Hesburgh Libraries

Scope and Contents

This small sub-series includes pairs of photographs of wrestlers before and after the assumption of a given persona or gimmick. It was created by Pfefer. The photos are organized alphabetically, by wrestler.

Scope and Contents

This subseries consists of wrestlers' contracts, most of them unsigned.

Scope and Contents Around 1940, Pfefer stopped compiling scrapbooks and began organizing his clippings and other ephemera in 8 x 10 inch manila envelopes, titled on the outside. It is the contents of these envelopes that make up the present Series V. For the most part, these "subject files" are biographical, but there are occasional folders dedicated to venues and other topics. Some subject files originally included photographic prints or, more exceptionally, correspondence, but these items have been removed...

Scope and Contents

This subseries consists of photographs taken during wrestling matches. Photos are arranged alphabetically, by the name of one of the contestants.

Scope and Contents

This series consists of Pfefer's business and financial records, including sub-series dedicated to (i.) promotions and bookings; (ii.) office and travel expenses; (iii.) tax records; (iv.) New York State Athletic Commission reports; and (v.) wrestler's contracts.

Scope and Contents Pfefer’s correspondence (VII.i.) includes an estimated 5,400 individual letters and telegrams. They are almost entirely incoming, as Pfefer appears not to have made (or preserved) copies or carbons of his outgoing letters. The bulk of the material pertains to wrestling. Given the itinerant nature of the business, with performers traveling from venue to venue on a daily basis, correspondence between wrestlers and their managers or booking agents could be intensive. Letters were often...

Scope and Contents

This subseries was set aside by Pfefer as his "personal collection". Many of the photographs are portraits of Pfefer, or group portraits that include Pfefer. Items are arranged by subject. The subseries includes a few drawings, as well as a set of medical x-rays.

Scope and Contents

This series consists of various graphic formats used to promote wrestlers and wrestling matches, including posters, flyers, broadsides, handbills, and postcards. There is also a collection of tickets to matches. Other graphics may be found in Series IV, Scrapbooks, and Series V, Subject Files.

Scope and Contents

This subseries consists of miscellaneous wrestling photographs, as well as promotional portraits from the worlds of burlesque and country music. Photos are arranged topically.