The Jimmy Stewart Museum had the honor of hosting Tom Sparks on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. Mr. Sparks is the Founder/President of The Short Snorter Project.
The Short Snorter Project aims to educate the general public about the short snorter tradition, the individuals, and the short snorter artifacts. Per the short snorter website, a short snorter can be described as “a banknote signed by various persons meeting together or made to commemorate a special event (i.e., first solo flight, flight over an ocean, or a crossing of the Equator). Banknotes can be from any country. Some “commemorative short snorters” are not banknotes.” (Source: The Short Snorter Project: Still Keeping the Memories Alive (2020) by Thomas J. Sparks. To read the book, visit the website).
Sparks has generously donated his discovery of a short snorter with Jimmy Stewart’s name to The Jimmy Stewart Museum. The timing of the donation coincides with the American Numismatic Association’s (ANA) 2026 Pittsburgh World’s Fair of Money at the David Lawrence Convention Center. Read the press release from ANA about the World’s Fair of Money – including mention of the Jimmy Stewart short snorter.
The Museum is extremely grateful to Mr. Sparks for his generous donation. We are excited to share this short snorter with our visitors as a new addition to the Military Gallery. It is always a privilege for our staff to learn more about Jimmy’s fascinating life and experiences. We were especially fortunate to welcome Mr. Sparks to the Museum, where we had the opportunity to hear firsthand about the Short Snorter Project and the stories behind it.
Read the full article on The Indiana Gazette website.
Photo courtesy of Frey Heide – The Indiana Gazette.