Advertising

Advertising is meant to persuade, and the themes and techniques of that persuasion reveal a part of the nation's history. The Museum has preserved advertising campaigns for several familiar companies, such as Marlboro, Alka-Seltzer, Federal Express, Cover Girl, and Nike. It also holds the records of the NW Ayer Advertising Agency and business papers from Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Carvel Ice Cream, and other companies. The Warshaw Collection of Business Americana comprises thousands of trade cards, catalogs, labels, and other business papers and images dating back to the late 1700s.

Beyond advertising campaigns, the collections encompass thousands of examples of packaging, catalogs, and other literature from many crafts and trades, from engineering to hat making. The collections also contain an eclectic array of advertising objects, such as wooden cigar-store Indians, neon signs, and political campaign ads.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1943 - 1947
ID Number
1985.0588.01
accession number
1985.0588
catalog number
1985.0588.01
The Hamons family business exemplifies the culture of roadside communities that sprang up as long-distance automobile travel increased. Carl and Lucille Hamons lived on Carl's mother's farm until the late 1930s, when they moved to the town of Hydro, Oklahoma.
Description
The Hamons family business exemplifies the culture of roadside communities that sprang up as long-distance automobile travel increased. Carl and Lucille Hamons lived on Carl's mother's farm until the late 1930s, when they moved to the town of Hydro, Oklahoma. In 1941 they used Carl's inheritance to purchase a gasoline station with seven tourist cabins at Provine, a sparsely settled crossroads on Route 66 one mile southwest of Hydro. Neighboring businesses included a Texaco station and the Hill Top Café. Carl drove a truck for a living, and Lucille operated the gas station and cabins. They lived in the second story of the gas station; Lucille prepared breakfast and sandwiches for travelers on a hotplate in the first story. Lucille lived in the gas station until her death in 2000.
Social interaction in communities like Provine differed greatly from traditional villages. Strangers on the move were brought together briefly in a remote, ephemeral setting. This was a culture of mobility; motor travel was the only reason for Provine's existence. In her autobiography, Lucille describes the isolation of her gas station home, her frequent interaction with travelers on Route 66, and her travel-oriented duties and services in addition to running the gas station and cabins. She helped travelers in financial straits by accepting objects for payment or by purchasing their cars and putting the travelers on a bus. During World War II, when rubber and metal were in short supply, she sold tires and parts stripped from the used cars that she had bought.
Lucille witnessed the second wave of migration on Route 66 in the early 1940s, when midwesterners sought defense jobs in California, as well as postwar vacation trips and household moves. In recent years, as interest in the historical and cultural aspects of Route 66 has grown, Mrs. Hamons has been celebrated as the "Mother of the Mother Road." Her gas station was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. Cheryl Hamons Nowka, who was born in the second story of the gas station, created a Lucille Hamons web site in the mid-1990s.
date made
1941
maker
Gillingham Sign Company, Weatherford, Oklahoma
ID Number
2001.0327.01
accession number
2001.0327
A Nickolas Muray 3-color carbro photograph. Advertisment for Petrie Wine. A bowl of stew with two glasses of red wine in foreground.Recto: Signed and dated by artist in lower right corner (pencil). Verso: Five Muray stamps. One Muray label.
Description (Brief)
A Nickolas Muray 3-color carbro photograph. Advertisment for Petrie Wine. A bowl of stew with two glasses of red wine in foreground.
Recto: Signed and dated by artist in lower right corner (pencil). Verso: Five Muray stamps. One Muray label. "#15" in upper left corner (pencil).
Description
Nickolas Muray was born in Szeged, Hungary on February 15, 1892. Twelve years after his birth, Muray left his native town and enrolled in a graphic arts school in Budapest. Enrolling in art school was the first step on a road that would eventually lead him to study a photographic printing process called three-color carbro. In the course of his accomplished career, Muray would become an expert in this process and play a key role in bringing color photography to America.
