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Martha L. Carothers collection of paper sample catalogs and art and design publications

Notifications

Held at: University of Delaware Library Special Collections [Contact Us]181 South College Avenue, Newark, DE 19717-5267

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Delaware Library Special Collections. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Martha L. Carothers is a book artist and Professor Emerita of Art and Design at the University of Delaware who specializes in graphic design and book arts (typography, book design, bookbinding, and letterpress printing). Her work as a book artist has been exhibited nationally and internationally. Her books are part of museum and library collections including the Library of Congress, the Museum of Modern Art, and Cooper-Hewitt Museum.

Carothers taught ART 309, Book Arts, at the University of Delaware for over thirty years. The course was designed to provide an overview of book arts, teach students binding and other construction methods, and guide student work in producing creative books. Course topics included conceptualization and ideation, execution, pacing, use of appropriate materials, craft, and attention to deadlines. Students in the course learned hands-on application of bookmaking tools such as adhesives, utility knives, bone folders, and binding boards.

"Martha Carothers | University of Delaware." Martha Carothers | University of Delaware. Accessed April 29, 2019. https://www.udel.edu/faculty-staff/experts/martha-carothers/

This collection comprises two series, I. Paper sample catalogs and II. Art and design publications, from circa 1963-2013 (bulk 1970-2000) collected by art and design professor Martha L. Carothers in support of her teaching and artistic activities.

Series I., Paper sample catalogs, comprises American and worldwide paper manufacturers' sample books and catalogs designed to advertise selections of paper for various commercial and artistic purposes. Samples contained within the catalogs showcase the physical properties of the varying paper, such as weight, texture, and color, and often demonstrate how the paper responds to a range of printing and mechanical processes available to the consumer. These include lithography, gravure, halftone, laserjet, silkscreen, coating, embossing, and metallic stamping. Many of the catalogs feature elaborate graphic design elements and offer the wide range of paper goods and printing services provided by the manufacturer.

The sample booklets are arranged alphabetically by paper manufacturer or wholesaler. The collection contains samples from large importers and distributors such as James River Corporation and Westvaco Corporation, as well as samples and specimens from independent proprietors such as Mohawk Paper Mills and French Paper Co. The series contains sixteen volumes of Champion papers'

Imagination series, which ran from 1963 to 1988. Produced by Champion in collaboration with prominent graphic designers, each Imagination issue explored a single subject visually via photographs, typographical elements, and illustrations printed on a variety of Champion papers.

Series II., Art and design publications, comprises various magazines, newsletters, type-specimen catalogs, and other printed materials related to art, graphic design, book arts, fine printing, and typography from circa 1971 to 2002. The series is arranged into four subseries: II.A., General art and design publications; II.B., Book arts; II.C., Fine printing; and II.D., Typography.

Series II.A., General art and design publications, comprises magazines, newsletters, and catalogs on a wide range of topics including fine art, graphic design, color, process, photography, cartoon art, poster collections, art and design exhibitions and conferences, regional arts events, profiles of designers, and samples from design firms. Of note are publications by the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) from circa 1975 to 1998, which feature works by commercial artists, designers, and design studios and showcase popular art and design aesthetics in the late 20th century.

Series II.B., Book arts, comprises several small artists' books; newsletters and magazines featuring topics in book arts such as bookbinding and book production; exhibition catalogs; and catalogs of work-for-sale. The publications were produced by the Guild of Bookworkers; the Iowa Center for the Book; the

Journal of Artists' Books; the Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA); Movable Stationery; the Women's Studio Workshop (WSW), and several others.

Series II.C., Fine printing, comprises a small amount of letterpress and screen printing samples.

Series II.D., Typography, comprises magazines such as

Baseline, an international typographics magazine, as well as several type specimen catalogs and directories by the International Typeface Corporation, Letraset, Photo-Lettering, Inc., and the World Typeface Center (WTC).

