Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Century 21 Collection, 1959-1963
Overview of the Collection
- Title
- Century 21 Collection
- Dates
- 1959-1963 (inclusive)19591963
- Quantity
- 2 boxes , (1.33 cubic feet)
- Collection Number
- 2010.3.20 (accession)
- Summary
- Guidebooks, ephemera and souvenirs from the 1962 Settle World's Fair (Century 21 Exposition).
- Repository
-
Museum of History & Industry, Sophie Frye Bass Library
P.O. Box 80816
Seattle, WA
98108
Telephone: 2063241126 x102
library@mohai.org - Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open to the public by appointment.
- Languages
- English.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection includes a variety of souvenir material commemorating the fair, including guidebooks to the fair and to Seattle; local and national magazines with articles about the fair; and souvenir placemats, stamps and envelopes, and picture books of the Fair. Official reports document the fountain contest, planning of the Fair, the U.S. Science Exhibit, and Seattle Center in the year after of the Fair. Ephemera includes tickets to various fair areas and events; clippings about the fair, organized by subject; menus and maps; and flyers and brochures.
Historical BackgroundReturn to Top
Over 10 million visitors attended the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair (Century 21 Exposition) from April 21 to October 21, 1962. The 74 acre Exposition site was a mile north of Seattle’s downtown business area, and the grounds were divided into: World of Science, World of Tomorrow, World of Commerce and Industry, World of Art, World of Entertainment, Show Street, Gayway, Boulevards of the World, Exhibit Fair and Food Circus. Besides the Space Needle and Monorail, the Fair also featured a Skyride that ran across the grounds from the Gayway to the International Mall. Over 2500 live performance events were held during the Fair in various entertainment venues.
Century 21 press coverage included exposure in publications and broadcast media in every state. Over 2.5 million pieces of promotional materials were distributed. Tourist and collectible items of every type were produced by individual entrepreneurs and companies. Over 200 songs were written about the Fair, and over 50 recorded on vinyl disc. Fair related songs were sold as souvenir music sheets and recordings. Nearly 100 tunes were submitted to fair management in the hopes of becoming the official tune.
The fairground construction and renovation projects involved years of city planning, but several projects, including the Space Needle, Monorail and Washington State Coliseum were completed in a relatively short 18-month timeframe. More than half the structures built for Century were torn down when the fair ended in October 1962, but the fair left behind numerous public works, including the Coliseum, Monorail, Space Needle, Opera House, Center House and Science Pavilion. As originally planned, the new “Seattle Center” became a lasting cultural heritage for the region.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
View selections from the collection in digital format here.
Restrictions on Use
The Museum of History & Industry is the owner of the materials in the Sophie Frye Bass Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from MOHAI before any reproduction use. The museum does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Preferred Citation
Century 21 Collection, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Arranged in 9 series:
- Tickets and programs
- Guides, brochures and books
- Reports
- Magazines
- Souvenirs
- Press and advertising
- Photographs and drawings
- Ephemera
- Miscellaneous
Location of Collection
2a.3.9 (box 1)Location of Collection
2a.3.5 (box 2)Location of Collection
5a.4.9 (sound recordings)Processing Note
The collection was created by repository staff from materials in several accessions: 1962.2799; 1963.2997; 1974.6362; 1977.6478; 1978.6695; 1983.69; 1985.26; 1989.26; 1994.40; 1995.6.148; 1998.30.2; 2002.22; 2006.37; 2006.49; 2009.7; 2010.1.107; 2010.3.21; 2011.60; 2011.62; 2011.113; 2012.33; 2013.59; 2013.99; 2014.101; 2017.20; 2018.17; 2019.27, 2021.31; 2022.40.
A special edition of the Seattle Times was added to the collection in 2015.
