Inventory of the Robert A. Hamer Papers, 1857-1995 and undated, bulk 1926-1995
[top]Descriptive Summary
Repository
Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke
University
Creator
Hamer, Robert A.
Title
Robert A. Hamer Papers,
1857-1995 and undated,
bulk 1926-1995
Language of Material
Material
in English
Extent
2.4 Linear Feet
1800 Items
Abstract
1800 Items
Robert A. Hamer was an
executive of the Foster and Kleiser Outdoor Advertising Company in California.
He worked as a pictorial artist from 1936 to 1953, and as Paint Manager,
California Region, from 1956 until his retirement in 1979.
The Robert A. Hamer Papers span the years
1857-1995, the bulk of which document the period 1926-1995, and includes
photographs, negatives, correspondence, clippings, administrative records,
cartoons, scrapbooks, memorabilia, and newsletters. The collection primarily
documents Hamer's career in outdoor advertising with the Foster and Kleiser
Company in Southern California, and also touches on events in his personal
life. The bulk of the collection consists of photographs of Foster and Kleiser
billboards in Southern California, covering two time periods, 1926-1935 and
1950-1970. Other photographs document business activities from 1937-1977,
including Foster and Kleiser social events; commercial art production; and sign
painting. Clients represented in the collection include Anheuser-Busch, C.H.
Baker Shoes, and Slavick's Jewelry. Other clients represented are from
the alcoholic beverage, food, travel, and automobile industries, and
financial institutions.
[top]
Administrative Information
Access RestrictionsCollection is open for research.
Collection may contain materials to which the Acknowledgment of
Legal Responsibilities and Privacy Rights form applies. Patrons must sign this
form before using this collection.
Also, all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in
Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour
delay in obtaining these materials.
Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the Rare
Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Copyright Notice
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred
to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the
Regulations and Procedures of the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special
Collections Library.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Robert A. Hamer Papers, Rare Book,
Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University.
Provenance
The Robert A. Hamer Papers were received by the Rare Book,
Manuscript, and Special Collections Library as a purchase in 2007.
Processing Information
Processed by Rita Johnston, October 2007
Encoded by Rita Johnston, October 2007
Accession 2007-0022 is described in this finding aid.
Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory:
DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and our
local
Style Guide.
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
[top]
Biographical Note
Chronology List| 1914 Nov. 5 | Born Robert Adolph Hamer, Los Angeles, Calif. |
| 1933 | Graduated from Manual Arts High School (Los Angeles, Calif.) |
| 1935 | A.A. degree, Los Angeles City College |
| 1936-1953 | Pictorial artist, Foster and Kleiser Company (Los Angeles, Calif.) |
| 1947 | Married Esther Hankel |
| 1953-1956 | Paint superintendent, Foster and Kleiser Company |
| 1956-1979 | Paint manager, California region, Foster and Kleiser Company |
| 1979 Dec. 31 | Retired, Foster and Kleiser Company |
| 1996 Nov. 5 | Died, Orange County, Calif. |
Robert A. Hamer served as a member of the Curriculum Advisory Committee with the Los Angeles Trade-Technical College; and as chairman of the California State Division of Apprenticeship Standards for Southern California, during the 1960s and 1970s.
[top]Collection Overview
The
Robert A. Hamer Papers span the years 1857-1995,
the bulk of which document the period 1926-1995, and include
photographs,
negatives,
correspondence,
clippings,
administrative records,
cartoons,
scrapbooks,
memorabilia, and
newsletters. The collection primarily documents
Hamer's career in
outdoor advertising with the
Foster and Kleiser Company in
Southern California, and touches on events in his
personal life. The bulk of this collection consists of photographs of Foster
and Kleiser
billboards in Southern California, covering two time
periods, 1926-1941 and 1951-1962. Other photographs document business
activities from 1937-1977, including Foster and Kleiser social events;
commercial art production; and
sign painting. Clients represented include
Anheuser-Busch,
C.H. Baker Shoes, and
Slavick's Jewelry. Other clients represented
are from the
alcoholic beverage,
food,
travel, and
automobile industries, and
financial institutions.
The collection is organized into two series: Business & Personal Files and Photographs & Negatives. The Business & Personal Files Series documents milestones
in Hamer's personal and professional life, and contains photographs,
correspondence, scrapbooks, administrative records, writings, school
newsletters, clippings, awards, cartoon sketches, and memorabilia. Included is
a typewritten transcription of correspondence (1857-1880) by
Hamer's ancestor,
Samuel A. Jackson. The
Photographs & Negatives Series makes up the bulk of the collection,
and includes photographs and negatives depicting Foster and Kleiser billboards in Southern California.
Other photographs document business and personal activities. Included are
photographs of model and performer
Charo posing with Hamer, accomplished billboard
artist
Mario Rueda, and other employees.