The text of this webpage is available for modification and reuse under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Boxes 1-7: Shelved in SPEC MSS record center cartons

Box 8-10: Shelved in SPEC MSS oversize boxes (17 inches)

Box 11: Shelved in SPEC MSS oversize boxes (18 inches)

Box 12: Shelved in SPEC MSS oversize boxes (17 inches)

Box 13: Shelved in SPEC MSS oversize boxes (18 inches)

Box 14: Shelved in SPEC MSS oversize boxes (20 inches)

Gift of Martha Carothers, December, 2021

Processed and encoded by Dustin Frohlich and Brynn Chieffo, March-August, 2022.

Publisher
University of Delaware Library Special Collections
Finding Aid Author
University of Delaware Library, Special Collections
Finding Aid Date
2022 November 7
Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. Please contact Special Collections, University of Delaware Library, http://library.udel.edu/spec/askspec/

Collection Inventory

Alling and Cory Printing Paper, undated.
Box 1 Folder F1
Beckett Papers, undated.
Box 1 Folder F2
Champion--Imagination series, circa 1963-1988.
Box 1 Folder F3
Scope and Contents

Volume 1:

Office papers; Volume 2: Flight; Volume 6: The West
Champion--Imagination series, circa 1963-1988.
Box 1 Folder F4
Scope and Contents

Volume 7:

Fire; Volume 10: Circus; Volume 11: Railroads
Champion--Imagination series, circa 1963-1988.
Box 1 Folder F5
Scope and Contents

Volume 13:

Sport; Volume 14: Trees; Volume 15: Scandinavia
Champion--Imagination series, circa 1963-1988.
Box 1 Folder F6
Scope and Contents

Volume 16:

Brazil; Volume 17: Australia
Champion--Imagination series, circa 1963-1988.
Box 1 Folder F7
Scope and Contents

Volume 18:

Hong Kong; Volume 19: Safari
Champion--Imagination series, circa 1963-1988.
Box 1 Folder F8
Scope and Contents

Volume 20:

Rivers USA; Volume 22: Main Streets; Volume 23: Catalogues
Champion--Imagination series, circa 1963-1988.
Box 9 Folder F1-F2
Scope and Contents

Volume 25:

Fun and Games; Volume 26: White on White
Champion--General, circa 1971-2000.
Box 1 Folder F9-F19
Champion--General, circa 1971-2000.
Box 2 Folder F1
Champion--General, 1987, undated.
Box 10 Folder F1
Champion--General, 1987, undated.
Box 10 Folder F2
Champion--General, undated.
Box 10 Folder F3
Curtis, undated.
Box 2 Folder F2
Finch Paper, undated.
Box 2 Folder F3
French Paper Co., undated.
Box 2 Folder F4-F6
Fox River Paper Co., undated.
Box 2 Folder F7
Garrett-Buchanan Paper Co., undated, 1987.
Box 2 Folder F8
Gilbert Paper Co., circa 1975-1990.
Box 2 Folder F9-F17
Gilbert Paper Co., undated.
Box 11 Folder F1
Hammermill Paper, undated, 1989.
Box 2 Folder F18-F20
Hopper, undated.
Box 2 Folder F21
Hopper, 1987.
Box 8 Folder F1
Howard, undated.
Box 3 Folder F1-F2
International Paper Co., undated.
Box 3 Folder F3
International Paper Co., 1986.
Box 8 Folder F2
James River Corp., undated, 1990.
Box 3 Folder F4-F12
Mactac/Morgan Adhesives, undated.
Box 3 Folder F13
Mead Paper, circa 1984-1993.
Box 3 Folder F14-F16
Mead Paper, 1990, 1994.
Box 8 Folder F3
Mead Paper, 1981.
Box 11 Folder F2
Mohawk Paper Mill, circa 1987-1991.
Box 3 Folder F17-F19
Mohawk Paper Mill, 1990.
Box 11 Folder F3
Monadnock Paper Mills, undated.
Box 3 Folder F20
Neenah Paper, circa 1982-1989.
Box 4 Folder F1-F2
Niagara Envelope Co., undated.
Box 4 Folder F3
Plainwell, 1984.
Box 4 Folder F4
Potlatch Corporation, undated.
Box 4 Folder F5
RIS paper, circa 1987.
Box 4 Folder F6
Rising Paper Co., undated.
Box 4 Folder F7
Simpson, circa 1985-1998.
Box 4 Folder F8-F10
Simpson, 1985-1991.
Box 11 Folder F4
Springhill, undated.
Box 4 Folder F11
Steelcase Inc., undated.
Box 4 Folder F12
Strathmore, circa 1987-1991, 2013.
Box 4 Folder F13-F16
Strathmore, 1989.
Box 10 Folder F4
Strathmore, 1987.
Box 11 Folder F5
S.D. Warren Co., circa 1981-1991.
Box 4 Folder F17-F19
S.D. Warren Co., 1988, 1991.
Box 10 Folder F5
Weyerhauser, undated.
Box 4 Folder F20
Westvaco, circa 1988.
Box 4 Folder F21
Westvaco, 1987.
Box 11 Folder F6

