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Richard Crepeau U.S. Bicentennial collection, 1975-1976

 

Summary

Creator:
Crepeau, Richard C., 1941-
Abstract:
The Richard Crepeau U.S. Bicentennial collection, 1975-1976, contains materials that commemorate the 200th anniversary of America's independence following the American Revolution. It consists of books, advertisements, newspapers, booklets, pamphlets, flyers, press releases, and other memorabilia relating to the American Revolution Bicentennial. The collection was chiefly assembled by Richard Crepeau and students in his American History course in 1976. This collection provides insight into consumerism in 1976, and how the Bicentennial year was advertised and poised to the public through everyday objects and materials. It also offers a glimpse into daily life and popular culture in 1976. Richard Crepeau is a retired University of Central Florida (UCF) professor. In 1974, he graduated from Florida State University with a Ph.D. while working as a history professor. During his forty-four-year tenure at UCF, he taught courses on sports history. He also authored two books, Melbourne Village: The First Twenty-Five Years and Baseball: American's Diamond Mind, alongside many essays and articles. He also served as the president of the North American Society for Sport's History. Since Crepeau's retirement in 2016, he has revised one of his published books, titled NFL Football: A History of America's New National Pastime, which was republished in 2020. Crepeau started the "Bicentennial Junk" collection in the summer of 1975 when he realized that the Bicentennial, the two hundredth anniversary of the American Revolution, was going to be commercialized. During the Bicentennial year, he asked UCF students in his American History survey class to contribute to the collection by bringing in any Bicentennial-themed items they could find.
Extent:
2.5 Linear Feet 3 boxes, 5 flat files
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Richard Crepeau U.S. Bicentennial collection, Special Collections & University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.

Background

Scope and content:

The Richard Crepeau U.S. Bicentennial collection contains materials that commemorate the 200th anniversary of America's independence following the American Revolution. It consists of books, advertisements, newspapers, booklets, pamphlets, flyers, press releases, and other memorabilia relating to the American Revolution Bicentennial. The collection was chiefly assembled by Richard Crepeau and students in his American History course in 1976. This collection provides insight into consumerism in 1976, and how the Bicentennial year was advertised and poised to the public through everyday objects and materials. It also offers a glimpse into daily life and popular culture in 1976.

Series I: Paper Documents, 1975-1976, contains the collected papers from the Bicentennial year. The series includes printed materials and ephemera, with the bulk of the series consisting of printed materials. Newspaper clippings, fliers, booklets, advertisements, along with a popcorn box and a cardboard model can be found in this series. This series is arranged alphabetically.

Series II: Memorabilia, 1976, contains collected objects that are decorated or commemorative of the Bicentennial year. It includes items like cups, a plate, toilet paper, clothes, and children's toys. It also includes a South Florida PBS segment that features items from the collection. This series is arranged alphabetically.

Biographical / historical:

Richard Crepeau is a retired University of Central Florida (UCF) professor. In 1974, he graduated from Florida State University with a Ph.D. while working as a history professor. During his forty-four-year tenure at UCF, he taught courses on sports history. He also authored two books, Melbourne Village: The First Twenty-Five Years and Baseball: American's Diamond Mind, alongside many essays and articles. He also served as the president of the North American Society for Sport's History. Since Crepeau's retirement in 2016, he has revised one of his published books, titled NFL Football: A History of America's New National Pastime, which was republished in 2020.

Crepeau started the "Bicentennial Junk" collection in the summer of 1975 when he realized that the Bicentennial, the two hundredth anniversary of the American Revolution, was going to be commercialized. During the Bicentennial year, he asked UCF students in his American History survey class to contribute to the collection by bringing in any Bicentennial-themed items they could find.

Acquisition information:
Transferred by Richard Crepeau in 2016 (Accession no. CFU2016_33).
Processing information:

Processed by and finding aid prepared by Alyssa Adkins in 2025.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into two series by record type.  

  • I. Paper Documents, 1975-1976
  • II. Memorabilia, 1976

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The entire collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Richard Crepeau U.S. Bicentennial collection, Special Collections & University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.

Location of this collection:
John C. Hitt Library
12701 Pegasus Drive, Building 2
Orlando
FL
32816-8030
USA