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- Herman Miller Textiles Swatches, "13 Graph," 1964 - Early modernist design was starkly minimal, but mid-century modern designer Alexander Girard's work challenged and expanded the movement. Girard humanized modernism through his colorful and whimsical textile, furniture, graphic, and interior designs. As the Director of Design in Herman Miller's Textile Division from 1952 until 1973, Girard designed over 300 textiles, often using bold color combinations and abstract patterns.
- 1964
- Collections - Artifact
Herman Miller Textiles Swatches, "13 Graph," 1964
Early modernist design was starkly minimal, but mid-century modern designer Alexander Girard's work challenged and expanded the movement. Girard humanized modernism through his colorful and whimsical textile, furniture, graphic, and interior designs. As the Director of Design in Herman Miller's Textile Division from 1952 until 1973, Girard designed over 300 textiles, often using bold color combinations and abstract patterns.
- We Hand You a Hint: The Hemco Twin-Lite is Made of Condensite, circa 1915 - Chemically synthetic plastics were developed in the early 1900s to replace shellac and hard rubber -- naturally derived substances increasingly in demand for various industrial applications. The Condensite Company of America formed in 1910 to sell a new material first developed at Thomas Edison's West Orange laboratory for phonograph records. Durable and nonconductive, Condensite was well suited for electrical products.
- circa 1915
- Collections - Artifact
We Hand You a Hint: The Hemco Twin-Lite is Made of Condensite, circa 1915
Chemically synthetic plastics were developed in the early 1900s to replace shellac and hard rubber -- naturally derived substances increasingly in demand for various industrial applications. The Condensite Company of America formed in 1910 to sell a new material first developed at Thomas Edison's West Orange laboratory for phonograph records. Durable and nonconductive, Condensite was well suited for electrical products.
- "The Ford Showroom" with Meredith Willson, 1947 - Ford Motor Company sponsored the CBS radio show <em>The Ford Showroom</em> in 1947. The program featured bandleader Meredith Willson, a radio and film veteran. Willson reached greater heights ten years later, when his musical inspired by his Iowa childhood, <em>The Music Man</em>, opened on Broadway to critical and commercial success.
- 1947
- Collections - Artifact
"The Ford Showroom" with Meredith Willson, 1947
Ford Motor Company sponsored the CBS radio show The Ford Showroom in 1947. The program featured bandleader Meredith Willson, a radio and film veteran. Willson reached greater heights ten years later, when his musical inspired by his Iowa childhood, The Music Man, opened on Broadway to critical and commercial success.
- Montgomery Ward & Co. Catalog, "Golden Jubilee," Fall-Winter 1922-1923 - In 1872, Montgomery Ward & Company launched America's first general mail order company. Through their catalogs, the company offered a broad selection of goods at affordable prices. Other retailers would follow. Montgomery Ward and Company issued this catalog in 1922, the company's 50th anniversary, touting the company's pioneering services.
- 1922-1923
- Collections - Artifact
Montgomery Ward & Co. Catalog, "Golden Jubilee," Fall-Winter 1922-1923
In 1872, Montgomery Ward & Company launched America's first general mail order company. Through their catalogs, the company offered a broad selection of goods at affordable prices. Other retailers would follow. Montgomery Ward and Company issued this catalog in 1922, the company's 50th anniversary, touting the company's pioneering services.
- "Chevrolet '59" Sales Catalog, 1959 - Chevrolet introduced wider, roomier bodies and new grilles on its 1959 cars, but the most dramatic styling updates were in back. "Spread wing" tailfins and cat's-eye taillights distinguished the automaker's Biscayne, Bel Air, and Impala models. "Magic-Mirror" lacquer and "Safety-Master" brakes debuted for 1959. Chevrolet's calendar year sales topped 1.5 million cars, and model year production surpassed 1.4 million.
