J. Tom Morgan manuscript

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: CSC-0118

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The J. Tom Morgan manuscript contains a complete paste-up manuscript of Morgan's book, "Kiss Impressions: My Love Affair with Lithography," dated 1982. This mock-up of the book would have been done during the analog print production process, where proofs of the type and images were pasted onto blank sheets to show the book's layout.

Dates

Creation: 1982-1983

Creator

Morgan, J. Tom, 1911-1999 (Person)

Conditions Governing Use

This collection is open to researchers.

Biographical / Historical

James Thomas Morgan (known as J. Tom Morgan) was born in Columbus, Georgia on February 7, 1911 to James Thomas Morgan and Frances G. Harris. His first wife was Lillie Patterson born on the 4th of July, 1935 in Washington, D.C. She died in 1988. They had two children, James Thomas Morgan III (1935-1995) and Frederick P. Morgan. Morgan married his second wife, Marietta Isabelle Solimeo, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on December 4, 1953. After having left Columbus to pursue a career as an artist, he returned to Columbus to make a career as a commercial artist, buying Commercial Printers Incorporated (formerly Walton Printing Company), at the courthouse door at its bankruptcy auction in 1933. The company was renamed Litho-Krome. He ran the company until Hallmark bought it in 1979. J. Tom Morgan died on December 30, 1999 and is buried in Parkhill Cemetery in Columbus, along with his second wife, Marietta Isabelle Morgan and his son J. Tom Morgan III.

According to the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer story by Tony Adams of February 15, 2015, Hallmark closed the Litho-Krome printing plant in Columbus in 2015, ending its more than eight-decade run in Columbus. The Columbus facility printed Hallmark greeting cards and packaging for Crayola products. In March of 2014 it halted work on reproduction of fine art and photos, while shifting portions of the greeting card production process to the Kansas facility. At one time, the Columbus company was known for producing limited-edition prints for a number of major art publishers and artists. Henry Nordhausen, Norman Rockwell and Thomas Kinkade were among those who used the company's fine art expertise. * Text derived from the J. Tom Morgan Papers (MC 360) at Columbus State University Archives, https://archives.columbusstate.edu/findingaids/mc360.php

Extent

1 Box(es) (1 manuscript box) ; 0.5 linear feet

Language

English

Additional Description

Overview

The J. Tom Morgan manuscript contains a complete paste-up manuscript of Morgan's book, "Kiss Impressions: My Love Affair with Lithography," dated 1982. This book was published in Rochester, New York by Rochester Institute of Technology in 1983. The collection also contains the final published edition of the book.

Arrangement

The collection contains two items.

Physical Location

Cary Graphic Arts Collection

Custodial History

Prior to coming to the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), the manuscript was held by Eva Phillips Thompson, daughter of Herbert E. Phillips. Mr. Phillips was Director of the RIT Graphic Arts Research Center, and worked there for 37 years. J. Tom Morgan gave the manuscript to Herbert Phillips.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by the Family of Herbert E. Phillips, 2015.

Bibliography

Morgan, J. Tom, Jr., "Kiss Impressions: My Love Affair with Lithography," Rochester, New York: Rochester Institute of Technology, 1983. ISBN:0-89938-014-X