Howard Scott Papers

scotthoward Inventory of the Howard Scott Papers, 1921-1984 and undated, bulk 1930s-1950s Processed by: Richard Collier; machine-readable finding aid created by: Richard Collier

This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.

Aleph Number: 003489448

Machine-readable finding aid derived from automated markup system. Date of source: March 2003 Processed by Richard Collier, March 2003; Finding Aid encoded by Richard Collier, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University, April 2003 Description is in English. 12-31-2005 PUBLIC "-//David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library//TEXT (US::NDD::::[title, date])//EN" "scotthoward.xml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15). Also, the top level of the finding aid (above the dsc) changed to conform to current Rubenstein Library and NC EAD standards as laid out in the Inventory Style Guide and in the NCEAD Best Practice Guidelines. Within the dsc, dates for series were normalized. These changes were made by Michelle Belden. Also, container TYPE and LABEL attribute values were standardized according to the Rubenstein Library EAD 2002 manual and the NCEAD eadlocal.ent by Ruth E. Bryan. The tag list inside index was changed to indexentry by Ruth E. Bryan. Inventory of the Howard Scott Papers, 1921-1984 and undated, bulk 1930s-1950s The John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library Duke University Durham, North Carolina 27708-0185 USA

Descriptive Summary Howard Scott Papers, 1921-1984 and undated, bulk 1930s-1950s Scott, Howard 4.0 Linear Feet 600 Items David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog. English. Administrative Information Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

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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.

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Use Restrictions

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 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Howard Scott Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library

Provenance

The Howard Scott Papers were donated to the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library through a gift in 1996.

Processing Information

Processed by Richard Collier

Completed March 2003

Encoded by Richard Collier

Processing was supported in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.

Biographical Note Circa 1902 Born, Holyoke, Mass. 1921 Graduated from Holyoke High School; illustrated the school yearbook 1925 Graduated from Pratt Institute program in general art; attended Art Students League in New York 1935 Created award-winning poster for Ford, It's no use, Mac, it's a Ford V-8 1942 Served in the U.S. Navy during World War II; produced patriotic posters for the U.S. War Information Service 1948 Won the top two awards at the 16th Annual Exhibition of Outdoor Advertising, presented by the Art Directors Club of Chicago--the gold medal for a Heinz poster and the silver for a Nash Motors poster Circa 1955 Worked with Outdoor Advertising Inc. to raise standards of poster boards; worked with Raymond Loewy to improve billboard structures 1956 Founded Verilux, Inc., which researched full-spectrum lighting systems for artists and the printing industry; developed the Trucolite lighting system. 1965 Received a U.S. patent for the Verilux light bulb, a full spectrum bulb that simulates natural lighting 1983 Died August 17, in Greenwich, Conn.

Howard Scott was one of the foremost graphic artists working in outdoor advertising during the 1930s-1950s and the recipient of numerous outdoor advertising industry design awards.

Collection Overview

The Howard Scott Papers span the years 1921-1984, although the bulk of materials covers the period from the 1930s to the 1950s, documenting Scott's career in outdoor advertising as a billboard designer and graphic artist. The papers include correspondence (including two letters from Norman Rockwell), newspaper and magazine clippings, awards, and school yearbooks relating to Scott's personal and professional life, in addition to photographs, sketches, lithographs and reprints of outdoor advertising images for clients such as Amoco, Chesterfield (Liggett and Myers), Esso and Mobil oil products, DeSoto, Ford, and Nash automobiles, H.J. Heinz Co., Lever Brothers, Pabst and Schlitz beers, World War II-era programs such as the USO and Navy recruitment, and the 1939-1940 World's Fair. The collection is arranged into four series--the General Papers Series, the Photographs Series, the Graphic Design, Artwork and Sketches Series, and the Memorabilia Series.

The General Papers Series includes correspondence, biographical information, clippings, sketches, school yearbooks, publications and certificates of recognition. Included are articles about Elmer, the character created by Scott to help promote the 1940 World's Fair.

The Photographs Series includes approximately 100 prints and transparencies depicting billboard images for a variety of products, such as Esso oil and gasoline, Heinz ketchup, Knickerbocker beer, Swan (Lever Brothers) soap and Twenty Grand cigarettes. Several of the photographs show models in poses which served as the basis for billboard images. Some of the images are signed by artists other than Scott. In addition, approximately 20 photographs depict Scott at various ages, and at work in his studio.

The Graphic Design, Artwork, and Sketches Series includes sketches and proof sheets for billboards and outdoor advertising campaigns created by Scott, as well as a sampling of outdoor poster work by other artists. Major clients include Chesterfield cigarettes; Knickerbocker, Pabst and Schlitz beers; DeSoto, Ford and Nash automobiles; Amoco and Mobil gas and oil; along with a sampling of World War II poster designs including Navy recruiting and the USO. Media include pencil and ink sketches, watercolors, lithographs, and oil paintings. A large mixed media painting depicts an award-winning outdoor design for Ford, with the slogan He's Doing Fine...He Bought a Ford V-8.

The Memorabilia Series includes awards and trophies that Scott won for his advertising artwork and reflects the esteem with which Scott's work was held by his peers in the outdoor advertising industry.

Closely related collections include: the Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA) Archives; the Garrett Orr Papers; the John Paver Papers; the Strobridge Lithographing Company Advertisements; the Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA) Slide Library; the War Effort Mobilization Campaign Poster Collection; and the R.C. Maxwell Records.

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.

