Bloomingdale Bros., Bloomingdales: Diary 1910 and Catalogue, Giving Prices and Details of High Grade Merchandise and Various Other Interesting Information (New York: Bloomingdale Bros., 1910).
September is many things to many people. For some, it is National Mushroom Month; for others it is National Yoga Month; and for others still it is Better Breakfast Month (at least according to Wikipedia). But perhaps for most—whether you're a student, teacher, parent, or, for that matter, a librarian in a research library—September marks the end of summer and the beginning of another school year. To help usher in the new academic calendar, we'll look at some back-to-school-themed images from our Digital Collections.
Viuda de E. Texidor (Firm), Viuda de E. Texidor: Articulos para dibujo, pintura y arquitectura : suplemento al catálogo general (Barcelona: Viuda de E. Texidor; Casa Texidor, 1910). Gift of Friends of the Thomas J. Watson Library
Remember using a compass in school? This 1910 Spanish trade catalogue features some of the finest German compasses of the day, all for less than ten pesetas. This catalogue also features colored pencils, inkwells, and brushes.
Siegel, Cooper & Co., New York City's Latest Fall and Winter Styles for 1906–1907: Catalogue No. 42 (New York: Siegel Cooper Co., 1906).
If you want to dress to impress this year, look no further than this 1906 catalogue detailing the "latest" in New York City's fall and winter styles.
Ernst Herzfeld, Manuscript: "Problems of Hittite Art" (1943). Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art, Harris Brisbane Dick Fund (ANE.6.4.26; Ms-20)
In case you need a reminder of what a heavily marked up piece of writing looks like (don't worry, there's no red ink), this manuscript from The Ernst Herzfeld Papers should do the trick.
Tiffany Studios, Desk Sets by Tiffany Studios (New York: Tiffany Studios, 20th century).
And of course, no return to school would be complete without a desk at which to do one's work. This is a "Zodiac Desk Set" from Tiffany's.
From "The Museum and the Schools" (New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1913).
We would be remiss not to mention this supplement to the Bulletin of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, "The Museum and the Schools," which states that "It would be hardly possible to overestimate the importance and value of Museums to Schools of Art, as they are the treasure houses of traditional art, and the latter affords the student one of the greatest sources, if not the chief source of his inspiration, when he comes to try his powers in the creation of original design." Words just as true today as they were back then.