While attending art school in Budapest, Muray studied lithography and photoengraving, earning an International Engraver's Certificate. Muray was also introduced to photography during this time period. His combined interest in photography and printmaking led him to Berlin, Germany to participate in a three-year color-photoengraving course. In Berlin, Muray learned how to make color filters, a first step in the craft that would one day become his trademark. Immediately after the completion of the course, Muray found a good job with a publishing company in Ullstein, Germany. However, the threat of war in Europe forced Muray to flee for America in 1913. Soon after his arrival in New York, Muray was working as a photoengraver for Condé Nast. His specialty was color separations and half-tone negatives.
By 1920, Muray had established a home for himself in the up-and-coming artists' haven of Greenwich Village. He opened a portrait studio out of his apartment and continued to work part time at his engraving job. Harper's Bazaar magazine gave Muray his first big assignment in 1921. The project was to photograph Broadway star Florence Reed. The magazine was so impressed with his photographs that they began to publish his work monthly. This allowed him to give up his part time job and work solely as a photographer. It did not take long for Muray to become one of the most renowned portrait photographers in Manhattan. Muray spent much of the early 1920s photographing the most famous and important personalities in New York at the time.
In his spare time Muray enjoyed fencing. In 1927, he won the National Sabre Championship and in 1928 and 1932, he was on the United States Olympic Team. During World War II, Muray was a flight lieutenant in the Civil Air Patrol.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1948
maker
Muray, Nickolas
ID Number
PG.69.247.02
catalog number
69.247.02
accession number
287542
Frederick Eugene Ives (1856–1937) was a brilliant man interested in patenting his ideas (the first in 1881), but not so much in licensing them. Ives's first three-color single exposure camera was patented in 1899.
Description
Frederick Eugene Ives (1856–1937) was a brilliant man interested in patenting his ideas (the first in 1881), but not so much in licensing them. Ives's first three-color single exposure camera was patented in 1899. Over the next thirty years, Ives patented a variety of cameras and printing processes for color photography. After the Smithsonian hosted a show of Ives's photography company's work in late 1949 or early 1950, Associate Curator Alexander Wedderburn selected five prints for the color photography portion of the Photographic History Collection. This photograph represents the culmination of Ives's long series of patents and work with color photography.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1940s
maker
Ives Color Processes, Inc.
ID Number
PG.004680
accession number
187952
catalog number
4680
This coin was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut during the 1930s. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today.
Description (Brief)
This coin was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut during the 1930s. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including coins. These coins could be mailed to Cracker Jack to become a Mystery Club member.
Obverse: Bust of Ulysses Grant facing left. Legend: 18th PRESIDENT, U.S.A./1869-1877/ULYSSES S. GRANT.
Reverse: Legend: "THE AMERICAN CAESAR"/ "UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER"/ JOIN CRACKER JACK MYSTERY CLUB SAVE THIS COIN/ THE CRACKER JACK CO., CHICAGO, U.S.A.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930
depicted
Grant, Ulysses S.
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1261
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1261
A Nickolas Muray 3-color carbro photograph of fruit salad in a glass bowl ca. 1940s. Mazola advertisment.Verso: Muray label. Muray stamp. "Mazola Ad" (black pencil). "Carbro made from ektachrome" (black pencil).Nickolas Muray was born in Szeged, Hungary on February 15, 1892.
Description (Brief)
A Nickolas Muray 3-color carbro photograph of fruit salad in a glass bowl ca. 1940s. Mazola advertisment.
Verso: Muray label. Muray stamp. "Mazola Ad" (black pencil). "Carbro made from ektachrome" (black pencil).
Description
Nickolas Muray was born in Szeged, Hungary on February 15, 1892. Twelve years after his birth, Muray left his native town and enrolled in a graphic arts school in Budapest. Enrolling in art school was the first step on a road that would eventually lead him to study a photographic printing process called three-color carbro. In the course of his accomplished career, Muray would become an expert in this process and play a key role in bringing color photography to America.
