Ephemera is anything that most people throw away: used theater tickets, a program from the state fair, tissue honeycomb Halloween pumpkins, used greeting cards, place cards, etc. You will notice that these are all made from paper. I would also classify some plastic items as ephemera: the plastic pink elephant that was hung on your glass at the drive-in (many years ago), the prizes from Cracker Jack’s and cereal boxes, plant identification stakes from garden center, etc. If a normal person would throw it away, its ephemera. So save it, pack it away, and maybe it all will send your great-grandchildren through college, or on a trip around the world, or to Padukah. Stranger things have happened.

Who saves whiskey boxes once the whiskey botle is open, or the whiskey is gone?

So why collect ephemera? One of the most revealing things about a society is the stuff they throw out. In some cases, the only thing that survives is the garbage dump. A good garbage dump can tell scholars a great deal about the people who lived at that time and place.

Old cans and outdated products. Off with their heads! (Or just throw them out.)

So, let’s cut out the random aspect of midden survival, and save the ephemera more completely and systematically. Save those birthday cards and cocktail napkins. Collect airline stir sticks and air sick bags. Save the cruise menus not only as a souvenir, but as a historical document of what people on vacation eat. Seed packets show the flowers and vegetables available at the time, and also the current style of art. A season of symphony programs identifies the music of the high-brow of the time. Look in the family roll-top desk for treasures.

Cigar boxes - the best thing to come out of the tobacco industry. Great for storing small treasures.

Remember when cigarette packages contained series of small cards with pictures of cars or horses? Have you seen what they sell for today? All ephemera is not worthless, you just have to get the majority of the owners to throw theirs away, and let time pass, which it will do anyway.

Nice label.

The labels off anything: fruit crates, match boxes, canned tuna…

Catalogs.

Catalogs received in the mail. Some day this form of catalog will be rare and for the rich only. Now you get them in quantity without even requesting them. Save a few of your favorites, stash them away for a few decades, and relive your past (and amuse your great-grandchildren).

Greeting cards show the changes in popular taste and design.

What if you had the grocery ads for one store for 50 years? You could track the prices of food, write a learned treatise, and gain fame (if not fortune).

New Years money envelopes are made every year for the Chinese New Year. Once the money is gone, most people throw them out.

The great thing about ephemera is that is usually costs nothing extra. You already have it. Your only cost is storage, and fending off everyone who wants you to get rid of it. So select your theme, and then hide the items under the bed or in the back of the closet. Threaten the lives of anyone who dares touch them without your permission and presence.

Bobblehead maker in your town? Collect bobbleheads.

Preserve a piece of your community history. The local history museum or historical society may one day knock on your door and ask to use your collection as an exhibit, or even offer to take over its care and feeding. With your name prominently displayed as the collector. Who could ask for anything more?

Collect product tine and jars.

P. S. If you want to see how serious ephemera is, search on ephemera on the web and see how many pages down in the list you still get entries for museums and non-profit organizations. (I am at page 19 and still going.)

* * * Consider collecting beanie kids for fun (and maybe profit someday). * * *

The images on this post are from Stock Xchnge.

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