Abracadabra, 1994-1995.
Box 4 Folder F22
American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) publications, circa 1975-1979.
Box 4 Folder F23-F24
American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) publications, 1973-1998.
Box 5 Folder F1-F5
Design Papers, 1976-1988.
Box 5 Folder F6
Design Management Institute, Philadelphia College of Art, conference notebook, 1985.
Box 5 Folder F7
Esse, undated.
Box 5 Folder F8
Kodak Magazine, 1985-1986.
Box 5 Folder F9
Lasertone News, 1987.
Box 5 Folder F10
Quarterly Journal of the Library of Congress, 1982.
Box 5 Folder F11
Polaroid Close-Up, 1983-1984.
Box 5 Folder F12
Typographic, 1981, 1984.
Box 5 Folder F13
White Space, undated.
Box 5 Folder F14
Umbrella, 1994-1998.
Box 5 Folder F15
Various publications, circa 1975-1995.
Box 5 Folder F16-F21
Various publications, circa 1975-1995.
Box 6 Folder F1-F12
Various publications, 1986-1995.
Box 13 Folder F1-F5
Various publications, 1978-2002, undated.
Box 6 Folder F13-F16
Guild of Bookworkers, newsletters, 1994-1997.
Box 7 Folder F1
Iowa Center for the Book, newsletters, 1987-1999.
Box 7 Folder F2
Journal of Artists' Books, 1995-1998.
Box 7 Folder F3
Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA), newsletters, 1992-1998.
Box 7 Folder F4
Moveable Stationery, 1994-1998.
Box 7 Folder F5
Women's Studio Workshop, newsletters, 1994-1995.
Box 7 Folder F6
Fine art printing samples, 1991, undated.
Box 7 Folder F7
Fine art printing samples, undated.
Box 14 Folder F1
Baseline: International Typographics Magazine, 1974-1981.
Box 7 Folder F7
International Typeface Corporation, type specimens, 1985-1987.
Box 7 Folder F9-F10
International Typeface Corporation, circa 1976.
Box 7 Folder F11
Letraset Graphic Art Materials Reference Manual, 1986.
Box 7 Folder F12
Letraset, undated.
Box 12 Folder F2
Photo-Lettering Inc., 1977-1979.
Box 7 Folder F13
Photo-Lettering Inc. Photocomposition Textface Directory, 1978.
Box 7 Folder F14
Photo-Lettering's One Line Manual of Styles, 1971.
Box 7 Folder F15
World Typeface Center (WTC), 1982.
Box 7 Folder F16
Various publications, 1974-1990.
Box 7 Folder F17
Various publications, 1990-1992.
Box 12 Folder F1

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