While attending art school in Budapest, Muray studied lithography and photoengraving, earning an International Engraver's Certificate. Muray was also introduced to photography during this time period. His combined interest in photography and printmaking led him to Berlin, Germany to participate in a three-year color-photoengraving course. In Berlin, Muray learned how to make color filters, a first step in the craft that would one day become his trademark. Immediately after the completion of the course, Muray found a good job with a publishing company in Ullstein, Germany. However, the threat of war in Europe forced Muray to flee for America in 1913. Soon after his arrival in New York, Muray was working as a photoengraver for Condé Nast. His specialty was color separations and half-tone negatives.
By 1920, Muray had established a home for himself in the up-and-coming artists' haven of Greenwich Village. He opened a portrait studio out of his apartment and continued to work part time at his engraving job. Harper's Bazaar magazine gave Muray his first big assignment in 1921. The project was to photograph Broadway star Florence Reed. The magazine was so impressed with his photographs that they began to publish his work monthly. This allowed him to give up his part time job and work solely as a photographer. It did not take long for Muray to become one of the most renowned portrait photographers in Manhattan. Muray spent much of the early 1920s photographing the most famous and important personalities in New York at the time.
In his spare time Muray enjoyed fencing. In 1927, he won the National Sabre Championship and in 1928 and 1932, he was on the United States Olympic Team. During World War II, Muray was a flight lieutenant in the Civil Air Patrol.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1940s
maker
Muray, Nickolas
ID Number
PG.69.247.09
catalog number
69.247.09
accession number
287542
During World War II, the United States government recognized that full public support and dedication to the war effort was essential to victory.
Description
During World War II, the United States government recognized that full public support and dedication to the war effort was essential to victory. To bolster support, the government hired artists to create propaganda posters, designed to promote patriotism with simple, catchy slogans and colorful images. Toiling factory workers, thrifty home front mothers, and fearless soldiers were among the most popular images used by artists to communicate the message.
This 1942 poster commissioned by the War Shipping Administration encouraged a specific mission, designed to attract former seamen back into the Merchant Marine. At the time, American shipyards were producing cargo ships faster than crews could be assembled, forcing recruiters to rely not only on new volunteers, but also to persuade experienced mariners to leave retirement and go back to sea.
The creation of incentive posters mainly fell under the watch of the Office of War Information, a government agency created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in June 1942 to consolidate public information services and coordinate the sanctioned release of war news. The OWI reviewed and approved the content of newsreels, radio broadcasts, and billboards, in addition to producing hundreds of posters. Initially, the most pressing message to be communicated through posters was a warning to Americans about the dangers of discussing sensitive information like production schedules and troop movements that could be overheard by enemy spies. Over the course of the war, posters covered a variety of topics, such as encouraging the purchase of war bonds and galvanizing the work force at shipyards to keep production going on the assembly line.
date made
1942
commissioned poster
War Shipping Administration
directed poster program
United States. Office of War Information
Associated Name
Roosevelt, Franklin Delano
ID Number
1991.0856.07
catalog number
1991.0856.07
accession number
1991.0856
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1940
graphic artist
Rand McNally Company
ID Number
1971.293320.2970
accession number
293320
catalog number
293320.2970
Nickolas Muray color carbro photograph of a food spread ca. 1944. Several silver platters atop a white lace table cloth.
Description (Brief)
Nickolas Muray color carbro photograph of a food spread ca. 1944. Several silver platters atop a white lace table cloth. The platters are holding meat, rice, vegtables and pastries.
Photo Recto: Good condition.
Mount Recto: "10/1944" (pencil).
Mount Verso: McCall's Magazine label."7/27/44" (pencil). "#4 McCalls Magazine 1944" (pencil). "203/4" (blue pencil).
Description
Nickolas Muray was born in Szeged, Hungary on February 15, 1892. Twelve years after his birth, Muray left his native town and enrolled in a graphic arts school in Budapest. Enrolling in art school was the first step on a road that would eventually lead him to study a photographic printing process called three-color carbro. In the course of his accomplished career, Muray would become an expert in this process and play a key role in bringing color photography to America.
