Ephemera
What is ephemera? This is an odd word, but basically means anything that is not made to last for a long time, or is intended to be used as a one-off or for a limited time. Transitory is a word you will see a lot linked with ephemera.
Examples are letters, flyers, posters or leaflets for an event, campaign or period of time. We could include campaign badges, T-shirts and banners here, but we have chosen to include those in artefacts on this website.
There is some background information about each item plus a detailed visual description. Where the item has been catalogued, the number is included. Please click on each image.
Please note:
The words portrait orientation and landscape orientation are used in the descriptions. We were reminded that people who do not work in an office may need an explanation of this. Portrait is when a piece of paper or card is taller than it is wide. Landscape is when it is wider than it is tall.
We also use paper size names here, for example A4, A5, A6. Here are the sizes:
A2, 23.4x16.5 inches, 59.4x42 cm.
A3, 16.5x11.7 inches, 42x29.7 cm.
A4, 11.7x8.3 inches, 29.7x21 cm.
A5, 8.3x5.8 inches, 21x14.8 cm.
A6, 5.8x4.1 inches, 14.8x10.5 cm.
Glossary
Disabled Person’s Registration Certificate 1968
About This is a card giving proof of being registered as a disabled person. Personal details have been blocked out....
Flyer: ‘Would This Man Frighten Your Children’ - 1988
About On 25 January 1988, Granada Television’s headquarters in Manchester were picketed by disabled protestors after the company overturned a...
Flyer: Call to Action Live Independently - 1993
About This flyer is advertising a rally on 5 May 1993 in Manchester. GMCDP members took to the streets to...
Flyer: Children In Need protest – 1993
About This leaflet was given out on Friday 28 November 1993, when members of GMCDP and UNISON's Disabled Members Group...
Postcard: ‘Mum's The Word’ – 1994
About This is a promotional postcard for the Channel 4 TV documentary series in the 1990s called ‘People First’. It...
Flyer: Young Disabled Women's Day – 1995
About This flyer promotes an event for young disabled women to coincide with International Women’s Day in 1995. The event...
Flyer: Independence Festival – 1997
About The Independence Festivals were the first national festivals of disabled people's art and culture in the UK. They ran...
Poster: Sign Language Interpreting Service, South Africa
About This is a poster from South Africa advertising a Sign Language Interpreting Service. It was produced by the Deaf...
Poster: Accessibility 98
About In 1998 Manchester City Council hosted an open day, ‘Information & Communication Technology’. The event was in Manchester Town...
Postcard: Young Disabled People Do It Too – 1998
About This is one of a set of 5 postcards. In 1998 a young disabled people’s project in Chester collaborated...
Postcard: Out Of Place - 2003
About This postcard promotes the launch of Lois Keith’s book ‘Out of Place’. The book is about a disabled child...
Postcard : Save The Independent Living Fund - 2014
About In 2014 this postcard was used as part of the ongoing campaign being fought by disabled individuals and organisations...
Poster: Take Action Now, ‘Go To The Edge’
About This poster is one of a set of four looking at positive imagery and identity. The set was produced...
Poster: Manchester People First - Women’s Group
About This poster is advertising a women’s group run by Manchester People First. We are currently unable to date the...