The Printed Ephemera Collection forms part of the Alexander Turnbull Library collections.
The collection has more than 190,000 ephemera items dating from the 1840s to the present. Subject strengths include theatre and entertainment, politics and activism, horticulture, war, Māori, tourism, alcohol, and environmental issues.
Types of items include:
- posters - including advertisements, protest posters, political, theatre, and music posters
- pamphlets - including advertising, political propaganda, tourist brochures
- sales catalogues - including plant and seed catalogues, building supplies catalogues, department store mail order catalogues
- theatre programmes for performances in music, drama, opera, circuses, and other variety shows. For productions after 1950, we concentrate on collecting material from the Wellington Region.
- agricultural show programmes
- sports programmes covering major codes and athletics
- calendars
- menus
- postcards and greeting cards
- bookplates.
More about the Alexander Turnbull Library collections
The Library’s building redevelopment
The Library building in Wellington is closed for redevelopment, and due to reopen in August 2012. During the relocation period, some collections are available in two temporary locations: Archives New Zealand and a reading room at 77 Thorndon Quay, Wellington.
More about collection access through the Wellington building redevelopment period
Access to the Printed Ephemera Collection
- Most original materials in the Printed Ephemera Collection are now unavailable until August 2012.
- Digital copies of selected items are on Timeframes. Photographic and digital copies of some pictorial items are also available in Turnbull Library Pictures in the Library’s reading room at 77 Thorndon Quay.
- Some original materials are available in the Client-Held Collection at Archives New Zealand.
Search for descriptions of items from the Printed Ephemera Collection using TAPUHI. Not all items are described online. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, contact the Ephemera Curator.
Note that most original items will be unavailable for access until August 2012, even if they are on TAPUHI.
More about Turnbull Library Pictures
Get copies from items in this collection
The Library can provide copies of available ephemera material if it does not harm the physical state of the original, or breach copyright. We provide photocopies for research purposes, or digital copies for publication. As an alternative to photocopies, visitors may use their own digital cameras to make copies for private research purposes only.
More about copyright and usage
Get help
We can answer your enquiries in person, by letter, phone or email. The Ephemera Curator is on hand to help you on weekdays. An appointment is necessary.
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