Large-format print materials have been removed from their original
locations and relocated to Oversize Materials.
[top]
Subject Headings
These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a
search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will
bring up other related research materials.
- Hamer, Robert A. (Robert Adolph), 1914-1996.
- Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
- C.H. Baker Shoes (Firm) [not LC]
- Foster and Kleiser Company.
- Slavick's Jewelry (Firm) [not LC]
- Advertising--Alcoholic beverages--United States.
- Advertising--Automobiles--United States.
- Advertising--Financial services industry--United States.
- Advertising--Food--United States.
- Advertising, Outdoor.
- Advertising, Outdoor--California.
- Advertising, Outdoor--United States--History--20th century.
- Advertising, Outdoor--Social aspects.
- Advertising, Outdoor--United States.
- Advertising agencies--United States--History.
- Advertising agencies--California.
- Advertising executives.
- Advertising executives--United States.
- Billboards--United States.
- Billboards-- California.
- Commercial art.
- Commercial art-- California.
- Sign painting.
- Cartoons (humorous images). [AAT]
- Clippings. [AAT]
- Memorabilia. [AAT]
- Negatives. [AAT]
- Newsletters. [AAT]
- Photographs. [AAT]
- Scrapbooks. [AAT]
- California, Southern--History.
- John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History.
Related Material
Materials related to this collection may be found in other Hartman
Center collections, including the Outdoor Advertising
Association of America (OAAA) Archives, OAAA Poster
Design Collection, OAAA Slide Library, and
John E. Brennan Outdoor Advertising Survey
Reports.
 | List of Series in Collection | |||||||
 |  | Business and Personal Files Series, 1857-1995 and undated | ||||||
| | Photographs and Negatives Series, 1925-1993 and undated | ||||||
 | | Oversize Materials | ||||||
Detailed Description of Collection
Business and Personal Files Series, 1857-1995 and undated
(1 box)
Consists of scrapbooks, photographs, personal and business
correspondence, administrative records, print materials, newspaper clippings,
awards, ephemera, cartoon sketches, and memorabilia that document Hamer's
professional and personal life. Series is organized into three categories:
Business files; Personal
files; and Scrapbooks. Business files include cartoon sketches that humorously
depict Hamer and coworkers. Personal files chiefly
document Hamer's early life and retirement years, including a brief
biographical essay written by Hamer shortly after his retirement.
Correspondence in this category includes a typewritten transcription of letters
from 1857-1880 that belonged to Hamer's ancestor, Samuel A. Jackson. Hamer's
personal correspondence reflects his interest in the visual arts.
Scrapbooks include annotated photographs that
document the operational history of Foster and Kleiser in Southern California.
Scrapbook contents had been removed from their original binders before
acquisition, so no order could be determined. Business Files and Personal Files
are arranged alphabetically.
Business files, 1936-1979 and undated
Includes correspondence, administrative records, promotional
materials, cartoon sketches, newsletters, and print materials. Cartoon sketches
humorously depict Hamer and coworkers. Arranged alphabetically.
Box 1
Cartoon sketches, undated
[
"Hamer's Little Helpers"
sketch, undated, removed to Oversize Materials Folder 1]
[
"#1 Son"
sketch, undated,
removed to Oversize Materials Folder 1]
Correspondence,
1953-1979
Industry newsletters,
1947-1958
Los Angeles Trade-Technical College papers,
1965-1978
Office papers,
1965-1967
Personnel records,
1953-1960 and
undated
Includes Hamer's superintendant's school test and employee
record; policy memoranda; and employee lists.
Promotional materials, undated
State Fire Marshal certificates,
1962-1977
Personal files, 1857-1995 and undated
Consists of correspondence, writings, newsletters, cartoon
sketches, clippings, memorabilia, and ephemera. Materials chiefly document
Hamer's early life and retirement years, including a brief biographical essay
written by Hamer shortly after his retirement. Correspondence includes a
typewritten transcription of letters from 1857-1880 that belonged to Hamer's
ancestor, Samuel A. Jackson. Hamer's correspondence reflects his interest in
the visual arts. Arranged alphabetically.
Box 1
Anaheim Art Association,
1984-1986
Biographical essay,
1985
Cartoon sketches, undated
Certificates and awards,
1963-1975
Correspondence,
1857-1995
(2 folders)
Postcards,
1903-1914
Memorabilia,
1935-1968 and
undated
[World War II anti-aircraft training document, undated
removed to Oversize Materials Folder 1]
Newspaper clippings,
1932-1993 and
undated
[
"Frank and Ernest"
clipping,
1995, removed to Oversize
Materials Folder 1]
School newsletters,
1929-1933
Scrapbooks, undated
Consists of photographs, personal and business correspondence,
administrative records, newspaper clippings, awards, and memorabilia that
document Hamer's professional and personal life. Included are annotated
photographs that document the operational history of Foster and Kleiser in
Southern California. Scrapbook contents had been removed from their original
binders before acquisition, so no order could be determined.