Related Materials
Robert D. Ashley Century 21 Collection
Donald Isle Foster Collection on the Century 21 Exposition
Fred G. Christensen Collection on Seattle World’s Fair Construction Projects
Alfred H. Fast Collection on the Space Needle
Paulla Upjohn Collection on the Seattle World's Fair Hospitality Committee
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Tickets and programsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/1-3 | Tickets |
1962 |
| 1/4 | Opening ceremonies |
1962 |
| 1/5 | Second Annual Conference of the Peaceful Uses of Space |
1962 |
| 1/6-8 | Gracie Hansen presents Barry Ashton’s “A Night in Paradise”
Includes press release and photograph of Willa Baty
|
1961 |
| 1/9 | Seattle World’s Fair Civic Appreciation Ceremonies |
1962 April 19 |
| 1/9a | "World of Harmony," barbershop singing performance |
1962 July 8 |
Guides, brochures, books Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/10 | Official Guide to Seattle Center |
circa 1962 |
| 1/11 | Century 21 Exposition: A United States World Exposition |
circa 1962 |
| 1/12 | Century 21 Exposition |
circa 1962 |
| 1/13 | Northwest Art Today: Adventure in Art Catalog of the Fine Arts Exhibition
at the Seattle World’s Fair |
circa 1962 |
| 1/14 | The Spirit of Seattle by Harold Mansfield |
1961 |
| 1/15 | Alweg Monorail: the fascinating story of the world’s most modern
transportation system |
1962 |
| 1/15 | 2013.59: Alweg Monorail Technical Data |
1962 |
| 1/16 | Paris Spectacular Wax Museum |
circa 1962 |
| 1/16b | 2013.99: Your Adventure on Seattle's Space Needle |
1962 |
ReportsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/17 | Report of Seattle Civic Center Fountain Contest |
circa 1961 |
| 1/18 | Report of Century 21 Commission |
1961 |
| 1/18 | U.S. Science Exhibit Final Report (U.S. Department of
Commerce) |
1963 |
| 1/19 | “The First Year,” report on Seattle Center’s operation in the first year
following the Century 21 Exposition |
1963 |
MagazinesReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/20 | The
Argus Annual Collector’s Edition: A World’s Fair Comes to the
Northwest |
1962 |
| 1/20b |
Time magazine
Including article on the Century 21 Exposition, pages 60-65
|
1962 April 27 |
| 1/20c |
Town & Country magazine
Cover features Century 21 Exposition.
|
1962 April |
| 2/1 |
Architecture West |
1962 August |
| 2/2 |
Cascades, magazine of Pacific Northwest Bell |
1962 April |
| 2/3 |
Sunset Guide to the Pacific Northwest |
1962 |
| 1/21 | Inserts and covers from
Time, Architectural Record, Business Week and
Alaska Sportsman
|
1961-1962 |
| 2/4 |
Saturday Evening Post |
1961 November 25 |
| 2/5 |
Camping Trails featuring camping at the Seattle’s World’s Fair |
1962 May |
| 2/9 |
Life Magazine, "Fabulous Fair in Seattle" |
1962 February 9 |
SouvenirsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/6 | Souvenir placemats |
circa 1962 |
| 1/22-24 | Stamps and envelopes
First day issue stamps and collectible envelopes from the Fair, and a page of Space Needle stamps.
|
circa 1962 |
| 1/25 | Souvenir metallic print of Science Center |
circa 1962 |
| 1/26 | Souvenir mailable photo albums
Small (approximately 2” x 3”) albums of 10 color photographs from the Fair, with back cover printed for
mailing.
|
circa 1962 |
| 1/27 | A Souvenir Picture Book of Washington, Seattle and the Seattle World’s
Fair |
circa 1962 |
| 1/27 | Souvenir mailable box: “World’s Largest Cake”
Small box containing sheet of paper with information describing “Paul Bunyan’s 25,000-pound birthday
cake” on display at the Fair
|
1961 |
| 1/27a | Circular guide showing distances and routes from Seattle to various U.S.
cities |
1962 |
| 1/27b | Set of five sound postcards
Five photo postcards with 33 1/3 rpm sound recordings cut into front of card.
|
1962 |
| 1/27c | Computer demonstration printouts
Includes a printout from the Bendix Computer Division demonstration reading "Congratulations. This ends
a demonstration of how a computer is used to study the learning processes of man. This demonstrations was prepared in
cooperation with the System Development Corporation, Santa Monica, Calif. and Bendix Computer Division of the Bendix
Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif." Also includes a printout from a demonstration by NCR.
|
1962 |
| 1/27d | Four Viewmaster reels
Each disc contains 7 color photographs (2 images for each) to be viewed in "three dimension." Discs are
titled: .1: Monorail & Fairgrounds; .2: Night--Space Needle; .3: Architectural Wonders; .4: The Amazing
Exhibits.
|
1962 |
| Box | ||
| 3 | Seattle Times World's Fair Souvenir
Edition
Eight sections of a special edition of the Seattle Times reporting on
various aspects of the Fair, such as "Space Age Frontiers," "Modern Living," and "City of Tomorrow."