- 1959
- Collections - Artifact
"Chevrolet '59" Sales Catalog, 1959
Chevrolet introduced wider, roomier bodies and new grilles on its 1959 cars, but the most dramatic styling updates were in back. "Spread wing" tailfins and cat's-eye taillights distinguished the automaker's Biscayne, Bel Air, and Impala models. "Magic-Mirror" lacquer and "Safety-Master" brakes debuted for 1959. Chevrolet's calendar year sales topped 1.5 million cars, and model year production surpassed 1.4 million.
- Herman Miller Brochure, "Word Processing and Action Office 2," 1972 -
- 1972
- Collections - Artifact
Herman Miller Brochure, "Word Processing and Action Office 2," 1972
- 1966 Toyota Sales Brochure, "There's More to Driving Than Just the Shape You're In" - In the 1960s Volkswagen's "Beetle" was the bestselling imported car in America, but it was a 1930s design. Toyota's new 1966 Corona not only looked different, it had more room, better performance, and was more comfortable. Toyota would eventually replace Volkswagen as the bestselling foreign car maker.
- 1966
- Collections - Artifact
1966 Toyota Sales Brochure, "There's More to Driving Than Just the Shape You're In"
In the 1960s Volkswagen's "Beetle" was the bestselling imported car in America, but it was a 1930s design. Toyota's new 1966 Corona not only looked different, it had more room, better performance, and was more comfortable. Toyota would eventually replace Volkswagen as the bestselling foreign car maker.
- Herman Miller Textiles Swatches, "19 Flame Resistant Casements," 1964 - Early modernist design was starkly minimal, but mid-century modern designer Alexander Girard's work challenged and expanded the movement. Girard humanized modernism through his colorful and whimsical textile, furniture, graphic, and interior designs. As the Director of Design in Herman Miller's Textile Division from 1952 until 1973, Girard designed over 300 textiles, often using bold color combinations and abstract patterns.
- 1964
- Collections - Artifact
Herman Miller Textiles Swatches, "19 Flame Resistant Casements," 1964
Early modernist design was starkly minimal, but mid-century modern designer Alexander Girard's work challenged and expanded the movement. Girard humanized modernism through his colorful and whimsical textile, furniture, graphic, and interior designs. As the Director of Design in Herman Miller's Textile Division from 1952 until 1973, Girard designed over 300 textiles, often using bold color combinations and abstract patterns.
- Herman Miller Textiles Swatches, "20 Super Wool," 1964 - Early modernist design was starkly minimal, but mid-century modern designer Alexander Girard's work challenged and expanded the movement. Girard humanized modernism through his colorful and whimsical textile, furniture, graphic, and interior designs. As the Director of Design in Herman Miller's Textile Division from 1952 until 1973, Girard designed over 300 textiles, often using bold color combinations and abstract patterns.
- 1964
- Collections - Artifact
Herman Miller Textiles Swatches, "20 Super Wool," 1964
Early modernist design was starkly minimal, but mid-century modern designer Alexander Girard's work challenged and expanded the movement. Girard humanized modernism through his colorful and whimsical textile, furniture, graphic, and interior designs. As the Director of Design in Herman Miller's Textile Division from 1952 until 1973, Girard designed over 300 textiles, often using bold color combinations and abstract patterns.
- Subaru Sales Brochure, "4 Wheel Drive Wagon, Now You Can Do Your Truckin' In a Car," 1977 - Japanese automaker Subaru was founded in 1953 and exported its first cars to the United States in 1968. The company became known for its horizontally opposed boxer engines and its widespread use of all-wheel drive. Subaru's outdoorsy wagons and crossovers attracted a devoted following among American car buyers.
- 1977
- Collections - Artifact
Subaru Sales Brochure, "4 Wheel Drive Wagon, Now You Can Do Your Truckin' In a Car," 1977
Japanese automaker Subaru was founded in 1953 and exported its first cars to the United States in 1968. The company became known for its horizontally opposed boxer engines and its widespread use of all-wheel drive. Subaru's outdoorsy wagons and crossovers attracted a devoted following among American car buyers.