Tickets: Trash or Treasure?

Although today ticket stubs, receipts, badges, and business cards are items we throw away without much thought, these items can be tangible pieces of history that collectors and historians love.

The detail and color found on railroad passes, lottery tickets, and other ephemera from the 19th century are a testament to the elaborate printing standards that existed during that time. These types of items were often ornate because they served as a "business card" for companies or evens, reflecting their prestige and importance, so they would incorporate memorable designs, lettering, and sometimes even engravings of their logos to convey a sense of status and professionalism.

Different items on display have a more functional design and use. The gasoline ration stamps, for example, were vividly color-coded to easily identify different levels of gas allocation, with different colors representing different categories of drivers. Also significantly color-coded are gallery passes printed in anticipation of a House vote on President Richard M. Nixon's impeachment. The range of colors for each pass indicates different days and occupational credentials.

Featured in the display:

• Louisville & Nashville Railroad Co. Southern Exposition Ticket, Louisville to Nashville, sold 21 October 1884
• Mobile and Ohio Railroad, Limited Pass, 1892
• Illinois Railroad Central, Pass "between points in Mississippi", 1892
• Louisiana Lottery Co. ticket for a drawing on 11 September 1894
• University Lyceum Course, 1906-1907
• Ticket to "Graduating Exercises", Jackson High School, 15 May 1925
• Football tickets. Ole Miss vs. Tulane, 15 October 1960
• Promotional Coin, Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Mississippi. Colonel Reb and the 1971 Ole Miss Football schedule
• Ticket for Economic Development Day presented by "James H. Meredith and Associates" in Jackson at the Mississippi Coliseum, 26 June 1971
• Memo to the Speaker of the House from the Ad-Hoc Committee re: Impeachment Ticket Plan, 7 August 1974. "Fishbait" is written at the top of the page for William "Fishbait" Miller.
  • Ticket to Visitor's Gallery of the House of Representatives during the 93rd Congress (1973-1975)
  • Ticket for "Emergency. Admit bearer to all live television camera positions in Gallery of House of Representatives"
• Leontyne Price in honor of the Women's Centennial at the University of Mississippi, 21 April 1982, Fulton Chapel
• General Admission Ticket for ZZ Top at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson, 21 October 1994
  • Invitation for "After Show Meet & Greet"
• Patinage -- Philadelphia Bank (n.d.)
• Tickets for "Basic Mileage Ration", United States, Office of Price Administration (n.d., 1940s)
• Registration tag, "Mississippi Licensed Chauffeur" (n.d.)
• Ticket for The Collegiate Church of the Holy Trinity, Stratford-upon-Avon (n.d., but the price listed as "6D" indicates pre-1971, when d for "denarius" was still used in place of "pence")
• H-Card from Frank Cayson Ministries. Card holder is invited to fill in the blank with "Heaven" or "Hell"; the H has been pre-filled (n.d.)
• Card. "This card entitles the holder to five minutes BITCHING TIME. Please do NOT use more than your time! Others are waiting to chew my ass out." (n.d.)