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Burton Cherry ephemera collection

 Collection
Identifier: Case Wing folio-ZC 1-183

Scope and Content of the Collection

The collection consists of approximately 710 items that Burton Cherry personally designed or collected. They include advertisements, announcements, brochures, catalogs, and other promotional materials, as well as letters, invitations, gift books, keepsakes, Christmas and New Year cards, and other miscellaneous ephemera. Although some of these materials were designed by Cherry or feature his work, many of them are by other designers and typographers. There are also items that were issued by Cherry’s clients, art organizations, printing presses, and other corporate entities, such as the Art Directors Club of Chicago, R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company, and the Society of Typographic Arts. Additionally, the collection features love-letters from Cherry (on his personal letterheads) to Joan Campbell; newspaper clippings and magazine articles containing stories about Cherry; and annual reports, publications, and promotional materials issued by or related to Cuneo Press.

Dates

  • Creation: approximately 1929-approximately 1962

Creator

Language

Materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

The Burton Cherry ephemera collection is open for research in the Special Collections Reading Room; 1 box at a time (Priority III).

Ownership and Literary Rights

The Burton Cherry ephemera collection is the physical property of the Newberry Library. Copyright may belong to the authors or their legal heirs or assigns. For permission to publish or reproduce any materials from this collection, contact the Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections.

Biography of Burton Cherry

Burton Cherry was a nationally known Chicago-based designer and typographer. He studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Institute of Design, where he later taught typography. Cherry began his career as a journeyman compositor and production operator for R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company, and eventually worked under William A. Kittredge as a designer. Many years later, Cherry became the Agency Art Director at Tempo, Inc. Cherry moved to Cuneo Press in 1948 where he became the Director of Design and Typography. In 1952, Burton Cherry & Associates began and offered printing, design, and typographic planning and production services.

Cherry was also extensively involved in art organizations. Among the various positions he held, Cherry was the president of the Society of Typographic Arts in 1947 and the president of the Art Directors Club of Chicago in 1956. He was also a member of the Chicago Book Clinic and the American Institute of Graphic Arts (regional vice-president, exhibition co-chairman), an honorary member of the New York Type Directors Club and of the Museum of Modern Art, and served on the advisory council for the non-profit organization The Clearing.

Cherry’s other activities and contributions included writing articles, teaching, public speaking, acting as a type consultant, and serving as a judge in graphic arts competitions and exhibitions. His influential and award-winning work was exhibited by organizations such as the American Institute of Graphic Arts, the Society of Typographic Arts, the Art Directors Club of Chicago, and the Chicago Book Clinic, and was reproduced in various publications.

Extent

4.3 Linear Feet (6 boxes, 1 oversize box)

Additional Description

Abstract

Materials designed and collected by Chicago designer and typographer Burton Cherry, between approximately 1929 and approximately 1962. The collection includes correspondence to and from Cherry, items he designed or which were produced under his supervision, items possibly designed by Cherry, articles containing information about his work, and ephemera he collected.

Organization

Papers are organized in the following series
Series 1: Ephemera, letters, and clippings by or about Burton Cherry
Box 1
Series 2: Ephemera Collected by Burton Cherry
Boxes 2-6
Series 3: Oversize
Box 7

Collection Stack Location

3a 29

Catalog Record

https://i-share-nby.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01CARLI_NBY/i5mcb2/alma993027428805867

Provenance

Gift of the estate of Burton Cherry, 1964 and of Anna Weaver, 2013.

Processed by

Joy Orillo-Dotson, 2016.

Acknowledgements

This inventory was created with the generous support of the Council on Library and Information Services, which is supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

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Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Inventory of the Burton Cherry ephemera collection, approximately 1929-approximately 1962
Status
Completed
Author
Joy Orillo-Dotson
Date
©2016.
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the The Newberry Library - Modern Manuscripts and Archives Repository

http://www.newberry.org
Contact:
60 West Walton Street
Chicago Illinois 60610 United States
312-255-3512

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