Meldrums Ltd. Box

[No date]

Hocken Ephemera Collection

[Dunedin]

The ephemera and posters collections at the Hocken Collections includes a wide range of printed material such as programmes, leaflets, flyers, packaging, posters, and advertising circulars that were produced for immediate and contemporary use. These are usually discarded by most people. Ephemera provides an insight into everyday life and records the culture and history of New Zealand.
The purposeful collecting of ephemera and posters at the Hocken began in the mid-1960s, with a particular focus on Otago and Southland material, and some items of national significance. Collecting has been sporadic and almost entirely reliant upon donation by library staff and members of the public. With the appointment of an Ephemera Librarian in 2011, material is now also acquired from local second hand shops, auction houses and online auction sites.
This box and other ephemera material in the collection relates to the fashion industry of the past in New Zealand. Advertising for local retailers and manufacturers shows the wide range of readymade garments and patterns publicly available (for both outer and under wear); packaging shows graphic design trends. These items reflect aspects of New Zealand society and culture at the time they were manufactured and used; they are now valuable resource material that is available to researchers at the Hocken Collections.