From rare and mesmerizing antique memorabilia to original and signed copies of Major Taylor’s autobiography, this collection radiates the passion that drives Jim Ammirato, collector, avid cyclist and founder of the Major Taylor Archive.
Stanhope, pins, vintage postcards and photographs, century old cycling magazines and books are but a few objects of this ever growing private collection.
I met with Jim Ammirato back in 2022 around the time we were filming the concept trailer of the Whirlwind film.
I invited Jim to our then production headquarter in Worcester and he arrived carrying a few of his precious ephemera from the Major Taylor Archive he started more than two decades ago. Since then, we have been in touch and Jim has agreed to be a resource for the film by providing us access to his private collection for research purposes.
Recently, I asked Jim Ammirato if he was willing to share a little more of his collection and the vision behind it with the Whirlwind’s film audience and he gladly agreed to do so.
Below are Jim Ammirato's answers to our questions:
1-Please tell us a bit about who you are and your background ?
My name is Jim Ammirato, I am an avid cyclist and collector. I grew up collecting anything that interested me; baseball cards/sports memorabilia, comic books and vinyl records to name a few. I discovered a real photo postcard of my grandfather and his bicycle when I was young and it sparked a lifelong interest in bicycles and ephemera. I became engrossed in bicycle culture as an adult and was naturally drawn to antique and vintage bicycles. This led to me collecting anything and everything related to the sport.
2-How did you learn about Major Taylor for the first time and what was your experience ?
One of the things I collected were books about bicycles and bicycling. I eventually found a copy of Andrew Ritchie's book 'Major Taylor-The Extraordinary Career of a Champion Bicycle Racer' published in 1988. After reading it I was eager to learn more about him.
3-When and why did you start collecting Major Taylor related archives, ephemera & memorabilia ?
The earliest MT pieces that I collected were part of my larger collection of antique and vintage bicycle related ephemera.
4-What were the first items you collected and what makes you passionate about collecting Major Taylor archives ?
I purchased a 1907 postcard of Taylor on his bike, a great image. I found a few more after a brief search but also began finding other items related to his racing such as trade cards, race programs and photographs. Every object tells a story and the more I found the more I learned about him. I found it fascinating and inspiring.
5-Tell us a bit about your collection , what are your criteria for selecting items, what are you looking at and what are you wary of ? Do you collect with a particular goal in mind ?
I collect anything and everything related to MT, even contemporary pieces, but I mostly collect original period items. Postcards, photographs, race programs, books, posters, pins and souvenirs. The only goal I have is to collect, preserve and share the archive with anyone who is interested in Major Taylor.
6-What are you the most proud of in your Major Taylor collection and why ?
That's a difficult question to answer, there are several pieces that are very special and rare. I have two real photo postcards, which are actual photographs mounted on postcard stock. They were very popular in the early 20th century and were often produced in very small numbers. Both images are candid shots of Taylor at the track. I also have two original copies of his 1928 autobiography 'The Fastest Bicycle Rider in the World'. The first copy I found was in the original dust jacket which is very rare. I purchased the second copy because it was signed by Major Taylor himself.
7-Can you share some insights on your favourite or recent acquisitions/additions to your collection?
Not long ago I found an original 1899 Orient Cycles advertising poster featuring Major Taylor. It was rare for an African-American to be so prominently featured in an advertising piece at that time. Most advertising from the period was extremely racist.
8-How has your collection or the type of work you collect evolved over time?
I began to focus solely on Major Taylor about 15-20 years ago because I understood how important a figure he was. There is an ocean of antique and vintage bicycle ephemera out there and I wanted to curate an archive that was both significant and manageable.
It has always been difficult finding and securing original items for the collection and I enjoy the challenge of finding the next one.
9-Do you work with other collectors or other archives/ephemera professionals to help select or source items-Do you think that is important?
I'm always reaching out to whomever I can to find new pieces, networking is key. Occasionally someone will reach out to me but generally I'm finding them on my own.
10-Your items have been featured in multiple exhibits including the major Taylor Museum and Indiana State Museum where a great number of items donated by Taylor 's daughter are kept. Tell us more about how that happened ?
It has mostly been word of mouth. Several people/organizations have reached out to Lynne Tolman of the Major Taylor Association and she put me in touch with them. I was thrilled to help and agreed to loan a number of pieces to them for their exhibits.
11- What do you hope to accomplish with your collection in the future, let say in 10 years from now what are your hopes ?
I'm hoping to be able to continue searching for new and interesting bits to add to the archive and share it with as many people as I can.
12-Do you buy items in auctions, or follow auction results? How influential is that to your collecting, if at all?
I primarily purchase items online and occasionally from a fellow collector. If it weren't for the internet my collection would be very small.
13-What challenges have you faced when collecting Major Taylor items ?
It's mostly the competition from other collectors but there's also a financial barrier. Sometimes collecting early bicycle related ephemera is not for the faint of wallet. It's one thing to find rare and unique items but quite another to be able to buy them especially if there's a bidding war.
14-What has been one of the greatest joys from collecting these archives ?
It has been amazing to learn so much about a truly important historical figure like Major Taylor. I very much enjoy sharing his story and keeping his legacy alive.
15-What are you looking to collect in the future and some items you have an eye on ?
There are a few pieces that I've seen online in other collections that I would love to add to the archive, I just haven't had the opportunity to acquire them. Also, you never know what is going to surface after 100 years, my eyes are always open.
16-What do you consider to be the most important factors when selecting or evaluating an archive/ephemera ?
Condition and rarity of an object are factors unless there aren't any other examples available. I'm interested in collecting and preserving as many objects as possible as they may contain important information about him or the period that has been lost to time.
17-What do you think makes an archive/ephemera special ?
I would say rarity and scope, but it's not limited to those things. Ephemera was only meant to exist for a short time, it was not made to last. The fact that these pieces survived for so long is amazing.
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