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Tom Carnase papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: CSC-0017

Scope and Contents

The Tom Carnase Papers spans the period from 1956 through 2004 and contains correspondence, photographs, slides, tear sheets, printed ephemera, drawings, and other graphic materials covering the professional life and work of the lettering artist, type and logo designer, typographer, and art director Tom Carnase. The collection is organized into two series: I. Personal and Professional Papers, and II. Graphic Work. The second series holds the bulk of the collection: hundreds of pencil and ink sketches and drawings, stats, and printed pieces featuring lettering and logos he designed and drew, including final drawings for many of his noted typefaces. It shows the process of creating typefaces and free-hand lettering for advertising, book jackets, letterhead, and other uses, from conception to final product.

Series I, Personal and Professional Papers (1956-­‐2004) contains correspondence, desk calendars, awards, photographs, publicity files, and sets of slides that Carnase created, organized, and labeled, for use in promoting and lecturing about his work. He was a popular speaker who regularly presented his ideas before colleagues, art directors, and students around the world for more that twenty years. The correspondence files hold records on some of his appearances from Hartford to Phoenix, as well as well as in South Africa in 1976 and Australia in 1986. Carnase’s award certificates date back to 1956 when he won a contest sponsored by the National Live Stock and Meat. Also here are slides of three New York offices at 223 East 31st Street, 217 East 28th Street, and 30 East 21st Street (1982); some of the images include Carnase and Herbert Lubalin at work. Also present are three trade signs from his offices, and a set of drawing instruments he used in his work.

Series II, Graphic Work (1959-­‐2004) includes both print pieces and examples of Carnase’s original lettering and type designs. Included here are letterheads he designed for his firms and a variety of clients, as well as posters, dust jackets, and one piece of packaging, a container for L’eggs pantyhose.

Dates

  • Creation: 1956-2004

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to researchers.

Biographical / Historical

Thomas Paul Carnase was born in the Bronx, New York, on September 15, 1939. Following his graduation from the city’s High School of Music and Art in 1957, he earned an associate bachelor of fine arts from New York City Community College in 1959. His career as a graphic designer, lettering artist, type and logo designer, typographer, and art director developed through his work with the firms Sudler & Hennessey, Inc. (1959-1964), Bonder & Carnase Studio, Inc. (with Ronné Bonder, 1965-1969), Lubalin, Burns & Company, Inc. (with Herb Lubalin and Aaron Burns, 1970), and Lubalin Smith Carnase, Inc. (1969-1979), the latter a partnership with designers Herb Lubalin and Ernie Smith. In 1979 he founded Carnase Inc. and Carnase Computer Typography, and in 1981, the World Typeface Center, Inc. The designer of more than fifty typefaces and corporate logos, Tom Carnase regularly entered, as well as judged, international design competitions, and was a popular guest lecturer for schools and professional groups around the world. Carnase was also the editor of the design journal Ligature published by the World Typeface Center from 1982 to 1987.

Extent

12 Linear Feet (37 boxes)

Language

English

Overview

Collection of materials from graphic designer Tom Carnase. Includes correspondence, photographs, slides, tear sheets, printed ephemera, drawings, and other graphic materials covering the professional life and work of the lettering artist, type and logo designer, typographer, and art director Tom Carnase.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in two series:

Series I.
Personal and Professional
Series II.
Graphic Work

Physical Location

Graphic Design Archives, Cary Collection Annex

Other Finding Aids

In addition to this finding aid, an inventory is available below. For more information, please contact the Cary Graphic Arts Collection.

Tom Carnase papers

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection was donated by Tom Carnase, 2004.

Accession number(s): 2004:009

Finding Aid in Process

This finding aid is currently in process, and the information listed here may be incomplete. Please contact the Cary Graphic Arts Collection for more information.

Processing Information

Collection processed by Amelia Hugill-Fontanel, 2011.

Finding aid encoded by Lisa Witt, August 2015.

Subject

Title
Tom Carnase papers
Status
In Progress
Subtitle
Cary Graphic Design Archives
Author
Lisa Witt
Date
12 August 2015
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Cary Graphic Arts Collection Repository

Contact:
Rochester NY 14623 US
(585) 475-2408