Santa Barbara Matchcover and Matchbox Collection

Collection — Box: AR-2020-001

Identifier: AR-2020-001

Staff Only

Barbara Hotel match cover

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

Additional Description

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