While attending art school in Budapest, Muray studied lithography and photoengraving, earning an International Engraver's Certificate. Muray was also introduced to photography during this time period. His combined interest in photography and printmaking led him to Berlin, Germany to participate in a three-year color-photoengraving course. In Berlin, Muray learned how to make color filters, a first step in the craft that would one day become his trademark. Immediately after the completion of the course, Muray found a good job with a publishing company in Ullstein, Germany. However, the threat of war in Europe forced Muray to flee for America in 1913. Soon after his arrival in New York, Muray was working as a photoengraver for Condé Nast. His specialty was color separations and half-tone negatives.
By 1920, Muray had established a home for himself in the up-and-coming artists' haven of Greenwich Village. He opened a portrait studio out of his apartment and continued to work part time at his engraving job. Harper's Bazaar magazine gave Muray his first big assignment in 1921. The project was to photograph Broadway star Florence Reed. The magazine was so impressed with his photographs that they began to publish his work monthly. This allowed him to give up his part time job and work solely as a photographer. It did not take long for Muray to become one of the most renowned portrait photographers in Manhattan. Muray spent much of the early 1920s photographing the most famous and important personalities in New York at the time.
In his spare time Muray enjoyed fencing. In 1927, he won the National Sabre Championship and in 1928 and 1932, he was on the United States Olympic Team. During World War II, Muray was a flight lieutenant in the Civil Air Patrol.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1944
maker
Muray, Nickolas
ID Number
PG.007930
accession number
258415
catalog number
7930
A Nickolas Muray 3-color carbro photograph of uncooked pork loin and produce ca. 1930s-1940s. Advertisment for A&P.Recto: Signed by artist bottom right (pencil). Verso: Muray label. Muray stamp.
Description (Brief)
A Nickolas Muray 3-color carbro photograph of uncooked pork loin and produce ca. 1930s-1940s. Advertisment for A&P.
Recto: Signed by artist bottom right (pencil). Verso: Muray label. Muray stamp. "A&P ad" (black marker).
Description
Nickolas Muray was born in Szeged, Hungary on February 15, 1892. Twelve years after his birth, Muray left his native town and enrolled in a graphic arts school in Budapest. Enrolling in art school was the first step on a road that would eventually lead him to study a photographic printing process called three-color carbro. In the course of his accomplished career, Muray would become an expert in this process and play a key role in bringing color photography to America.
While attending art school in Budapest, Muray studied lithography and photoengraving, earning an International Engraver's Certificate. Muray was also introduced to photography during this time period. His combined interest in photography and printmaking led him to Berlin, Germany to participate in a three-year color-photoengraving course. In Berlin, Muray learned how to make color filters, a first step in the craft that would one day become his trademark. Immediately after the completion of the course, Muray found a good job with a publishing company in Ullstein, Germany. However, the threat of war in Europe forced Muray to flee for America in 1913. Soon after his arrival in New York, Muray was working as a photoengraver for Condé Nast. His specialty was color separations and half-tone negatives.
By 1920, Muray had established a home for himself in the up-and-coming artists' haven of Greenwich Village. He opened a portrait studio out of his apartment and continued to work part time at his engraving job. Harper's Bazaar magazine gave Muray his first big assignment in 1921. The project was to photograph Broadway star Florence Reed. The magazine was so impressed with his photographs that they began to publish his work monthly. This allowed him to give up his part time job and work solely as a photographer. It did not take long for Muray to become one of the most renowned portrait photographers in Manhattan. Muray spent much of the early 1920s photographing the most famous and important personalities in New York at the time.
In his spare time Muray enjoyed fencing. In 1927, he won the National Sabre Championship and in 1928 and 1932, he was on the United States Olympic Team. During World War II, Muray was a flight lieutenant in the Civil Air Patrol.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930s-1940s
maker
Muray, Nickolas
ID Number
PG.69.247.13
catalog number
69.247.13
accession number
287542
This is a counter top type display box for Wrigley’s Doublemint chewing gum. The box contains twenty simulated, five stick, gum packages. Wrigley’s introduced Doublemint in 1914, the third flavor produced by after Spearmint and Juicy Fruit.
