Call Number:

3857

Repository:

Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Extent:

0.2 linear feet (; 159 items)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Cite as: [Indicate cited item or series here], Collection of matchbook covers from Pennsylvania establishments (Collection 3857), The Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

Date:

circa 1930-1980

Donor:

Lee, Everett C.

Abstract:

This is a collection of approximately 159 matchbook covers dating from around the 1930s to the 1980s from various businesses from across Pennsylvania. Many originated from restaurants, clubs, hotels, and bars, but other types of establishments are represented as well, such as garages and clothing stores. The majority of them contain business names and addresses, and some display colorful and ornate advertisements, cartoons, pinups, and logos.

The matchbooks had been arranged into two sections, and that arrangement has been maintained, along with the their original housing in acid-free sleeves. The first section consists of those specifically from Philadelphia-area retailers. The second section consists of matchbooks collected from places primarily located in the southeastern portion of Pennsylvania, such as Harrisburg, Lancaster, and Allentown. They have been roughly arranged in alphabetical order by city names. They are also all flattened and the matches in each have been removed. Many of them retain their originals strikes (the strip that is used to light the matches), but on some the strikes have been cut off.