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Kevin Moody Pan-American Exposition collection

 Collection — Envelope: 1
Identifier: MS-0260

Scope and Contents

Items collected by Kevin Moody, belonging to his great-grandmother, wife of F.A. Lopez, member of the Commission from Ecuador at the Pan-American Exposition. Includes exposition map (color); postcards; pass; ticket books with photo of Mrs. Lopez; and 2 typewritten letters (one undated of a personal nature and one dated January 11, 1902 regarding the sale of the Ecuador pavilion building and return of exhibit artifacts.

Dates

  • 1901-1902

Terms of Access and Use

The Kevin Moody Pan-American Exposition collection is open for research.

Copyright

Copyright of papers in the collection may be held by their authors, or the authors' heirs or assigns. Researchers must obtain the written permission of the holder(s) of copyright and University Archives before requesting photocopies and/or publishing quotations from materials in the collection. Once permission is obtained, most papers may be copied in accordance with the library's usual procedures unless otherwise specified.

Historical Note

The Pan-American Exposition was held in Buffalo, New York from May 1 to November 2, 1901. Buffalo was chosen as the location because of its size (at the time it was the eighth largest city in the U.S. with a population of approximately 350,000) and also because of its well suited railway connections. The grounds spread across 342 acres and were located between Delaware Park Lake to the south, the New York Central railroad track to the north, Delaware Avenue to the east, and Elmwood Avenue to the west.

The Exposition included educational exhibits as well as a Midway. The educational exhibits showcased the latest advancements in technology, most notably electricity. A major feature was electric lighting which utilized hydroelectric power generated in nearby Niagara Falls. Many of the Exposition buildings, including the prominent Electric Tower, were covered in light-bulbs creating a beautiful and unprecedented sight. The Pan-American Exposition also hosted some of the top engine manufacturers of the time. These companies provided “working exhibits” that actually functioned in the day-to-day operation of the Exposition. The Midway at the Pan-American Exposition provided visitors with entertainment and consisted of more than 42 exhibits. Some of the main attractions of the Midway included the “House Upside Down,” “Cleopatra’s Temple”, and the “Foreign Villages.”

The Pan-American Exposition is most widely known as the location of President McKinley’s assassination. On September 6, 1901, while in a receiving line at the Exposition’s Temple of Music, President McKinley was shot twice by anarchist, Leon Czolgosz. McKinley was taken to the Exposition’s hospital where he was operated on by a number of prominent Buffalo surgeons including Roswell Park. The President was then taken to the home of John Milburn, head of the Exposition’s Board of Directors, to recover. After his condition appeared to improve, McKinley eventually died on September 14 in the Milburn home due to infection and gangrene from the gun shot wounds.

Extent

.1 Linear Feet (4 folders)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Mementos of the 1901 Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo, New York.

Arrangement

Arranged by format.

Acquisition Information

The Kevin Moody Pan-American Exposition collection was gifted to University Archives by Kevin Moody, on November 22, 2002 as accession 02-xxx.

Accruals and Additions

No further accruals are expected.

Processing Information

Processed by Amy Vilz, August 2018; finding aid encoded by Amy Vilz, August 2018.

Source

Title
Finding Aid for the Kevin Moody Pan-American Exposition collection
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid prepared by Amy Vilz.
Date
03 August 2018
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the University Archives Repository

Contact:
420 Capen Hall
Buffalo New York 14260-1674 US
716-645-2916
716-645-3714 (Fax)