Description
This is a counter top type display box for Wrigley’s Doublemint chewing gum. The box contains twenty simulated, five stick, gum packages. Wrigley’s introduced Doublemint in 1914, the third flavor produced by after Spearmint and Juicy Fruit. The name “Doublemint” came from the double distillation process used in producing the mint flavor and spawned a popular advertising campaign around the “Doublemint Twins” in 1956.
date made
1948 - 1949
maker
William Wrigley Junior Company
ID Number
1992.3217.03
catalog number
1992.3217.03
nonaccession number
1992.3217
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1946
depicted (sitter)
Sinatra, Frank
ID Number
2015.0215.0022
accession number
2015.0215
catalog number
.0022
One of a set of 72 trading card featuring Superman, included in packages of Gum Inc.'s "Superman Bubble Gum" in 1940. Each "adventure story" card features an image of Superman on the front with a connected story on the back.
Description (Brief)
One of a set of 72 trading card featuring Superman, included in packages of Gum Inc.'s "Superman Bubble Gum" in 1940. Each "adventure story" card features an image of Superman on the front with a connected story on the back. The cards are one of the earliest examples of merchandise featuring the iconic superhero.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1940
maker
Gum, Inc.
copyright holder
Superman, Inc.
associated institution
Superman of America Club
maker
Gum, Inc.
Superman, Inc.
ID Number
1987.0213.073
accession number
1987.0213
catalog number
1987.0213.073
One of a set of 72 trading card featuring Superman, included in packages of Gum Inc.'s "Superman Bubble Gum" in 1940. Each "adventure story" card features an image of Superman on the front with a connected story on the back.
Description (Brief)
One of a set of 72 trading card featuring Superman, included in packages of Gum Inc.'s "Superman Bubble Gum" in 1940. Each "adventure story" card features an image of Superman on the front with a connected story on the back. The cards are one of the earliest examples of merchandise featuring the iconic superhero.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1940
associated institution
Superman of America Club
copyright holder
Superman, Inc.
maker
Gum, Inc.
Gum, Inc.
Superman, Inc.
ID Number
1987.0213.046
accession number
1987.0213
catalog number
1987.0213.046
1987.0213.046
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1942 - 1945
ID Number
1987.0213.146
accession number
1987.0213
catalog number
1987.0213.146
One of a set of 72 trading card featuring Superman, included in packages of Gum Inc.'s "Superman Bubble Gum" in 1940. Each "adventure story" card features an image of Superman on the front with a connected story on the back.
Description (Brief)
One of a set of 72 trading card featuring Superman, included in packages of Gum Inc.'s "Superman Bubble Gum" in 1940. Each "adventure story" card features an image of Superman on the front with a connected story on the back. The cards are one of the earliest examples of merchandise featuring the iconic superhero.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1940
copyright holder
Superman, Inc.
associated institution
Superman of America Club
maker
Gum, Inc.
Gum, Inc.
Superman, Inc.
ID Number
1987.0213.083
accession number
1987.0213
catalog number
1987.0213.083
One of a set of 72 trading card featuring Superman, included in packages of Gum Inc.'s "Superman Bubble Gum" in 1940. Each "adventure story" card features an image of Superman on the front with a connected story on the back.
Description (Brief)
One of a set of 72 trading card featuring Superman, included in packages of Gum Inc.'s "Superman Bubble Gum" in 1940. Each "adventure story" card features an image of Superman on the front with a connected story on the back. The cards are one of the earliest examples of merchandise featuring the iconic superhero.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1940
maker
Gum, Inc.
copyright holder
Superman, Inc.
associated institution
Superman of America Club
maker
Gum, Inc.
Superman, Inc.
ID Number
1987.0213.112
accession number
1987.0213
catalog number
1987.0213.112
One of a set of 72 trading card featuring Superman, included in packages of Gum Inc.'s "Superman Bubble Gum" in 1940. Each "adventure story" card features an image of Superman on the front with a connected story on the back.
