed buying and trading fair postcards. From 1948-1953, Orth attended the University of California and the University of Connecticut where he studied architecture and landscape design. During these years he posted advertisements in various publications in his continued pursue for fair materials.

In March 1953, Mr. Orth moved to Los Angeles, California. There he formed lasting friendships with other collectors. By 1967, Orth and several of his closest friends including Peter Warner, Oscar Hengstler, David Oats, Larry Zim, and Ernest Weidhaas conceived the idea of a fair collector's organization. By the summer of 1968, the group had formally created the Exhibition Collectors Historical Organization (ECHO).

As time passed Orth became increasing concerned about the welfare of his collection. He wanted it to go to a museum rather than be sold in parts. In his will he stipulated that the collection would be given to the Smithsonian Institution upon his death. Jon Zackman, former Smithsonian employee, interviewed Orth's brother George and fair collector Peter Warner. Orth and Warner corresponded and traded objects over many years. Mr. Orth primarily covered the west coast area while Peter Warner was his east coast counterpart. Edward Orth died on September 6,1989 in Los Angeles, California at the age of sixty-two.

Related Materials:

Materials in the Archives Center

New York World's Fair Collection, NMAH.AC.0134

Landor Design Collection, NMAH.AC.0500

Warshaw Collection of Business Americana, Subject Category, World Expos, NMAH.AC.0060

Larry Zim World's Fair Collection, NMAH.AC.0519

Alice R. Hillis World's Fair Film, NMAH.AC.0531

Borden Company 1939 New York World's Fair Collection, NMAH.AC.1063

Memories of the New York World's Fair, NMAH.AC.0592

Archives Center World Expositions Collection, NMAH.AC.0825

Daniel H. Meyerson World's Fair Collection, NMAH.AC.0745

Division of Community Life World's Fairs Collection, NMAH.AC.1132

Princeton University Posters Collection, NMAH.AC.0433

Hills Bros. Coffee Company, Incorporated Records, NMAH.AC.0395

Smithsonian Speech Synthesis History Project, NMAH.AC.0417

Messmore and Damon Company Records, NMAH.AC.0846

Thomas Norrell Railroad Collection, NMAH.AC.1174

William L. Bird Holidays on Display Collection, NMAH.AC.1288

Wurlitzer Company Records, NMAH.AC.0469

Victor A. Blenkle Postcard Collection, NMAH.AC.0200

Materials at Other Organizations

New York Public Library The New York World's Fair 1939 and 1940 Incorporated Records, 1935-1945, MssCol 2233.

New York City 1939 World's Fair architectural drawings, circa 1935. Museum of the City of New York. Museum of the City of New York.

New York City 1939 World's Fair Collection, 1939-1940. Museum of the City of New York. New York World's Fair 1939/40 Collection. Queens Museum.

1939 New York World's Fair Postcards, Identifier: 1972-320, Audiovisual Collections Repository, Hagley Museum & Library

Separated Materials:

Materials at the National Museum of American History

Artifacts from the collection include several thousand souvenirs and examples of memorabilia commemorating the fair to include buttons and badges, ceramics, glassware, clothing, costume jewelry, coins and medals, commemorative spoons and flatware, toys and games, and philatelic material which are all part of the Division of Home and Community Life's holdings (now Division of Cultural and Community Life).

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Researchers must handle unprotected photographs with gloves. Researchers must use reference copies of audio-visual materials. When no reference copy exists, the Archives Center staff will produce reference copies on an "as needed" basis, as resources allow. Viewing film portion of collection requires special appointment, please inquire. Do not use when original materials are available on reference video or audio tapes. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.

Rights:

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.

Topic:

Exhibitions -- 1930-1940 -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this

