- Travel
- World War I
- World War II
- European Product Advertising Posters
- Polish Posters
- Jacqueline S. Casey Posters
- Rock Concert Posters
- Contemporary (coming soon)
The library's collection of advertising and promotional posters is international in scope with publication dates ranging from the late nineteenth century through the 1970s. The collection serves as a valuable primary source for the study of twentieth century design and illustration and includes examples of the work of many notable modern artists, illustrators, and designers. It should be noted the Beall, Barschel, and Burtin archival collections also include poster holdings. Areas of strength are described below.
Short records for approximately half the collection (900 posters) are included in the library catalog. Posters are assigned the locator RARE POSTER. They do not receive Library of Congress classification numbers, rather they are numbered sequentially as they are processed.
Talking Walls Project
In 2000, selections from each of the categories below were exhibited as part of a physical and online exhibition entitled, "Talking Walls:Visual Literacy through Interdisciplinary Dialogues. The physical exhibit took place from September 5 to September 20, 2000. The exhibition continues today as a virtual exhibition. Please click here [1]to view the virtual exhibition.
Approximately 550 posters promoting travel in the United States, western and eastern Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa were received as part of a poster collection donated to RIT Library by Rundel Library in 1974. Most of the posters were published by government travel and tourism bureaus and transportation companies from the 1930s through the 1950s. The collection includes posters for world's fairs, international expositions, the Olympics, and other special events. Examples of the work of many important illustrators and designers are included in the collection, including Jean Carlu, Ludwig Hohlwein, John Held, Jr., and E. McKnight Kauffer. Brief records for the posters are included in the library catalog.
Approximately 100 posters and placards encouraging public support for the war effort and the liberty loan, war savings stamps, and related programs, were received as part of a poster collection donated to RIT Library by Rundel Library in 1974. Most of the posters were published for the United States government, though a few British examples are included in the collection. The work of several important illustrators is represented in the collection, for example, Howard Chandler Christy, James Montgomery Flagg, and Haskell Coffin. Brief records for the posters are included in the library catalog.
Approximately 60 posters issued by the governments of the United States, several western European countries, and China to encourage public support for the war effort were received as part of a poster collection donated to RIT Library by Rundel Library in 1974. Works by several important illustrators are included in the collection, among them Norman Rockwell and Ben Shahn. Brief records for the posters are included in the library catalog.
4. European Product Advertising Posters
Thirteen posters advertising products such as coffee, olive oil, and liquor were acquired in 1985 and 1991. The posters date from the 1900s through the 1930s and include examples of the work of major European designers and illustrators, among them A.M. Cassandre and Leonetto Cappiello. They are uncataloged.
A collection of approximately 600 Polish posters dating from the 1960s was donated to RIT by Joanne Szabla, RIT professor of art history, in 1988. The posters were transferred to the Special Collections in July 1991. They were produced to promote cultural and entertainment events (films, theater, museum exhibitions, opera, circus), health, tourism, and political causes. The collection includes numerous examples of the work of noted Polish illustrators and designers, including Waldemar Swierzy, Maciej Urbaniec, Henryk Tomaszewski, and Roman Cieslewicz. Eight works from the collection have been framed and are on display on the first and second floors of the library building. You can also see digital examples [2] of the posters online.
6. Jacqueline S. Casey Posters
A collection of 99 posters designed by Jacqueline S. Casey for events and activities at MIT from 1963 to 1990 was donated to the library in 1992 by the MIT Museum at the requested of Ms. Casey. A brief inventory of the collection was prepared by the donor and fuller descriptions and color reproductions of the works are available in Posters: Jacqueline S. Casey, Thirty Years of Design at MIT (Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Museum, 1992). You can also see digital examples [3] of the posters online.
A collection of 58 screen printed posters dating from the 1960s was purchased in 1974. The posters advertise concerts, most staged at the Filmore Auditorium and the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco. The collection includes examples by Stanley Mouse, Wes Wilson, Alton Kelley, and other noted psychedelic illustrators and designers. Records for the works are included in the library catalog.