Box 1
Scrapbook contents
(5 folders)
Photographs and Negatives Series, 1925-1993 and undated
(3 boxes)
Consists of photographs and negatives documenting Foster and
Kleiser billboards, and also Hamer's personal and professional life. Series is
organized into four categories: Billboard
photographs; Other business photographs;
Personal photographs; and Negatives. Includes 1975 photographs of model and
performer Charo posing with Hamer, accomplished billboard artist Mario Rueda,
and other employees; and photographs taken May 31, 1960, at a retirement dinner
held for
Claude Jones. Billboard
photographs are arranged alphabetically, and therein chronologically.
Other business photographs and Personal photographs are arranged chronologically to show
changes over time in Hamer's life and career; and in outdoor advertising.
Photographs
Billboard photographs, 1926-1962 and undated
Includes photographs taken during two periods, 1926-1941 and
1951-1962. Markings on workbook photographs indicate they were once organized
in binders, and are labeled with street locations of billboards. Workbook
photographs seem to have been used in routine work practices. Arranged
alphabetically, and therein chronologically by date.
Box 2
Early photographs,
1926-1941
Automobiles and automobile services,
1926-1940
Clothing and accessories,
1926-1931
Entertainment,
1926-1933
Financial institutions,
1926-1931
(4 folders)
Food and beverage,
1926-1941
(3 folders)
Food, beverage, and services,
1926-1932
Gift shops and department stores,
1926-1935
(2 folders)
Home furnishings and appliances,
1926-1931
Shoe stores
C.H. Baker shoes,
1926-1932
Other shoe stores,
1926-1931
Slavick's Jewelry,
1926-1931
(2 folders)
Travel and miscellaneous,
1926-1931
Box 3
Small photographs,
1952-1961
Large photographs,
1951-1962
Automobiles and travel,
1951-1962 and
undated
Entertainment and beer,
1954-1960
Financial institutions,
1954-1962
Food, beverage, and beauty products,
1958-1962
Liquor,
1955-1961
Services and retail,
1954-1962
Workbook photographs, circa 1950s-1960s
Beer,
1954 and
undated
(2 folders)
Beer and liquor,
1959 and
undated
Blank billboards,
1958-1960 and
undated
(2 folders)
Financial institutions and non-profit
organizations,
1955-1959 and
undated
Food and beverage,
1958-1959 and
undated
Service industries,
1959 and
undated
Travel and miscellaneous,
1959 and
undated
Other business photographs, 1937-1977 and undated
Consists of photographs that document Foster and Kleiser
business activities, including award ceremonies; dinners; social events; and
artists at work. Includes head shots of Hamer and other employees; 1975
photographs of model and performer Charo posing with Hamer, accomplished
billboard artist Mario Rueda, and other employees; and photographs taken May
31, 1960, at a retirement dinner held for
Claude Jones. Arranged chronologically to
show changes over time in Hamer's career; and in outdoor advertising.
Box 4
1937-1948
1950-1954
1951, [
"Foster and Kleiser 50th
Anniversary"
photograph, removed to Oversize Materials folder
1]
1955-1957
1958, Nick Brigante's
retirement dinner
1958-1959
1960 May 31, Claude
Jones' retirement dinner
1960
1961-1964
[
1962,
"Hamer's Sloyd Shop"
[sic] photograph, removed to Oversize Materials folder 1]
1965-1966
1967-1969
[
1968,
"Happy Birthday Los
Angeles"
photograph, removed to Oversize Materials Folder 1]
1970-1971
1973-1977
Undated
(2 folders)
[Undated business photograph, removed to Oversize
Materials Folder 1]
Personal photographs, 1925-1993 and undated
Consists of photographs that document Hamer's personal life.
Images are chiefly of Hamer, friends and relatives.
Box 4
1925-1993
Undated
Box 5
Negatives
Undated
(4 folders)
Oversize Materials
Business and Personal Files Series, 1857-1995 and undated
Business files, 1936-1979 and undated
"Hamer's Little Helpers"
sketch, undated
"#1 Son"
sketch,
undated
Personal files, 1857-1995 and undated
World War II anti-aircraft training
document, undated
"Frank and Ernest"
clipping,
1995
Photographs and Negatives Series, 1925-1993 and undated
Other business photographs, 1937-1977 and undated
1951,
"Foster and Kleiser 50th
Anniversary"
photograph
1962,
"Hamer's Sloyd Shop"
photograph
1968,
"Happy Birthday Los
Angeles"
photograph
Undated, Business photograph