Description (Brief)
One of a set of 72 trading card featuring Superman, included in packages of Gum Inc.'s "Superman Bubble Gum" in 1940. Each "adventure story" card features an image of Superman on the front with a connected story on the back. The cards are one of the earliest examples of merchandise featuring the iconic superhero.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1940
maker
Gum, Inc.
associated institution
Superman of America Club
copyright holder
Superman, Inc.
maker
Gum, Inc.
Superman, Inc.
ID Number
1987.0213.049
accession number
1987.0213
catalog number
1987.0213.049
One of a set of 72 trading card featuring Superman, included in packages of Gum Inc.'s "Superman Bubble Gum" in 1940. Each "adventure story" card features an image of Superman on the front with a connected story on the back.
Description (Brief)
One of a set of 72 trading card featuring Superman, included in packages of Gum Inc.'s "Superman Bubble Gum" in 1940. Each "adventure story" card features an image of Superman on the front with a connected story on the back. The cards are one of the earliest examples of merchandise featuring the iconic superhero.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1940
maker
Gum, Inc.
copyright holder
Superman, Inc.
associated institution
Superman of America Club
maker
Gum, Inc.
Superman, Inc.
ID Number
1987.0213.103
accession number
1987.0213
catalog number
1987.0213.103
This wrapper was for a package of Superman themed bubble gum and trading cards. Made in 1940 by Gum Inc., the 72 collectible "adventure story" cards were one of the earliest examples of merchandise featuring the iconic superhero.
Description (Brief)
This wrapper was for a package of Superman themed bubble gum and trading cards. Made in 1940 by Gum Inc., the 72 collectible "adventure story" cards were one of the earliest examples of merchandise featuring the iconic superhero. The wrapper contains instructions on how to join the "Supermen of America Club," a fan organization that promised a membership card, raffles and special premiums.
The character of Superman first flew into action in 1938. The costumed superhero was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, two Jewish teenagers from Cleveland Ohio, who used, among other things, Classical mythology, philosopher Fredrich Nietzche's concept of the "uber mensch," and the era's popular science fiction and adventure writing, for inspiration.
With his debut in Action Comics #1, Superman became an instant sensation with audiences, inspired by the "Man of Tomorrow's" virtue and heroics at time when the Nation was slowly emerging from the economic catastrophe of the Great Depression and moving closer to World War.
Born on the doomed planet Krypton, Superman was sent to Earth as a child, where our world's yellow sun granted him extraordinary powers such as flight, super-strength, near-invulnerability, as well as other extraordinary abilities including heat and X-Ray vision. As an adult living in the city of Metropolis, the alien, born Kal-El, protects his identity by assuming the persona of Clark Kent, a "mild-mannered" journalist.
Fighting for "Truth and Justice," Superman birthed a cultural fascination with superheroes, and has become one of the most recognizable and influential fictional characters in history. In addition to comic books, the character has been explored in all forms of media, including radio, television, and film, and has been used to promote a variety of successful consumer products, educational initiatives and public service campaigns.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1940
associated institution
Superman of America Club
maker
Gum, Inc.
Gum, Inc.
ID Number
1987.0213.044
accession number
1987.0213
catalog number
1987.0213.044
One of a set of 72 trading card featuring Superman, included in packages of Gum Inc.'s "Superman Bubble Gum" in 1940. Each "adventure story" card features an image of Superman on the front with a connected story on the back.
Description (Brief)
One of a set of 72 trading card featuring Superman, included in packages of Gum Inc.'s "Superman Bubble Gum" in 1940. Each "adventure story" card features an image of Superman on the front with a connected story on the back. The cards are one of the earliest examples of merchandise featuring the iconic superhero.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1940
maker
Gum, Inc.
copyright holder
Superman, Inc.
associated institution
Superman of America Club
maker
Gum, Inc.
Superman, Inc.
ID Number
1987.0213.071
accession number
1987.0213
catalog number
1987.0213.071
One of a set of 72 trading card featuring Superman, included in packages of Gum Inc.'s "Superman Bubble Gum" in 1940. Each "adventure story" card features an image of Superman on the front with a connected story on the back.
