Collection context
Summary
- Abstract:
- Edwards H. Metcalf was a collector, Pepperdine University board member, and grandson of Henry Edwards Huntington (a railroad tycoon and founder of the Huntington Library, Art Gallery, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, CA). While he was a T.E. Lawrence enthusiast, his collections were diverse, including a collection of vintage playing cards. This collection was donated to Pepperdine University Libaries - Special Collections and University Archives after his death. The decks range in dates from the early 1800s to the mid-1900s. Many different card games are included in the collection, such as Man-Chu, fortune telling, and court.
- Extent:
- 2 Linear Feet
- Language:
- English .
- Preferred citation:
-
[Box/folder# or item name], Edwards H. Metcalf Collection of Playing Cards, Collection no. 0206, Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Pepperdine University.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
This collection contains decks of playing cards that were collected by Edwards H. Metcalf. The decks range in dates from the early 1800s to the mid-1900s. Many different card games are included in the collection, such as Man-Chu, fortune telling, and court.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Edwards H. Metcalf was a collector, Pepperdine University board member, and grandson of Henry Edwards Huntington (a railroad tycoon and founder of the Huntington Library, Art Gallery, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, CA). He owned many small businesses and was the president of the Huntington Land Company. He was an avid collector and donated many items to the Huntington Library.
Metcalf was born November 4, 1911 to parents John and Elizabeth Metcalf. He was the second of four children. The family lived in Northern California. He married Jane King (April 24, 1910-May 27, 1994) and they lived in San Marino, California for many years.He served in the Navy during the Korean War. Metcalf died in Sierra Madre, California on April 2, 2001, and he and Jane were buried in Riverside National Cemetery (a military cemetery in Riverside, California.
He was an avid collector and in 1986 he donated 500 books and pamphlets from his T.E. Lawrence collection to Pepperdine's Payson Library. While he was a T.E. Lawrence enthusiast, his collections were diverse, including a collection of vintage playing cards. This collection was donated to Pepperdine University Libaries - Special Collections and University Archives after his death.
- Acquisition information:
- Materials were donated by the estate of Edwards H. Metcalf.
- Processing information:
-
The collection was arranged and described and the finding aid was created in October 2022 by Alexandra Haas, Special Collections and University Archives intern, under the supervision of Kelsey Knox.
Majority of research for biographical notes for this finding aid was done using The World of Playing Cards (wopc.co.uk).
- Arrangement:
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The collection is organized by item and by original number assigned before donation. Oversized decks have been arranged in a separate, larger box.
- Physical description:
- Collection consists of five boxes. Boxes 1-4 dimensions are 4.75" in width, 12.75" in length, and 3.25" in height. Box 5 dimensions are 6.75" in width, 12.25" in length, and 4.60" in height.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Advanced notice required for access.
- Terms of access:
-
Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Box/folder# or item name], Edwards H. Metcalf Collection of Playing Cards, Collection no. 0206, Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Pepperdine University.
- Location of this collection:
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24255 Pacific Coast HighwayMalibu, CA 90263-4786, US
- Contact:
- (310) 506-4323