Scope and Contents The Florence Pretz Smalley Collection contains original artwork by the creator of the Billiken, a mythological figure originally conceived as an elvish or fairy figure of good luck. The collection includes several watercolor, ink, and pencil sketches dating from 1906 to the 1920s that reveal the early development of the Billiken. Many of these sketches were prototypes for projects that were unrealized and never published, but a number of others were selected for publication in "The...

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Contents include poems that inspired or were inspired by the Billiken, including "Songs from Vagabondia" by Bliss Carmen and Richard Hovey (believed to be a textual source of inspiration for the Billiken), "Two Gods" by Berton Braley, "Billiken" by Loretta M. Grow, and a poem about Florence Pretz Smalley's other patented creation, the "Pot-Hound."

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These newspaper and magazine clippings cover information about Florence Pretz Smalley's life, the Billiken, and the Pot-Hound.

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The patent records include official documents from the Copyright Office for Florence Pretz Smalley's creation of the "Pot-Hound" (1922) and also an address for the patent lawyer Frederick Fischer.

Scope and Contents The correspondence series include letters to Florence Pretz Smalley and her family members. Correspondents include: Ed Wynn (an actor seeking input from FPS about his performance in "The Billiken Freshmen, 11-19-1909); David Spratt of the Billiken Club of South Philadelphia (asking about the history of the Billiken, 9-15-1911); Mr. Pretz's response to E. Wandless (about royalties owed to his daughter, 9-29-1914); Sara from Vanity Fair/Vogue Co. (3-7-1919); and a letter to Jane,...