Description (Brief)
One of a set of 72 trading card featuring Superman, included in packages of Gum Inc.'s "Superman Bubble Gum" in 1940. Each "adventure story" card features an image of Superman on the front with a connected story on the back. The cards are one of the earliest examples of merchandise featuring the iconic superhero.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1940
maker
Gum, Inc.
copyright holder
Superman, Inc.
associated institution
Superman of America Club
maker
Gum, Inc.
Superman, Inc.
ID Number
1987.0213.080
catalog number
1987.0213.080
accession number
1987.0213
Store advertisement for Superman Bread. This poster was used by various bakeries to sell the licensed product and invite membership into the "Superman Junior Defense League" a World War 2 era promotional program.
Description (Brief)
Store advertisement for Superman Bread. This poster was used by various bakeries to sell the licensed product and invite membership into the "Superman Junior Defense League" a World War 2 era promotional program. Children were offered membership in the League by collecting cards found in bread packages, as well as getting confirmation that they had gotten adults to try the product.
The character of Superman first flew into action in 1938. The costumed superhero was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, two Jewish teenagers from Cleveland Ohio, who used, among other things, Classical mythology, philosopher Fredrich Nietzche's concept of the "uber mensch," and the era's popular science fiction and adventure writing, for inspiration.
With his debut in Action Comics #1, Superman became an instant sensation with audiences, inspired by the "Man of Tomorrow's" virtue and heroics at time when the Nation was slowly emerging from the economic catastrophe of the Great Depression and moving closer to World War.
Born on the doomed planet Krypton, Superman was sent to Earth as a child, where our world's yellow sun granted him extraordinary powers such as flight, super-strength, near-invulnerability, as well as other extraordinary abilities including heat and X-Ray vision. As an adult living in the city of Metropolis, the alien, born Kal-El, protects his identity by assuming the persona of Clark Kent, a "mild-mannered" journalist.
Fighting for "Truth and Justice," Superman birthed a cultural fascination with superheroes, and has become one of the most recognizable and influential fictional characters in history. In addition to comic books, the character has been explored in all forms of media, including radio, television, and film, and has been used to promote a variety of successful consumer products, educational initiatives and public service campaigns.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1940
ID Number
1987.0213.043
accession number
1987.0213
catalog number
1987.0213.043
Unmarked store poster featuring Superman. This poster was used by various bakeries to sell licensed Superman bread and invite membership in the "Superman Junior Defense League," a World War 2 era promotional program.
Description (Brief)
Unmarked store poster featuring Superman. This poster was used by various bakeries to sell licensed Superman bread and invite membership in the "Superman Junior Defense League," a World War 2 era promotional program. Children were offered membership in the League by collecting cards found in bread packages, as well as getting confirmation that they had gotten adults to try the product.
The character of Superman first flew into action in 1938. The costumed superhero was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, two Jewish teenagers from Cleveland Ohio, who used, among other things, Classical mythology, philosopher Fredrich Nietzche's concept of the "uber mensch," and the era's popular science fiction and adventure writing, for inspiration.
With his debut in Action Comics #1, Superman became an instant sensation with audiences, inspired by the "Man of Tomorrow's" virtue and heroics at time when the Nation was slowly emerging from the economic catastrophe of the Great Depression and moving closer to World War.
Born on the doomed planet Krypton, Superman was sent to Earth as a child, where our world's yellow sun granted him extraordinary powers such as flight, super-strength, near-invulnerability, as well as other extraordinary abilities including heat and X-Ray vision. As an adult living in the city of Metropolis, the alien, born Kal-El, protects his identity by assuming the persona of Clark Kent, a "mild-mannered" journalist.
Fighting for "Truth and Justice," Superman birthed a cultural fascination with superheroes, and has become one of the most recognizable and influential fictional characters in history. In addition to comic books, the character has been explored in all forms of media, including radio, television, and film, and has been used to promote a variety of successful consumer products, educational initiatives and public service campaigns.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1942
ID Number
1987.0213.042
accession number
1987.0213
catalog number
1987.0213.042

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