Invitation and Calling Card Collection

Collection — Box: 1-3

Identifier: 2022-002

Staff Only

Content Description

Contains event invitations, calling cards and other special event memorabilia for diverse events in the Rochester, New York area between 1839 and 1963. Material contained within the collection includes wedding invitations, calling cards, commencement invites, and other invitations to slice of life events. The material from this collection was accumulated from unknown sources. Some of the material may have been separated from family papers collections by Rochester Public Library staff in the era before appropriately trained special collections staff were hired.

Dates

Creation: 1839-1963

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the collection.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use in any current or future manifestations must be obtained in writing from the Rochester Public Library Local History and Genealogy Division.

Administrative History

Invitations and calling cards were the primary form of long-distance communication in inviting others to events such as weddings, luncheons, family functions, businesses and other slice of life events before the 20th century. Calling cards were first used by upper class social elites in 18th century France and, by the 19th and 20th century, their use had spread to Britain and the United States. In this vein, Rochester elites before the the 20th century used invitations, letters and calling cards to communicate and invite each other to events.

This artificial collection contains invitations, calling cards, and other expressions of two parties showing interest in gathering. Along with individual invites of families to others, there are also multiple invitations and calling cards to and from prominent Rochester families, such as the Badgers, Clarkes, Huntingtons, Montgomerys, Smiths, and Wrights.

With most of this collection falling between the mid-19th century and mid-20th century, the primary means of communication between others was through letters. The invitations and calling cards in this collection provide a glimpse into a time before instant communication.

Extent

2.33 Cubic Feet (Two cartons, one letter box.)

2.3 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This artificial collection contains event invitations, calling cards and other slice of life invitations. The dates of the material range from 1839-1963 with any undated material alphabetized. Within this artificial collection, there are also a variety of invitations and calling cards sent to several families identified at the series level, such as: Badger, Clarke, Montgomery, Smith, Wright, and a variety of other families.

Arrangement

This collection consists of 3 boxes divided in 12 series:

Series I: Badger Family

Series II: Clarke Family

Series III: Huntington Family

Series IV: Montgomery Family

Series V: Smith Family

Series VI: Wright Family

Series VII: Other Families

Series VIII: Wedding Invites

Series IX: Calling Cards

Series X: College & High School Events

Series XI: Gatherings

Series XII: Other Events

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This is an artificial collection of materials accumulated by the Rochester Public Library.

Bibliography

Greene, Claire. “Calling Cards and Visiting Cards: A Brief History.” Hoban Cards. Sept. 12, 2016. Accessed March 7, 2022. https://hobancards.com/blogs/thoughts-and-curiosities/calling-cards-and-visiting-cards-brief-history.

Condition Description

Most of the material in this collection is in good condition; the fair to poor condition material largely comprises envelopes.

Processing Information

This collection is an artificial collection. Before arrangment, the material in this collection arrived from various sources with no overarching connection. After arrangement, a majority of this collection is arranged by date; any material not dated, such as calling cards, were arranged by alphabetization. This artificial collection also contains material that may have been part of other collections, such as, the Badger, Clarke, Montgomery, Smith, and Wright family papers. However, this suspicion can not be proven, so said material will remain part of this collection.

Within Series VII: Other Families, there are 5 sub-series and 6 files. The reasoning behind the arrangement of this series is due to the amount of material in the collection. The families within the sub-series contain enough material to warrant sub-series under Series VII: Other Families, but not enough to warrant their own seperate series, such as Series I-VI. The families that have their own files are such because they do not have enough material to warrant a sub-series.