Brooklyn Museum Ephemera Collection

This artifical collection houses the ephemera of the Brooklyn Museum. Ephemera is loosely defined as "items of collectible memorabilia, typically written or printed ones, that were originally expected to have only short-term usefulness or popularity.”

The collection’s records date from 1895-2023. The majority of the collection is paper-based, consisting of advertisements, brochures, and visitor maps of the Museum at various stages of its development. Notable topics within this collection include the history of the Brooklyn Museum Art School (1949-1985) and Community Gallery (1968-1985), two initiatives of the museum that aimed towards collaboration with borough residents, students, and other community members of Brooklyn. The BMAS Series in the Ephemera Collection places emphasis on broadsides and brochures of course schedules and flyers for parties and fundraisers. The Community Gallery Series consists primarily of exhibition flyers and pamphlets, with special focus on the Salute to Brooklyn’s Creative Youth and the Fence Art Show: two annual exhibitions that showcased Brooklyn residents and their artistry. The Ephemera collection details the transitions of the museum’s outreach initiatives, branding, and architectural planning, shown in the many informational brochures, flyers, and guides produced by the Museum.