World's fairs  Search this

Amusement parks--History  Search this

Amusement parks--New York (State)--History  Search this

Architecture--Exhibitions  Search this

Architecture--New York (State)--New York  Search this

Architecture--United States--Designs and plans  Search this

Burlesque shows--New York (State)--New York--1930-1940  Search this

Business history Business enterprises--United States--History  Search this

Chicago's Century of Progress  Search this

Construction and civil engineering  Search this

Construction industry--United States--Management--History  Search this

Corporate culture--History  Search this

Corporate culture--United States  Search this

Engineering--History--20th century  Search this

Exhibition buildings – New York (State) – New York  Search this

Exhibition buildings--1920-1940  Search this

Exhibitions -- Design  Search this

Fairs -- New York (State) -- New York -- History  Search this

Fashion--History--20th century  Search this

Flushing Meadows-Corona Park (New York, N.Y.)--History  Search this

Food in popular culture--New York (State)--New York  Search this

Graphic arts--United States--History--20th century  Search this

International exhibitions  Search this

International Exhibitions Bureau  Search this

Lighting, Architectural and decorative--History--20th century  Search this

Technology -- United States -- History -- 20th century  Search this

Transportation--New York Metropolitan Area--Planning  Search this

Transportation--New York (State)  Search this

United States --Foreign relations --1933-1945  Search this

Urban parks--United States--History  Search this

Urban design  Search this

World War, 1939-1945 -- Economic aspects -- United States  Search this

Consumerism  Search this

Consumers--History--20th century  Search this

General Motors Corporation  Search this

Grand Central Parkway extension  Search this

Organizational behavior--United States--History  Search this

Public relations--History  Search this

New York World's Fair Commission  Search this

Queens (New York, N.Y.) Buildings, structures, etc.  Search this

Genre/Form:

Souvenirs -- 1930-1940

Photographs -- Black-and-white photoprints -- Silver gelatin -- 1930-1940

Pamphlets -- 1930-1940

Guidebooks -- 1930-1940

Exhibition posters--1930-1940

Diaries

Ephemera -- 20th century

Film transparencies

Motion picture film

Posters -- 1930-1940

Citation:

Edward J. Orth Memorial Archives of the New York World's Fair, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.0560

See more items in:

Edward J. Orth Memorial Archives of the New York World's Fair

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep808504c62-92bb-48b1-8a76-f9d279516c33

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0560

Retailer:

Wurlitzer Company  Search this

Physical Description:

aluminum (overall material)

cork (overall material)

Measurements:

overall: 1/4 in x 1 5/8 in x 1 7/8 in; .635 cm x 4.1275 cm x 4.7625 cm

Object Name:

bridge jack

Place made:

United States

Credit Line:

Gift of Leona M. Bone Trust

ID Number:

2002.0167.11

Accession number:

2002.0167

Catalog number:

2002.0167.11

See more items in:

Cultural and Community Life: Musical Instruments

Work

Music & Musical Instruments

Data Source:

National Museum of American History

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a8-d18d-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmah_1028514

Manufacturer:

Rembert Wurlitzer Company  Search this

Type:

AVIONICS-Radar/Electronic Warfare

Country of Origin:

United States of America

Credit Line:

Gift of Michael Hanz.

Inventory Number:

A20020100000

Restrictions & Rights:

Usage conditions apply

See more items in:

National Air and Space Museum Collection

Data Source:

National Air and Space Museum

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9d57d1690-8af6-4af7-a8e2-7b7ea4dfc202

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nasm_A20020100000

Maker:

Wurlitzer Company  Search this

Physical Description:

metal; plastic; glass; paper (overall material)

Measurements:

overall: 33 cm x 22 cm x 14.6 cm; 13 in x 8 11/16 in x 5 3/4 in

overall: 13 in x 8 5/8 in x 9 in; 33.02 cm x 21.9075 cm x 22.86 cm

Object Name:

Jukebox

Place made:

United States: New York, North Tonawanda

Date made:

1950

Credit Line:

Joseph L. and Linda A. Lombardo

ID Number:

1999.3048.02

Nonaccession number:

1999.3048

Catalog number:

1999.3048.02

See more items in:

Cultural and Community Life: Entertainment

Data Source:

National Museum of American History

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746aa-aa35-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmah_1212024

Physical Description:

metal (overall material)

paper (overall material)

ink (overall material)

Measurements:

overall: string in envelope: 1/16 in x 3 9/16 in x 3 9/16 in; .15875 cm x 9.04875 cm x 9.04875 cm

Object Name:

violin a string

Place made:

Germany

Credit Line:

Gift of Albert F. Moglie and Lorette M. Moglie

ID Number:

2018.3081.260

Nonaccession number:

2018.3081

Catalog number:

2018.3081.260

See more items in:

Cultural and Community Life: Musical Instruments

Music & Musical Instruments

Data Source:

National Museum of American History

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746b3-be74-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmah_1892653