|
1962 April 8 |
Press and advertising Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/28 | Brochures promoting advertising opportunities |
1962 |
| 1/29 | Official Press Book, Seattle World’s Fair |
1962 |
| 1/29b | 2018.17.1: Century 21 Countdown newspaper, Vol. 1, No. 1 4 pages
Century 21 Countdown newspaper, Vol. 1, No. 2 is part of MOHAI collection 2010.82.
|
Summer 1959 |
Photographs and drawings Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/7 | Children playing in fountain |
circa 1962 |
| 2/8 | People sitting on lawn with arches in background |
circa 1962 |
| 1/30 | Nine 4 x 5 contact prints of monorail and 6 contact prints of official
visits, including Richard Nixon |
circa 1962 |
| 1/31 | Aerial view
Color half-tone reproduction
|
circa 1962 |
| 1/31b | Five women dressed in ethnic costume holding oversized Century 21
admission ticket 8 x 10 in.
The women are dressed in the traditional clothing of Norway, Greece, Japan, Sweden and China.
|
circa 1962 |
| 1/32 | Drawings
2 Century 21 themed single frame cartoons (reproductions); 1 white on black drawing reproduction of
monorail
|
circa 1962 |
EphemeraReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/33-46 | Clippings
Clippings filed by subject under the following headings: Attendance, Science Center--Schedules—Special
Events, Problems Fair and Post-Fair—Security, Staff and Fair Employees, Personalities, Leading up to World’s Fair (also
closing of Fair), Building for Fair, Foreign Exhibits/ Foreign Visitors, World’s Fair Attractions, Admission—Rides,
etc., Monorail—Transportation, Shows—Opera House, etc., Post-Fair Activities, Seattle Center (Post Fair).
|
circa 1961-1963 |
| 1/47 | Menus
Menu from Hofbrau Haus; circular Eye of the Needle drinks menu.
|
circa 1962 |
| 1/48 | Maps
Rand McNally Official Map of Seattle and the World’s Fair (2 copies) and Rand McNally Detail Map of the
Seattle World’s Fair
|
circa 1962 |
| 1/49 | Brochures-general fair 8 items
|
1962 |
| 1/49 | Brochures-"See the Rest of the great Northwest"
Brochure from the Union Oil Company of California, with illustration of the Union 76 Skyride on
cover.
|
1962 |
| 1/49a | 2017.20.1: Brochures -"Hear Billy Graham at the World's Fair"
Card advertising event at Memorial Stadium with Billy Graham, Cliff Barrows and Geo. Beverly Shea.
|
1962 July 8 |
| 1/49b | 2019.27.1: Brochures -"You are Invited to See the Wolrd's Fair via U and I Sugar's
Guest Tour"
Brochure advertising a free tour, sponsored by U and I Sugar, by Trailways bus from various points in
Oregon to the fair, including free admission.
|
1962 |
| 1/50-50a | Brochures-Exhibits
Pavilion of electric power, Japanese Pavilion, Swedish Pavilion, “Canned Salmon,” water-wheel generator,
“Seattleite” concept car, 1962 Fords, Jaguar automobiles, Peace Corps, "The American Home of the Immediate Future" from
the United State Plywood Corporation, Sermons from Science, Richfield Oil Company. Also, promotional brochures from
various countries, presumably from exhibits, though without specific reference to Century 21: Taiwan, Brazil, Thailand,
Mexico, and Berlin, Germany.
|
1962 |
| 1/51 | Postcards and preprinted letter
Includes pre-printed “letter” in envelope describing the fair, to be addressed and signed by the
individual; and a postcard advertising the Plaza Restaurant, with pre-printed message on front and menu on verso.
Includes color photo postcards of fair grounds, and 3 oversized postcards produced by IBM.
|
1962 |
| 1/52 | Century 21 stickers |
1962 |
| 1/52 | Pink Centex ribbon |
1962 |
MiscellaneousReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/53 | Letter to Fair President Joseph Gandy from Chicago National Safety
Council thanking Century 21 officials for accident prevention at the Fair |
circa 1963 |
| shelf | ||
| 5a.4.9 | 2011.60.1-2: LP records of "The Canadian Tattoo," Hartley Records |
circa 1962 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Century 21 Exposition (1962 : Seattle, Wash.)
- Fairs–Washington (State)–Seattle
Geographical Names
- United States–Washington (State)–Seattle
Form or Genre Terms
- Ephemera
- Photographic prints
- Souvenirs
Finding aid prepared by Jody Hendrickson
2008
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
