2012: Topical ephemera 1

Advertisement for Golfer Oats, [1897] with image of Queen Victoria
JJ Food 4 (69)
2012 is a wonderful year for topical ephemera: two days ago there was the anniverary of the Queen’s accession, for which I tweeted one of my favourite advertising images from the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria: ask for Golfer Oats.

Yesterday, was Dickens’ bicentenary and I put up a new image gallery on the Johnson website. The Bodleian exhibition Dickens and his world, which will include many ephemera, runs from June 2 to October 27.

Next week, the focus will be on Valentines, with extra impetus from the Ask Archivists initiative, (Twitter #loveheritage).    Then more for the Jubilee and the Olympics. Watch this space!

Diamond Jubilee and Olympic ephemera wanted

The John Johnson Collection collects modern ephemera, which is sorted into some ninety categories.  Although there are some special categories (e.g. Oxford University Societies and Private Presses), mostly this is as broad-ranging as possible with the aim of reflecting contemporary society. Occasionally, however, we create special collections to mark events of national or international significance.  Last year, we gathered ephemera relating to the Royal Wedding.

This year, we are collecting printed ephemera relating to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and to the Olympics. We would be grateful for contributions, however slight, e.g. fliers for jubilee street parties, advertisements for memorabilia, concerts, events, and all ephemera carrying the official logos of the Diamond Jubilee or the Olympics. We do not collect three-dimensional artefacts.

If you can help, please send contributions to:  Librarian of the John Johnson Collection, Bodleian Libraries,  Osney One, Osney Mead, Oxford OX2 0EW

Thank youOlympic logo