Physical Description:

gut (overall material)

paper (overall material)

ink (overall material)

Measurements:

overall: 3/16 in x 2 13/16 in x 2 3/4 in; .47625 cm x 7.14375 cm x 6.985 cm

Object Name:

violin a string

Credit Line:

Gift of Albert F. Moglie and Lorette M. Moglie

ID Number:

2018.3081.393

Catalog number:

2018.3081.393

Nonaccession number:

2018.3081

See more items in:

Cultural and Community Life: Musical Instruments

Music & Musical Instruments

Data Source:

National Museum of American History

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746b4-4872-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmah_1893460

Physical Description:

gut (overall material)

paper (overall material)

ink (overall material)

Measurements:

overall: 3/16 in x 3 3/16 in x 3 3/16 in; .47625 cm x 8.09625 cm x 8.09625 cm

Object Name:

violin a string

Place made:

United Kingdom: England

Credit Line:

Gift of Albert F. Moglie and Lorette M. Moglie

ID Number:

2018.3081.394

Catalog number:

2018.3081.394

Nonaccession number:

2018.3081

See more items in:

Cultural and Community Life: Musical Instruments

Music & Musical Instruments

Data Source:

National Museum of American History

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746b4-4873-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmah_1893461

Physical Description:

metal (overall material)

paper (overall material)

Measurements:

overall: 1/8 in x 4 in x 3 3/8 in; .3175 cm x 10.16 cm x 8.5725 cm

Object Name:

violin a string

Place made:

Germany

Credit Line:

Gift of Albert F. Moglie and Lorette M. Moglie

ID Number:

2018.3081.409

Catalog number:

2018.3081.409

Nonaccession number:

2018.3081

See more items in:

Cultural and Community Life: Musical Instruments

Music & Musical Instruments

Data Source:

National Museum of American History

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746b4-1e84-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmah_1893509

Physical Description:

gut (overall material)

metal (overall material)

paper (overall material)

Measurements:

overall: 1/8 in x 3 1/2 in x 3 1/2 in; .3175 cm x 8.89 cm x 8.89 cm

Object Name:

violin a string

Credit Line:

Gift of Albert F. Moglie and Lorette M. Moglie

ID Number:

2018.3081.410

Catalog number:

2018.3081.410

Nonaccession number:

2018.3081

See more items in:

Cultural and Community Life: Musical Instruments

Music & Musical Instruments

Data Source:

National Museum of American History

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746b4-2982-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmah_1893512

Physical Description:

metal (overall material)

paper (overall material)

ink (overall material)

Measurements:

overall: 3/16 in x 3 1/8 in x 3 1/4 in; .47625 cm x 7.9375 cm x 8.255 cm

Object Name:

viola g string

Credit Line:

Gift of Albert F. Moglie and Lorette M. Moglie

ID Number:

2018.3081.423

Catalog number:

2018.3081.423

Nonaccession number:

2018.3081

See more items in:

Cultural and Community Life: Musical Instruments

Music & Musical Instruments

Data Source:

National Museum of American History

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746b4-382f-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmah_1893687

Physical Description:

metal (overall material)

paper (overall material)

ink (overall material)

Measurements:

overall: 3/16 in x 5 1/8 in x 5 1/8 in; .47625 cm x 13.0175 cm x 13.0175 cm

Object Name:

viola c string

Place made:

United States: New York, New York

Credit Line:

Gift of Albert F. Moglie and Lorette M. Moglie

ID Number:

2018.3081.425

Catalog number:

2018.3081.425

Nonaccession number:

2018.3081

See more items in:

Cultural and Community Life: Musical Instruments

Music & Musical Instruments

Data Source:

National Museum of American History

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746b4-38fb-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmah_1893689

Physical Description:

metal (overall material)

paper (overall material)

ink (overall material)

Measurements:

overall: 3/16 in x 5 1/8 in x 5 1/8 in; .47625 cm x 13.0175 cm x 13.0175 cm

Object Name:

viola d string

Place made:

United States: New York, New York

Credit Line:

Gift of Albert F. Moglie and Lorette M. Moglie

ID Number:

2018.3081.426

Catalog number:

2018.3081.426

Nonaccession number:

2018.3081

See more items in:

Cultural and Community Life: Musical Instruments

Music & Musical Instruments

Data Source:

National Museum of American History

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746b4-38fd-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmah_1893691

Measurements:

overall: 3/16 in x 5 1/8 in x 5 1/8 in; .47625 cm x 13.0175 cm x 13.0175 cm

Object Name:

viola g string

Place made:

United States: New York, New York

Credit Line:

Gift of Albert F. Moglie and Lorette M. Moglie

ID Number:

2018.3081.427

Catalog number:

2018.3081.427

Nonaccession number:

2018.3081

See more items in:

Cultural and Community Life: Musical Instruments

Music & Musical Instruments

Data Source:

National Museum of American History

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746b4-38fe-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmah_1893692

Collection Creator:

Rudolph Wurlitzer Company  Search this

Container:

Map-folder 13b

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

1928-11-20

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

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.

Collection Citation:

Wurlitzer Company Records, 1860-1984, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

See more items in:

Wurlitzer Company Records

Wurlitzer Company Records / Series 14: Drawings / 14.202: Mastbaum Theatre - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8f56ccac2-9c2d-46c3-8221-744eb1b3e04e

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0469-ref3760

Creator:

Rudolph Wurlitzer Company  Search this

Names:

All-American Mohawk Company  Search this

Apollo Piano Company  Search this

Beach-Carlisle Violin Company  Search this

Caldwell Piano Company  Search this

Central Discount Company  Search this

Dayton Photo Products Company  Search this

DeKalb Piano Company  Search this

Dekleist Musical Instruments Company  Search this

Deutsch Wurlitzer  Search this

Eagle Radio Company  Search this

Everett Piano Company  Search this

Fox Theatres Corporation  Search this

Lyric Piano Company  Search this

Milner Music Company  Search this

Morsatti, Inc.  Search this

North Tonawanda Barrel Organ Company  Search this

Robert L. Loud Music Company  Search this

Rudolph Wurlitzer Company  Search this

Southern Ohio Radio Corporation  Search this

Western Industries Corporation  Search this

Wunderlich Piano Company  Search this

Wurlbild Corporation  Search this

Wurlitzer Acceptance Corporation  Search this

Wurlitzer Company  Search this

Wurlitzer Company of California  Search this

Wurlitzer Grand Piano Company  Search this

Youngstown Music Company  Search this

Rolfing, R.C.  Search this

Wurlitzer, Farny  Search this

Wurlitzer, Rembert  Search this

Wurlitzer, Rudolph  Search this

Extent:

56 Cubic feet

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Minute books

Account books

Financial records

Stock records

Reports

Advertisements

Sales records

Audits

Cashbooks

Ledgers (account books)

Annual reports

Photographs

Journals (accounts)

Price lists

Trade catalogs

Publications

Employee records

Marketing records

Commercial catalogs

Place:

DeKalb (Ill.)

North Tonawanda (N.Y.)

Corinth (Miss.)

Cincinnati (Ohio)

Date:

1860-1984

Summary:

The collection documents the history and development of the Wurlitzer Company and consists of company publications, business records, employee files, manufacturing records, sales and marketing records, product information, publicity, advertising, photographs, audiovisual materials, and organ installation drawings.

Scope and Contents:

The collection documents the history and the development of the Wurlitzer Company. Materials include company publications, business records, employee files, manufacturing records, sales and marketing records, product information, publicity, advertising, photographs, audiovisual materials, and organ installation drawings. The material in the collection spans from 1856-1986, although information prior to 1899 is sparse.

Arrangement:

The Collection is arranged into fourteen series.

Series 1: Wurlitzer Company Histories, Company Events, and General Business Materials, circa 1880-1987; undated

Series 2: Publications, 1910-1989; undated

Series 3: Advertising and Promotional Materials, 1911-1978

Series 4: Product Information, 1860-1984; undated

Series 5: Photographs of Wurlitzer Manufacturing Plants, Employees, Stores, and Dealerships, 1869-1970; undated

Series 6: Photographs of Wurlitzer Products and Product Sales Promotions, 1900-1978; undated

Series 7, Photographs Used in Wurlitzer Advertising and Public Relations, 1904-1970; undated

Series 8: Wurlitzer Employee Records and Related Materials, 1909-1961; undated

Series 9: Production and Shipping Records, 1905-1987

Series 10: Shipping and Sales Records for Wurlitzer Dealerships, Wurlitzer Retail Stores, and Rembert Wurlitzer, Incorporated, 1917-1952

