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Archive for March, 2009

L’Officiel Archives

Tuesday, March 31st, 2009

Holly’s great selections of photos of 1970s Lanvin prints brought to my attention the online Archives of L’Officiel, a venerable French fashion magazine. The functionality is good, and the interface is intuitive enough that I don’t think the ability to read French is absolutely necessary (hint: “Plein ecran” = full screen mode)

I love these constructivist-influenced covers from the 1920s and 30s:

..and the way the thumbnails of 1920s covers show a fast progression from a traditional and subdued presentation to the splashy, confrontational aesthetic that still prevails in magazine design.

The archives of L’Officiel are part of the Jalou Archives, which also includes Jalouse and dozens of other fashion and lifestyle magazines, mostly from the 1990s-2000s. I’m thrilled to find out about yet another business concern that sees their archives as an asset worth preserving and publicizing – and that is far-sighted enough to share it with the public, rather than “rights-managing” it into oblivion.

Posted in illustration, magazines | 1 Comment »

Vintage family snapshots

Monday, March 30th, 2009

You see these boxes of hundreds of snapshots at antique malls and junk shops. While they’re often fascinating, I don’t like looking at them because the idea of someone selling or giving away family pictures makes me unspeakably sad. Then I happened across one at Uncommon Objects in Austin. We were rushing through on our way to dinner, so I wasn’t in shopping mode. Then I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I said if I could find it again the next day, I’d get it.

There you have it. I also bought some Kenyan safari-print fabric and a few greeting cards.

Posted in Maija, dogs, shopping | 1 Comment »

Key West Hand Print Fabrics, Part 2

Friday, March 27th, 2009

If Google Analytics is to be believed, a number of you are interested in Key West Hand Print Fabrics, a specialty textile and resortwear company I blogged last month. Ever wonder what the company was like in its heyday?

Now you know, thanks to the Florida Memory Project, State Archives of Florida.

I’m currently working on a few more posts about hand print textile manufacturers in the Caribbean and southern U.S. I also just got a great vintage blouse with a hand print of irises from a resortwear manufacturer in Puerto Rico that I’m looking forward to researching.

Posted in fabric, fashioners, shopping | No Comments »

Kodakiana, part 1

Thursday, March 26th, 2009

via Ellis Collection of Kodakiana, Duke University Libraries

Posted in sporting | 1 Comment »

San Antonio tourist attractions

Wednesday, March 25th, 2009

Not shown: Hordes of tourists.

Posted in Maija, travel | No Comments »

Pirkle Jones, 1914-2009

Tuesday, March 24th, 2009

With Ruth-Marion Baruch, documented The Black Panthers 1968:

Posted in icons, photographers, revolutionaries | No Comments »

Ghost signs, Austin

Monday, March 23rd, 2009

“In 1875, one Thomas Cusack, a youth in his teens, started a business with only a paint pot and brush and a remarkable personality as assets. The business consisted in painting advertising signs on the sides of buildings in a small way. Gradually, he took to building billboards of his own, and leasing suitable walls and other locations for outdoor advertisements.” — Time, 1924

“Cusack. Thomas, outdoor advertising; born Ireland, Oct. 5, 1858; son John and Dehlia (Mc- Mahon) Cusack; came to New York with parents when 3 years old; lost parents 2 years later; came to Chicago in 1863; attended pub. and private schools here and St. Xavier’s Coll.. New York; married Elinor Ross, 1891 (died 1894); married 2d, Mary E. Greene, at Yonkers, N.Y., July 10, 1895; children: Anna, Thomas, Charles, Francis and Evelyn. Learned sign painting trade and in Dec. 1875 started In the advertising sign business as Thomas Cusack & Co., Incorporated 1903, as Thos. Cusack Co., of which has since been pres.; co. has branches In all parts of U.S. Was mem. Chicago Board of Edn., 1891-8 (vice-pres. of board, 1896, 1897, 1898); on staff of Gov. Altgeld, with rank of col., 1893-7; mem. 56th Congress, 1899-1901, 4th 111. Dist. Has served as mem. of the State Central Dem. Com.; del. Dem. Nat. Convention. Denver, 1908. Mem. Art lust, of Chicago, Chicago Assn. of Commerce. Clubs: Chicago Athletic, Westward Ho Golf. Recreations: handball and golf. Residence: 639 S. Ashland Boul. Office: Cor. W. 15th and Throop Sts.” — The Book of Chicagoans, A.N. Marquis & Co., 1911 via Google Book Search.