THE EPHEMERA JOURNAL VOLUME 17, NUMBER 3 MAY 2015 The Ephemera Society of America’s 35th Anniversary 1 In This Issue: Game of the Goose ~ Page 5 • Nineteenth-Century Baseball ~ Page 9 Aesthetic Environmentalism for Baby Boomers ~ Page 15 Dear Members and Friends: The The 35th anniversary of this strong and successful body is definitely a great Ephemera Journal cause for celebration. The steady progress, through many dedicated leaders, has created a truly important organization. As you will see within this exceptional Journal, we have major achievements, which should make everyone proud. The articles within are significant, and great praise is extended to our Editor, Diane DeBlois, for her dedication to perfection, as well as for her informative eNews, which has become our monthly staple. Copyright 2015 Our March event, Ephemera 35 – Conference and Fair, The Sporting Life, The Ephemera Society of America, Inc. was a resounding success. The Conference presentations, illustrated with P.O. Box 95 Cazenovia, NY 13035-0095 ephemera, will be posted on our website, for everyone to enjoy. Recording Messages & Fax: 315-655-9139 them, creating visual exhibits, blogging, and publishing, are ways in which we Web Site: www.ephemerasociety.org are trying to keep everyone informed. The audio-visual resources were made E-mail: [email protected] available by generous donations from members. We are grateful for several recent contributions, and hope to inspire others to assist financially. Volume 17, Number 3, May 2015 At our March banquet, it was an honor to present The Philip Jones Fellowship, a $2000. award that promotes a research project using ephemera, The Ephemera Journal (ISSN 1543- to a carefully chosen candidate, Dr. Bart Brinkman. It is a pleasure to add 4990) is published three times a year by that ephemera is now widely recognized as complementary to numerous areas The Ephemera Society of America, Inc. of study, and is respected for being essential primary resource material. In President: Nancy Rosin (’15) addition, the commercial use of ephemera surrounds us with historic images, Vice President: Bruce Shyer (’15) which delight contemporary senses and enlighten our surroundings. The ESA is Treasurer: John G. Sayers (’15) proud to be the “home” for ephemera in all its’ breadth of design, history and Directors: purposes. George Fox (’15) I am pleased to announce that we are now members of FABS, The Fellowship David Freund (’15) of American Bibliophilic Societies. This prestigious organization is parent to Thomas Horrocks (’16) many highly respected groups, with more than 8000 members, internationally, Sheryl Jaeger (’15) David Lilburne (’15) and our members will also be receiving their newsletters. This valuable Barbara Loe (’16) relationship is truly an acknowledgement that the ESA has reached a high level Glenn Mason (‘16) of scholarly recognition. Henry Raine (’15) During this past year, efforts have been made to increase our visibility, and Jeremy Rowe (’15) our new full-color membership brochures are available to publicize our Society, Donald Zaldin (’15) and our mission. If you would like a supply to share with groups in your area, we are happy to make them available. Ex-Officio: Art Groten Acquiring young members — the collectors, dealers, librarians, and academics Vermont Agent: Pat Laffin of the future — is an ongoing challenge. We envision our older members as APS Affiliate #256 mentors, and are encouraging Student Memberships. We have identified three nationally known professors, who use ephemera in exceptional ways, and have Administrative Director: presented each with membership, as well as for two of their selected students. Mary Beth Malmsheimer We hope to provide special experiences that may change their lives! Perhaps [email protected] you would like to give a Student Membership to your children or grandchildren? Ephemera Journal Editor: This is just a sample of the initiatives at work to develop future passionate Diane DeBlois ephemera scholars. P.O. Box 477 Our website is a formidable asset, and our dynamic Facebook page is a West Sand Lake, NY 12196 resource for news and articles. Keep us on your phone, on your computer, [email protected] and in your hearts, and let us be your essential guide. As always, we value DISPLAY ADVERTISING RATES: your membership, and welcome your expertise, your suggestions, and your The Journal will accept pdf, jpeg or tiff involvement; you are essential to our success. files as well as camera-ready ads at the following pre-paid rates: Sincerely, Quarter page (3.25” x 4.5”) $ 85 Half-page vertical (3.25” x 9.5”) $120 Half-page horizontal (7” x 4.5”) $120 Full page (7” x 9.5”) $215 Nancy Rosin, President Deadlines: April 1, August 1, 2 December 1. In this Issue... Happy Birthday to Us! ESA 35 was great fun and a solid indication that we are, indeed, in our prime. Richard Dana Sheaff designed our anniversary logo that appears on the cover. He