Series 11, Records of Stock Certificates, Meeting Minutes, and Related Financial and Legal Documents, 1907-1972

Series 12, Rudolph Wurlitzer Company Financial Records, 1893-1986

Series 13, Maps and Charts, 1931-1976

Series 14, Organ Installation Drawings, 1920-1931; undated

Historical Note:

The Wurlitzer Company began in 1856 when Rudolph Wurlitzer, a Cincinnati bank clerk, sold seven hundred dollars worth of musical instruments he had bought from family and friends in Germany. The busi¬ness was incorporated in Ohio in 1890 under the name the Ru¬dolph Wurlitzer Company." For the first fifty years, Wurlitzer was primarily a retail instrument business operating out of its Cincinnati Store headquarters. Although fire destroyed the com¬pany's headquarters in 1904, a new building was completed in time to celebrate Wurlitzer's fiftieth anniversary in 1906.

In 1908, the Wurlitzer Company bought the DeKleist Musical In¬strument Manufacturing Company in North Tonawanda, New York. The Rudolph Wurlitzer Manufacturing Company continued produc¬tion of automatic musical instruments including player pianos, military bands and pianorchestras. In 1910, the Wurlitzer Company bought the Hope-Jones Organ Company and began to manufacture unit-or¬chestra pipe organs at their North Tonawanda plant. These were pipe organs equipped with bells, gongs, horns and sirens. They became known as Mighty Wurlitzers and provided the musical back¬ground in silent movie houses all over the world and were also built for churches and private homes. In 1919, Wurlitzer bought the Melville-Clark Piano Company of DeKalb, Illinois. Wurlitzer pianos were then manufactured at the DeKalb facilities under a variety of names: the Apollo Piano Company, the DeKalb Piano Company and the Wurlitzer Grand Piano Company. Each name des¬ignated a different quality, price range and style.

With the decline of sales during the 1920s and 1930s, pro¬duction of automatic musical instruments ceased until the manu¬facture of the first jukebox in 1934. In 1930, the Julius Bauer Piano Company was purchased and continued to build pianos in that name until shortly before World War II. For a brief time, radios and refrigerators were made by the Wurlitzer controlled Air-Amer¬ican Mohawk Corporation. It was not a successful venture and ended in the mid-1930s. Many of the Wurlitzer retail stores were, at that time, in bad locations and needed repairs. The solutions to these problems came about with a reorganization of the company in 1935. With the reorganization, many retail stores were sold, piano manufacturing was consolidated in DeKalb and many subsidiaries were dissolved or absorbed completely into the Wurlitzer Company.

During World War II, Wurlitzer halted production of musical in¬struments. The company's defense production efforts were rec¬ognized in 1943 and 1944 when it is North Tonawanda and DeKalb plants received the Army-Navy "E" Award. In 1946, peacetime production resumed and the Wurlitzer Company introduced two new instruments: the electric organ in 1947 and the electric piano in 1954. In 1956, the Wurlitzer Company celebrated its centennial. That same year a new plant at Corinth, Mississippi, was completed. Later, plants were opened in Holly Springs, Mississippi (1961), Logan, Utah (1970) and Hullhorst, West Germany, (1960). The new facilities replaced those at North Tonawanda and DeKalb. The North Tonawanda plant ceased production of jukeboxes in 1974, becoming the company's engineering and research center. In 1973, the DeKalb plant ended production of pianos maintaining only mar¬keting and administrative offices. In 1977, the Wurlitzer Com¬pany's corporate headquarters moved to DeKalb, including the en¬gineering and research center from North Tonawanda.

Wurlitzer's three sons had assumed leadership of the company after his death in 1914. Each son acted as president then, chair of the board, successively. The company hired R.C. Rolfing in 1934 as vice-president and general manager. His re¬organization helped the company through the Depression years. Rolfing succeeded the last of the founder's sons in 1941 as pres¬ident of the company and in 1966 as chair of the board. Farny Wurlitzer, Rudolph's youngest son, died in 1972. A.D. Arsem succeeded Rolfing in 1974 as chair of the board. George B. Howell succeeded W. N. Herleman as president of the company.

