Robert S. Smith papers, 1947-1982 and undated
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Summary
- Creator:
- Smith, Robert S. (Robert Sidney), 1904-1969
- Abstract:
- Robert S. Smith is a retired executive who worked as an art director for a number of advertising agencies including William H. Weintraub and Co.; Norman Craig and Kummel; and Ogilvy & Mather (O&M). The Robert S. Smith Papers span the years 1947 through 1982 and document Smith's work as an art director for several advertising agencies, including Norman Craig and Kummel; and Ogilvy & Mather (O&M). The materials consist primarily of sketches; paintings; photographs and contact sheets; advertising layouts and proofs; storyboards for television commercials; and house advertisements for O&M. Clients include Consolidated Cigar (El Producto and La Palina brands); Diageo (Gilbey's liquors), DuBonnet; General Foods (Maxim coffee, Gaines dog food); IBM; Maidenform; Mars; Nabisco; Rand McNally; Ronson; Schenley Distillers (Melrose liquors); and Toro. Also included are a set of sketches and drawings, some signed, by the artist Paul Rand. Acquired as part of the John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History.
- Extent:
- 16.5 Linear Feet
1200 Items - Language:
- Material in English, Spanish
- Collection ID:
- RL.01219
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The Robert S. Smith Papers span the years 1947 through 1982 and document Smith's work as a commercial artist and art director for several advertising agencies, including Norman Craig and Kummel; and Ogilvy & Mather (O&M). The materials consist primarily of sketches; paintings; photographs and contact sheets; advertising layouts and proofs; storyboards for television commercials; and house advertisements for O&M. Clients include Consolidated Cigar (El Producto and La Palina brands); Diageo (Gilbey's liquors), DuBonnet; General Foods (Maxim coffee, Gaines dog food); IBM; Maidenform; Mars; Nabisco; Rand McNally; Ronson; Schenley Distillers (Melrose liquors); and Toro. Also included are a set of sketches, paintings and drawings, some signed, by the artist Paul Rand.
- Biographical / historical:
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Robert S. Smith served as Art Director for several advertising agencies, including: William H. Weintraub and Co.; Norman Craig and Kummel; Ogilvy & Mather (O&M); Fletcher Richards; and Calkins and Holden. He designed advertisements for National Distillers, U.S. Rubber, Revlon, Ronson, Rand McNally, Newsweek, and Consolidated Cigar Corporation, among others. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Morris Junior Museum, preparing brochures, posters and slides for lectures; photographs for exhibits; and a public relations film strip. He was also an active member of the Art Director's Club of New York. An avid photographer, Smith's photographs were published by Gilbey's, IBM, the National Guard, Folkways Records. He was once awarded third prize in a New York World-Telegram & Sun child photography contest.
- Acquisition information:
- The Robert S. Smith Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a gift in 2000.
- Processing information:
-
Processed by Jessica Wood, November 2008
Encoded by Jessica Wood, November 2008
Accession 2001-0021 is described in this finding aid.
- Arrangement:
-
Materials are arranged into four series by size: Small Format, Medium Format, Large Format and Extra Large Format. Within these series, items were grouped into subseries by genre: Brochures, Photographs, Proofs and Tearsheets, Sketches and Miscellaneous. Brochures include booklet-style advertistements. Photographs include photographs and contact sheets for several campaigns, including Milky Way and Gilbey's (Gin and Vodka). Proofs and Tearsheets include advertising proofs intended for publication in newspapers and magazines, as well as magazine and newspaper tearsheets and photostats. Items were separated into glossy and newsprint materials. Sketches include pencil, charcoal and pastel drawings for ad campaigns, as well as collages of glued paper items.
- Physical location:
- For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Subjects
Click on terms below to find related finding aids on this site. For other related materials in the Duke University Libraries, search for these terms in the Catalog.
- Subjects:
- Institutional advertising -- United States
Commercial art -- United States
Advertising -- United States
Advertising -- Liquor industry
Advertising -- Cigars
Advertising layout and typography -- United States
Advertising photography -- United States
Advertising, art in. - Format:
- Sketches
Storyboards
Photographs
Contact sheets - Names:
- Toro Company
Schenley Distillers Company
Ronson Corporation
Ogilvy & Mather
Nabisco, Inc.
Rand McNally and Company
Maidenform (New York, N.Y.)
Mars, Incorporated
International Business Machines Corporation
John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History
DuBonnet (Firm)
General Foods Corporation
Consolidated Cigar Corporation
Diageo (Firm)
Rand, Paul, 1914-1996
Smith, Robert S. (Robert Sidney), 1904-1969
Smith, Robert S. (Robert Sidney), 1904-1969
Contents
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Collection is open for research.
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- Preferred citation:
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[Identification of item], Robert S. Smith Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.