also arranged for the design on coffee mugs (sold at the Society table), and former Board member Stuart Kaplan of U.S. Games Systems, Inc., generously donated packs of playing cards backed with the logo. The youngest convert was Isaac Haynes who got caught up in the excitement of our Saturday evening benefit auction and donated his Harlem Globetrotter-signed basketball (his sister had already successfully bid on a McLoughlin geography). Board member Glenn Mason was the successful bidder – and with a flourish he returned the ball! At the banquet that followed, Evie Eysenburg was honored with a Reward of Merit for her years of support for the Society on both coasts, specifically for the many banquet entertainment programs she designed. The Haynes family: father Joe on the right, son A special presentation was made to President Nancy Rosin Isaac on the left (who donated his signed basketball whose term ends in December. Her grace, her generosity, and her to the benefit auction), babysitter Madison, and support characterized every month of the last three years. The entire daughter Agnes who was celebrating her 9th membership is grateful. birthday. The 2015 Jones Fellowship was awarded to Bartholomew Brinkman, Assistant Professor of English at Framingham State University, for a project to investigate scrapbooks of Yellowstone Park. The after-dinner talk was a lively presentation by Adrian Seville – and we lead this issue with his article on the history of the Game of the Goose. Two other articles are derived from the very successful, top quality, ESA 35 symposium. Michael Peich was the keynote speaker, taking us through the history of nineteenth-century baseball as revealed by ephemera. At the symposium he distributed a keepsake printed by his Aralia Press, The Cincinnati Baseball Club Song. Sung to the tune Bonnie Blue Flag, the chorus reads: “Hurrah! Hurrah! For the noble game, hurrah! ‘Red Stockings’ all will toss the ball, And shout our loud hurrah.” The Philip Jones Fellowship for 2015 is presented Daniel Gifford surprised us with an analysis of modern ephemera to Bartholomew Brinkman by Sandi Jones, chair of aimed at the ‘Baby Boomer’ generation that showed a paradigm shift the fellowship committee. in ‘selling’ nature to American youth. We introduce a Collector’s Choice feature with A. Walker Bingham’s presidential trade cards, (a nice introduction to the theme of next year’s ESA conference — Politics and Patriotism — watch the eNews for more details) and invite other members to send their choices. Scans of the excellent ESA 35 exhibits will appear on our website, as will the slide presentations and video coverage of the symposium. Nancy Rosin, whose term as president ends this year, is presented with a tribute for her —Diane DeBlois, editor warm and effective leadership. Left to right: Barbara Loe, conference program chair for “The Sporting Life”; Sheryl Jaeger, chair of promotion and publicity; Bruce Shyer, vice- president; Nancy; Dick Sheaff, designer of the award and of the 35th anniversary logo. 3 Carol Frances (née Mancini) Resnick 1943-2015 On March 30, 2015 the that we both believed were necessary to regain financial Ephemera Society lost one of stability. Carol used her intelligence, common sense, its best and finest when Carol gentle persuasion and persistence to expand the size of F. Resnick passed away. A the board, democratize elections, eliminate various costly distinguished dealer and expert in expenditures, repay outstanding Society debts, and refuse the fields of books and ephemera, to allow the society to operate at a deficit. The Carol which along with husband Steve, I will always choose to remember was vibrant, clear- Carol served on our Board of headed and charming, a person whose warmth, honesty, Directors and—importantly—as and love of family and profession will outlast all other our president during an unusually memories.” stormy and contentious period, Richard McKinstry: “I was privileged to have known firmly guiding the Board and the Carol through our Ephemera Society involvements. She membership into calmer waters. Like many organizations was President of the Society when I joined the Board that enjoy growth from a small initial group of participants, in 1997; it was my honor to have succeeded her in that the Ephemera Society went through growing pains. Carol position two years later. The Society was fortunate to have was the right person in charge at the right time. Had she had Carol in her leadership position at that time. Her great not stepped up as strongly as she did, on all fronts, ESA insight, extensive knowledge, seemingly limitless energy, might not now exist. The fruit of her labors is the fact and effective administrative skills were all put to good use that the Ephemera Society of America is today a vital and as she worked tirelessly to position the organization for the growing organization, increasingly known and respected by 2000s.