Related Materials:

Materials in the Archives Center

Steinway & Sons Records and Family Papers, 1857-1919 (AC0178)

Chickering & Sons Piano Company Collection, 1864-1985 (AC0264)

Sohmer & Company Records, 1872-1989 (AC0349)

William J. Lenz Piano Tuning Collection, circa 1903-1955 (AC0511)

Janssen Piano Company Records, 1901-1929 (AC0512)

John R. Anderson Piano Trade Literature and Ephemera Collection, circa 1850-1990 (AC1257)

Warshaw Collection of Business America's Piano and Organ related materials (AC0060)

Provenance:

Collection donated by Northern Illinois University, and Regional History Center, 1994, November 11.

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Rights:

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.

Topic:

Violin -- Manufacture  Search this

Radio -- Receivers and reception  Search this

Coin-operated machines  Search this

Accordion  Search this

Jukeboxes -- Manufacture  Search this

Harp -- Manufacture  Search this

Piano -- History  Search this

Player organ  Search this

Accordion -- Manufacture  Search this

Piano makers  Search this

Organ -- Manufacture  Search this

Organ -- History  Search this

Wurlitzer organ  Search this

Musical instrument makers  Search this

Mechanical organs  Search this

Mechanical musical instruments  Search this

Musical instruments  Search this

Genre/Form:

Minute books

Account books

Financial records

Stock records

Reports

Advertisements

Sales records

Audits

Cashbooks

Ledgers (account books)

Annual reports

Photographs -- 19th century

Journals (accounts)

Price lists

Trade catalogs

Publications

Employee records

Marketing records

Commercial catalogs

Citation:

Wurlitzer Company Records, 1860-1984, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.0469

See more items in:

Wurlitzer Company Records

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8b6b1ed59-da9e-468e-ae2e-8bcd065f8cb2

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0469

Collection Creator:

Rudolph Wurlitzer Company  Search this

Container:

Box 2, Folder 12

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

undated

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

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.

Collection Citation:

Wurlitzer Company Records, 1860-1984, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

See more items in:

Wurlitzer Company Records

Wurlitzer Company Records / Series 1: Wurlitzer Company Histories Company Events and General Business Materials / 1.6: Marketing Studies and Surveys

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep806534692-473d-49f4-b55e-c1e8bfb7b7c2

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0469-ref100

Collection Creator:

Rudolph Wurlitzer Company  Search this

Container:

Box 89, Folder SN-4

Type:

Archival materials

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

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.

Collection Citation:

Wurlitzer Company Records, 1860-1984, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

See more items in:

Wurlitzer Company Records

Wurlitzer Company Records / Series 9: Production and Shipping Records / 9.3: Piano Serial Number Printouts, DeKalb Division

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8de36ac2a-1787-404c-948c-e8ebf747fc12

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0469-ref1000

Collection Creator:

Rudolph Wurlitzer Company  Search this

Container:

Box 90, Folder SN-5

Type:

Archival materials

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

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.

Collection Citation:

Wurlitzer Company Records, 1860-1984, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

See more items in:

Wurlitzer Company Records

Wurlitzer Company Records / Series 9: Production and Shipping Records / 9.3: Piano Serial Number Printouts, DeKalb Division

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep85d492fb2-0bc2-4716-a0da-ae0a8daa6b4f

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0469-ref1001

Collection Creator:

Rudolph Wurlitzer Company  Search this

Container:

Box 91, Folder SN-6

Type:

Archival materials

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

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.

Collection Citation:

Wurlitzer Company Records, 1860-1984, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

See more items in:

Wurlitzer Company Records

Wurlitzer Company Records / Series 9: Production and Shipping Records / 9.3: Piano Serial Number Printouts, DeKalb Division

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep866695509-c321-41a8-9716-fb568e4be5f6

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0469-ref1002

Collection Creator:

Rudolph Wurlitzer Company  Search this

Container:

Box 92, Folder SN-7

Type:

Archival materials

Collection Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Collection Rights:

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.

Collection Citation:

Wurlitzer Company Records, 1860-1984, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

See more items in:

Wurlitzer Company Records

Wurlitzer Company Records / Series 9: Production and Shipping Records / 9.3: Piano Serial Number Printouts, DeKalb Division

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8706e7f9e-81d5-420f-98d4-d0980908cdff

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0469-ref1003