Scott, Howard. Advertising, Outdoor--History. Advertising, Outdoor--Posters. Advertising, Outdoor--United States. Advertising--Cigarettes--United States. Advertising--Beer--United States. Billboards. Billboards--United States. United Service Organizations (U.S.) World War, 1939-1945--Propaganda. New York World's Fair (1939-1940). United States Navy--Recruitment, enlistment, etc.--History. DeSoto automobile. Frazer Nash automobile. Drawing--20th century. Posters, American--20th century--United States. Posters--Design. Esso Petroleum Company, ltd. H.J. Heinz Company. Lever Brothers Company. Pabst Brewing Company. Liggett and Myers Tobacco Company. Jos. Schlitz Brewing Co. Ford Motor Company. Amoco Oil Company. Mobil Oil Corporation. Amoco Corporation. Rockwell, Norman, 1894-1978. Photographs. Clippings. Sketches. Lithographs. John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History. List of Series in Collection 1 General Papers Series, 1921-1984 and undated 2-3 Photographs Series, 1930s-1950s and undated 4-6 1-6 1 Graphic Design, Artwork and Sketches Series, 1920s-1950s and undated 7-8 Memorabilia Series 1935-1958 Contents of Collection General Papers Series, 1921-1984 and undated

Correspondence (two letters from Norman Rockwell), biographical information, clippings, sketches, school yearbooks, publications and certificates of recognition. Included are articles about Elmer, the character created by Scott to help promote the 1940 World's Fair. Arranged alphabetically.

1 Awards and notices, 1938 Biographical information and obituary notices, 1983-1984 and undated Clippings, 1942-1947, 1956 and undated (2 folders) Elmer character created for 1940 World's Fair, 1940 Holyoke High School class of 1921 alumni list, 1921 Letters from Norman Rockwell 1962, 1972 Publications Prattonia, 1925

[Pratt Institute student publication]

Miscellaneous, 1929-1962 Speeches and presentations, 1956-1964 Yearbook [Holyoke High School?], 1921 Photographs Series, 1930s-1950s and undated

Approximately 100 prints and transparencies depicting billboard images for a variety of products, such as Esso oil and gasoline, Heinz ketchup, Knickerbocker beer, Swan soap and Twenty Grand cigarettes. Several of the photographs show models in poses which served as the basis for billboard images. Some of the images are signed by artists other than Scott. In addition, approximately 20 photographs depict Scott at various ages, and at work in his studio. Arranged alphabetically.

2 Contact sheets for billboard advertisements, undated Poster designs, undated Banks Esso Gasoline Motor fuel Motor oil Oil burner Knickerbocker beer Poster House, Ltd. design for generic home repair loan billboard Roth's Black Hawk bacon SOHIO Swan soap Twenty Grand cigarettes Scott, Howard, 1930s-1950s (Folders 1-4 of 6) 3 Scott, Howard, 1930s-1950s (continued) (Folders 5-6 of 6) Miscellaneous photographs, 1949 and undated Graphic Design, Artwork and Sketches Series, 1937-1950s and undated

Sketches and proof sheets for billboards and outdoor advertising campaigns created by Scott, as well as a sampling of outdoor poster work by other artists. Media include pencil and ink sketches, watercolors, lithographs, and oil paintings. A large mixed media painting depicts an award-winning outdoor design for Ford, with the slogan He's Doing Fine...He Bought a Ford V-8. Arranged alphabetically by genre type.

4 Advertisements and periodical covers, 1920s-1950s (3 folders)

[Includes AandP, Amoco gas and oil, Arrow collars, Calvin Klein, Campbell's soup, DeSoto automobiles, Fleetwood cigarettes, forest fire prevention, Golfer's, Holsum bread, Ivory soap, Jantzen sqimwear, Kemp's ice cream, Lay's potato chips, Mail Pouch tobacco, Mobil gas and oil, Nash automobiles, Palmolive soap, Saturday Evening Post, Schlitz beer, Wings, World War II]

5 Billboard and poster designs, 1937-1950s and undated (3 folders)

[Includes designs for banks (generic designs), Democrats for Wilkie, Dieldrin (Shell) insecticide, Drake's Cakes, Ford, Ivory soap, Laymen's National Committee, Liberty Loans, Navy recruiting, Pabst beer, Rath's Black Hawk bacon, U.S.O., World War II]

10 Billboard and poster designs, 1940s-1950s and undated (continued)

[Includes designs for Breck shampoo, Chesterfields cigarettes, Cott beverages, Knickerbocker beer, Nash automobiles, Paul Jones bourbon, U.S.O.]

11 Billboard art and poster designs, 1940s-1950s (continued)

[Includes designs for Nash automobiles, Saturday Evening Post, U.S.O., World War II]

3 Billboard art and poster designs, 1940s-1950s (continued)

[Includes designs for Nash automobiles, Saturday Evening Post, U.S.O., World War II]

4 Billboard and poster designs, 1940s-1950s

[Includes Old Gold cigarettes, Petri wine, Sherlock Holmes films]

Original art 9 Billboard and poster backgrounds, undated 10-11 Billboard and poster designs, undated

[Includes designs for Cadillac, Cott beverages, Nabisco (Ritz crackers) and Nash automobiles]

5 Painting for Ford billboard, He's Doing Fine...He Bought a Ford V-8, circa 1938 6 Paintings and sketches, 1920s-1950s and undated Memorabilia Series, 1935-1958

Awards and trophies that Scott won for his advertising artwork. Arranged alphabetically by competition title and type of award, and chronologically therein.

Annual Exhibit of Outdoor Advertising Art 7 Certificates, 1947-1958 8 Medals and trophies 1935, First Place 1937, Second Place 1941, Honorable Mention 7 Circa 1942, Honorable Mention (plaque) 8 1948 First Award-Food products First Grand Award Second Grand Award 1951, Food products 1952, Gasoline and oils Kerwin H. Fulton Award, 1937