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Santa Barbara Matchcover and Matchbox Collection

 Collection — Box: AR-2020-001
Identifier: AR-2020-001

Scope and Contents

The Santa Barbara Matchcover and Matchbox Collection contains over 300 matchcover and matchbox-related advertising graphics, primarily of Santa Barbara area businesses, showcasing local brands and late 20th century commercial art styles.

Dates

  • 1960 - 1990

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

Property rights reside with the Santa Barbara Historical Museum. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head Archivist of the Gledhill Library.

Biographical / Historical

Up until the mid-1990s, when smokers were plentiful, matches had far more utility than they do in the 21st century. Matches were handy, tiny fire sticks given away by businesses to propagate their brand. Matches allowed people to consume cigarettes and were therefore lifted from bars, restaurants and hotels by customers with the intent of striking them at a later time. With the declining number of smokers as well as laws prohibiting smoking in public establishments, complimentary matchboxes are now somewhat of a rarity.

Extent

341 Item(s) (in 2 modular boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Phillumeny is the hobby of collecting different match-related items. The Santa Barbara Matchcover and Matchbox Collection contains over 300 matchcovers and matchboxes of printed advertising graphics, primarily of Santa Barbara area businesses. Showcasing local brands and late 20th century commercial art styles, this collection is a consolidation of materials from several acquisitions. A digital exhibit of the two match container types, matchcovers and matchboxes, accompany this guide.

Arrangement

This collection is organized into 2 series by each type of match container. Within each series, the graphics are categorized by locale and type of business:

Series 01 – Matchcovers

Series 02 – Matchboxes

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The bulk of the materials were acquired from an unknown donor. Additional matchcovers and matchboxes were contributed by Shirley Rouse Roby, Jeff Russell, Kathryn Maldonado, and Patricia J. DuBoux

Processing Information

The Santa Barbara Matchcover and Matchbox Collection was processed by Shirley Rouse Roby, Chris S. Ervin CA, and Gina Sheeks in 2020.

Title
Guide to the Santa Barbara Matchcover and Matchbox Collection
Status
Completed
Author
Chris S. Ervin CA
Date
2020-11-15
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English
Edition statement
First edition

Repository Details

Part of the Gledhill Library Repository

Contact:
136 E. De La Guerra
Santa Barbara California 93101 USA