Today’s Archivists Building Bridges to the Future

Artists Among Us: Collecting the Papers of Austin (Texas) Poster Artists

Austin History Center

Society of Southwest Archivists

Baton Rouge, LA May 27, 2005

Collaboration and Content

AHC Staff Cooperation

Volunteers – A.P.E.S.

Support Organization -- AHCA

Artist, Brian Curley, being wired

For the News 8 Interview

Setting Priorities – Be Flexible

History Center Priorities for Acquisition

– African Americans, Mexican Americans, Austin Business, and

Brief History Poster Art in Austin

In 1817, Spanish revolutionary Francisco Xavier Mina carts a portable printing press from England and publishes his revolution manifesto, the first Texas poster, in Galveston, Texas.

In 1821, Stephen F. Austin quits his newspaper editor job to take over his father’s, Moses, Tejas project. He begins to promote his Texian colony with posters in New Orleans.

During the summer of 1839 Waller and his crew had erected several public buildings, and a number of homes made of rough-hewn oak logs were also built and the printing presses arrived! Copyrighted image courtesy of the The Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Republic of Texas Museum. [PICA 01079]

History Lesson

1839

Austin’s first printer, Samuel Whiting, and his partner, typographer, Joel Miner, come to Austin to provide printing services and with that Austin’s first broadsides are produced.

The 1840 census, Austin has two printers, Samuel Whiting and George William Bonnell, producing political publications (the Austin City Gazette and the Texas Sentinel, respectively) with two opposing views, thereby creating the first dynamics of an alternative press.

William Sydney Porter

In 1894, O. Henry published his Rolling Stone using his artistic skills to draw his own political cartoons and poster art.

The Rolling Stone

August 25, 1894 -- O.Henry

Elisabet Ney, 1833-1907

PICB 13515 Austin History Center, Austin Public Library

Ney entertained outdoors frequently

Lake Ney disappeared in 1898 for health reasons

Papers from multiple resources remain at the Austin History Center

Texas Fine Arts Association Records AR.Z.004 and AR.J.006.

PICB 13514 Austin History Center, Austin Public Library

San Sam Festival 1921

Raymond Everett, artist who worked in multiple media – and left his work across the Austin landscape

Wood, oil, watercolor, poster art ………

History Lesson

Future congressman Bob Eckhardt (Jack O’Diamonds) is drawing posters and doing political cartoons in late 1930s.

 

Bob Eckhardt illustrates covers for the Texas Spectator in 1945, edits and illustrates for the Ranger and co-founds the Texas Observer in 1954.

Invitation to Celebration

Featuring Nels Jacbobson -- Jagmo --

Contemporary Posters

Contemporary Posters

Bill Narum 1971

Armadillo World Headquarters Days

Jim Franklin

Ken Featherston

Robert Burns

Guy Juke

and Many Others

The Sign OrdinanceReporter Marc Savlov describes it this way …. “Austin scene had been dealt a crippling blow. The city had just passed an ordinance making it a crime to staple, nail, tape, or wheat-paste any and all posters, signs, notices, handbills to any "utility pole, traffic signal pole, signal box, public bench, street light, or freestanding object" within city jurisdiction, under penalty of a $500-$2,000 fine. (Austin, TX Land Development Code, Section 13-2-864.)”

Jared ConnorFactor 27 Boys

Mark Pedini

Mig Kokinda

and Many More!

Jones (Joseph Jay) Papers – Handbills Collection: AR.1999.016

Live Music Capital of the World

News 8 Reports from the Austin History Center

Celebrate -- Celebrate 6:10-6:55 Bill Narum presents in Reception Room about his

research at the AHC and his work as an artist.  

7: 00-7:45 Juan Gutierrez performs acoustic set in lobby  7:50-8:20 Poster artist and copyright lawyer, Nels Jacobson, talks

about his work, recollections, and answersquestions at end of session.

 8:30-9:30 Musical guest and special guests followed by

late night party off site

Results –

•Increased presence in the Press•Continued requests for more Poster Exhibits•More Friends in the Arts and Music communities•Increased staff awareness of the poster art community and the collections at the AHC

Working Together

Thank You

Jennifer Compton and the all of the A.P.E.S.

Reference List

Jacobson, Nels. The Marverick Tradition: Postering in Austin, Texas.

Narum, 1991 Nels Jacobson. [This article first appeared in OFFtheWALL: 1991/Volume No. 1/Issue No. 2; 1992/Volume No. 1/Issue No. 3] .

Narum, Bill. http://billnarum.com

Powers, John and Deborah. Texas Painters, Sculptors, and Graphic Artists: A Biographical Dictionary of Artists in Texas Before 1942. Austin, TX: Woodmont Books, 2000.

Savlov, Marc. “Death of Poster Art: Violators Will Be Punished.”Austin Chronicle. Vol. 17, No. 02, September 12, 1997.

Savlov, Marc. “Resurrection of Austin’s Poster Scene.” Austin Chronicle. Vol. 22, No. 12, November 22, 2001.25

Reference List

Tschabrun, Susan. “Off the Wall and into a Drawer: Managing a Research Collection of Political Posters.” American Archivist. Vol. 66 (Fall/Winter 2003): 303-324.

• Austin History Center

• PO Box 2287 Austin Texas 78768

• 512-974-7388

• AHC_reference@ci.austin.tx.us

• http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/library/

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