Ephemera Files

Dance card for a social evening held by the D Company 1st Battalion Victorian Rifles, held in Albert Park, April 4th 1887 (Port Phillip Heritage Centre collection)


Programme for a reception given on-board the flagship of Rear-Admiral Shimamura, Port Melbourne Town Pier, 15th May 1905 (Port Phillip Heritage Centre collection)
What is ephemera?
Ephemera is the collective name given to material which carries a verbal or illustrative message and is produced by the printing process, but is not a standard book or periodical format.
A general description of the material in these files is that they are usually flimsy or insubstantial. They are documents produced for a specific purpose and were not intended to survive. Material can be of a social, cultural, commercial and official nature. These files include invitations, programs, newspaper clippings etc.
From "Ephemera", by Chris Makepeace, 1985

Ticket stubs for a Harry Belafonte concert at the Palais Theatre, 13th August, 1960 (Port Phillip Heritage Centre collection)

Programme for a reception held by the Mayoress of South Melbourne, 1934 (Port Phillip Heritage Centre collection)