Keystone View Company Stereocard Collection MSS.2010.08.25 MSS.2010.08.25
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
© 2010
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
San José State University
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0028
special.collections@sjsu.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Title: Keystone View Company Stereocard Collection
creator:
Keystone View Company
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.2010.08.25
Physical Description:
5 boxes
(2.3 Linear Feet)
Date (inclusive): 1895-1905
Abstract: The Keystone View Company Stereocard Collection contains more than 600 stereocards published by the Keystone View Company.
The Stereocards were used for educational purposes as well as for entertainment. The Keystone View Company had branches throughout
the country and Europe with staff photographers taking photographs throughout the world.
Copyright has not been assigned to the San José State University Special Collections & Archives. All requests for permission
to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Special Collections. Permission for publication
is given on behalf of the Special Collections & Archives. Copyright restrictions may apply to digital reproductions of the
original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.
The Keystone View Company was created in 1892 in Meadville, Pennsylvania by B.L. Singley as a company whose primary focus
was to create a large variety of stereocards. By 1905 it was the largest sterographic company in the world. Keystone created
and distributed millions of stereocards throughout the United States. In 1898 they organized their highly successful Education
Department which produced boxed sets for school instruction of images and descriptive text illustrating culture, industry,
commerce and politics world-wide. Stereocards came in different sets marked by a letter. Customers could buy stereocards by
the "book", a box shaped like a book which contained 50, 100, or 200 stereocards. This collection prominently features set
"P", the educational set designed for elementary school-aged children. While stereocards had been losing popularity shortly
after cinema became one of the most popular entertainment mediums, the Keystone Company continued to produce stereocards until
1972 when it went out of business.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Keystone View Company Stereocard Collection contains 600 stereocards published by the Keystone View Company. Half of
the cards in this stereocard collection are targeted towards young children. Each card contains a very basic description using
simple vocabulary to foster reading and vocabulary skills in school-age children. The second half of the collection contains
geographic and industrial images targeted towards adults. These cards feature many places around the world as well as many
geographical and industrial places in America.
This collection is arranged into three series: Series I. Keystone "Primary" (P Series); Series II. Keystone "600 Set"; and
Series III. Perfect-Stereograph
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Stereographs
Stereoscopic views
Photographic prints
Keystone View Company
Series I. Keystone "Primary" (P Series) I
The cards in this series (Set P) are targeted towards young children. Each card contains a very basic description using simple
vocabulary to foster reading and vocabulary skills in school-age children. Subjects featured in these educational cards include:
Children's activities, geographic places, agriculture, animals, industry, Native Americans.
This series is arranged by stereocard number.
Series II: Keystone "600 Set"
This series contains geographic and industrial images targeted towards adults. These cards feature many places around the
world as well as many geographical and industrial places in America.
Geographic locations featured in this series covering the US include: Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii,
Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon,
Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington D.C,
West Virginia, Wyoming, and Unknown (Cotton Gin).
Other countries include Algeria, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Ceylon, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, Egypt, England,
Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Holland, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Lebanon, Mexico,
Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Palestine, the Panama Canal, Philippines, Poland, Rock of Gibraltar, Russia, Spain, Sicily, South
Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tangier, Tasmania, Turkey, Venezuela, West Indies, Unknown (Beet Production sites).
This series is arranged by stereocard number.