MenuInventory of the Howard Scott Papers, 1921-1984 and undated, bulk 1930s-1950s
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.
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Howard Scott Papers, 1921-1984 and undated, bulk 1930s-1950s
- Creator
- Scott, Howard
- Extent
- 4.0 Linear Feet, 600 Items
- Repository
- David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University
- Location
- For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
- Language
- English.
Administrative Information
Collections are on the move for the renovation of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library. Contact Rubenstein Library staff before visiting. Read More »
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research.
However, patrons must sign the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.
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 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.
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.
Contents of the Collection
Browse List of Series
Collapse All
Expand AllCorrespondence (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.
[Pratt Institute student publication]
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.
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.
[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]
[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]
[Includes designs for Breck shampoo, Chesterfields cigarettes, Cott beverages, Knickerbocker beer, Nash automobiles, Paul Jones bourbon, U.S.O.]
[Includes designs for Nash automobiles, Saturday Evening Post, U.S.O., World War II]
[Includes designs for Nash automobiles, Saturday Evening Post, U.S.O., World War II]
[Includes Old Gold cigarettes, Petri wine, Sherlock Holmes films]
[Includes designs for Cadillac, Cott beverages, Nabisco (Ritz crackers) and Nash automobiles]
Awards and trophies that Scott won for his advertising artwork. Arranged alphabetically by competition title and type of award, and chronologically therein.
Historical Note
| Date | Event(s) |
|---|---|
| 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.
Subject Headings
- 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.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Howard Scott Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University
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.