Cocktail Ephemera Collection
Scope and Content
The Cocktail Ephemera Collection is a collection that was created in 2013. The collection consists of materials in a variety of formats relating to the history of the cocktails, dating from the about the 1870s to the present. Materials include advertising and promotional items; pamphlets with recipes and suggestions for entertaining (party games, themes, and more); and postcards. The focus of the collection is cocktails, but some materials also relate to wine and beer in their own right, as well as ingredients in mixed drinks.
Dates
- c.1870s-2000s
Language
The majority of the items in the collection are in English, but the collection does also include postcards in French, Russian, and German and wine labels in several languages. There is also a receipt in Spanish.
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research.
Use Restrictions
Copyright for individual items may vary. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives for more information on copying or publishing items from Cocktail Ephemera Collection.
Extent
1.59 Cubic Feet (6 boxes; 1 oversize folder)
Abstract
The Cocktail Ephemera Collection is a collection that was created in 2013. The collection consists of materials in a variety of formats (i.e., postcards, pamphlets, and adverstising ephemera) relating to the history of the cocktails, spirits, and wine, dating from the about the 1870s to the present.
Arrangement
At its creation, the collection was established with three series: Series I: Advertising/Promotional Materials; Series II: Pamphlets; and Series III: Postcards/Cards. The Advertising/Promotional Materials and Pamphlet series are organized into three subseries each: Beer, Cocktails/Punch, and Wine. The Postcards/Cards series is arranged in alphabetical subseries based on cover images: Bars and Restaurants; Beers, Wines, and Liquor; Holidays; People and Scenery; Quotes and Text; and Recipes.
Additional series have been added to the collection over time (as well as additional items added to existing series). Series IV: Labels contains unused labels from bottles, mostly wines, but also some harder spirits and government organizations. Series V: Artifacts includes a small collection of 3-D items that were advertisements or feature cocktails recipes or advertisements on them. Examples of this include a vintage Bakelike faux shaker with recipes on an embedded rolodex and a tape measure with inches on one side and recipes on the other. Series VI: Menus/Drink Lists/Recipes contains menus or suggested drink lists from cafes, bars, restaurants, and hotels. Series V: Receipts includes documents that reflect transactions relating to cocktail, ingredients, and equipment/supplies.
Additional series, subseries, and items are expected as the collection expands.
Acquisition Information
Initial materials in the Cocktail Ephemera Collection consisted of five individual purchases, made between 2012 and 2013. Additional materials are expected in the future.
Alternate Form Available
Selected items from this collection have been digitized and are available online. Additional items will be added to the digital collection as they are scanned.
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Cocktail Ephemera Collection was completed in July 2013. Further description is expected when new materials are added to the collection.
- Title
- Cocktail Ephemera Collection, c.1870s-2000s
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Kira A. Dietz, Archivist
- Date
- © 2013 (CC0 1.0)
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech Repository
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu