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Guide to the Collection of Theodor S. Geisel, circa 1929 - 2004
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Manuscript MS-1100

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Title:

Guide to the Collection of Theodor S. Geisel, circa 1929 - 2004

Call Number:

Manuscript MS-1100

Collection Dates:

circa 1929 - 2004

Size of Collection:

10 boxes (8 linear feet)

Abstract:

Contains watercolors, drawings, sketches, a figurine, correspondence, greeting card mockups, magazines, and advertising ephemera of illustrator and author Theodore S. Geisel (AKA Dr. Seuss.)

Access to Collection:

Unrestricted.

Use & Access

The materials represented in this guide may be accessed through the Rauner Special Collections Library at Dartmouth College. The Rauner Library is located in Webster Hall. The materials must be used on-site and may not leave Rauner Library.

The Rauner Special Collections Library is open to the public and in most cases no appointment is necessary. The exception is in the case of materials stored off site for which there may be a delay in retrieval. Please consult the Access to Collection statement below or contact Rauner Reference.

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Access to Collection

Unrestricted.

Publication & Use

Permission from Dartmouth College required for publication or reproduction.

Introduction to the Collection

The Theodore S. Geisel collection contains watercolors, ink drawings, sketches, an advertising figurine, correspondence, a puzzle, greeting card mockups, 'College Humor' magazines and advertising ephemera of illustrator and author Theodore S. Geisel (AKA Dr. Seuss). The collection is heavily weighted towards the early segment of Geisel's career, in particular his role as an illustrator for corporate advertisers, such as Standard Oil and Chilton Pen Co. as well as work for humor magazines. The collection also contains work that Geisel did for the War Department during World War II.

Biography

Theodor S. Geisel (1904-1991). Author and illustrator. Dartmouth College class of 1925. Geisel (known more popularly by his nom de plume, Dr. Seuss) authored and illustrated over 60 books including some of the most popular children's books of the 20th century, including "The Cat in the Hat," "The Lorax" and "Green Eggs and Ham."

Box & Folder List

Box: 1, Dates: circa 1929-2004

Contains examples of Seuss' advertising artwork, including work done for Standard Oil subsidiaries Flit insecticide and Ex-tane solvent. Also contains two color prints satirizing the advertising industry as well as two examples of Seuss' cartoon work for 'College Humor' magazine in 1931. A small batch of fan mail and Dartmouth College related correspondence and published illustrations are included.

Access Restrictions

Unrestricted

Box Contents

  • Folder: 1, Ex-tane cleaner store advertisement, 1934
  • Folder: 2, Book of Flit insecticide cartoons, 1929
  • Folder: 3, Geisel Christmas card depicting walrus, undated
  • Folder: 4, College Humor Magazine, March 1931
  • Folder: 5, College Humor Magazine, May 1931
  • Folder: 6, Three color prints: "The Man With an Idea" [with duplicate] and "The Account Executive.", undated
  • Folder: 7, Dartmouth related illustrations and correspondence, circa 1930-1970
  • Folder: 8, Dr. Seuss fan mail, circa 1975
  • Folder: 9, "An Authentic Dr. Orzcoseuss" for Betty and Ed [Lathem], circa 1965

    Pencil, ink and watercolor.

  • Folder: 10, Seuss first issue stamps, 1999, 2004

Box: 2, Dates: 1986

Contains correspondence, color and black and white photocopies, and mockup models of greeting cards for a Seuss line of Hallmark cards that were never produced. The accompanying correspondence loosely follows a discussion around marketing, testing, licensing and production of the greeting card line and includes letters variously between Seuss' agent, Hallmark and Coleco companies over the course of 1986.

Access Restrictions

Unrestricted

Box Contents

  • There is no folder listing for this box.

Box: 3, Dates: 1938

Contains a painted die cast advertising figurine called a 'Hankey Bird.' Produced for the Hankey Bannister Scotch Co. in 1938, the bird is fitted with a spring which allows it to hang off the neck of the bottle. The bird is depicted in a traditional Scottish outfit with kilt, sporran and balmoral hat.

Access Restrictions

Unrestricted

Box Contents

  • There is no folder listing for this box.

Box: 4, Dates: 1937

Contains 13 original ink drawings produced as advertising for the Chilton Pen Company's Wing-flow pens.

Access Restrictions

Unrestricted

Box Contents

  • Folder: 1, "Anyhow, my Chilton Wingflow is safe. It's got my initials!", 1937
  • Folder: 2, "Speaking of gold inlays... take a look at my initials on this Chilton Wingflow pen!", 1937
  • Folder: 3, "He really gets carried away with his new Chilton Wingflow", 1937
  • Folder: 4, "I know you'll just love my new Chilton Wingflow", 1937
  • Folder: 5, Poor Mortimer van der Brook..., 1937
  • Folder: 6, "Identification? Well Certainly. My gold inlaid initials on my Chilton Wingflow!", 1937
  • Folder: 7, "He wants [Chinese characters] inlaid into his Chilton Wingflow!", 1937
  • Folder: 8, One really can't throw away presents... but one CAN write write his Chilton Wingflow!", 1937
  • Folder: 9, [storks], 1937
  • Folder: 10, [policeman/speeding], 1937
  • Folder: 11, "Now, let me show you my new Chilton Wingflow!", 1937
  • Folder: 12, Shucks! Take a look at my initials inlaid in gold in my new Chilton Wingflow!", 1937
  • Folder: 13, [men wearing tuxedos], undated

Box: 5, Dates: circa 1935

2 watercolors: "Portrait of Teenie Godiva...First Woman ever to Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth" and Thoober bird.

Access Restrictions

Unrestricted

Box Contents

  • There is no folder listing for this box.

Box: 6, Dates: 1933

11 x 17" color cardboard puzzle with illustrated envelope. Produced for the Esso Oil Company's ad campaign for it's "Essolube" automotive oil. The envelope is titled: "The five star theatre presents: foiled by essolube a jig-saw-melodrama." The puzzle depicts five creatures (Zero-doccus, Karbo-nockus, Moto-munchus, Oilio-gobelus) attempting to sabotage an automobile. The puzzle was produced as one component of a suite of print advertisements and was given away to Esso customers.

Access Restrictions

Unrestricted

Box Contents

  • There is no folder listing for this box.

Box: 7, Dates: circa 1926-1990

Contains various original art works by Seuss as well as the original publisher's layout mockup of "The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins."

Access Restrictions

Unrestricted

Box Contents

  • Folder: 1, "The 500 hats of Bartholomew Cubbins." , 1938

    Publisher's mockup, 31 cm.

  • Folder: 2, "My Gawd! She's Got on Walter", undated

    Watercolor

  • Folder: 3, "I Wonder Where My Mimi is Tonight.", undated

    Watercolor

  • Folder: 4, "Darling, with Conditions the way they are we've simply gotta let the Canary Go." , undated

    Watercolor

  • Folder: 5, [Jigsaw puzzle of Dr. Seuss characters] 16 x 21 cm. , undated

    Commercially made puzzle, with popular characters from six books by Dr. Seuss.

  • Folder: 6, "25's 65th" , 1990

    Pen and ink drawing, 13 x 18 cm. Class of 1925 65th reunion logo. Accompanied by note to Dartmouth College Archivist Kenneth Cramer, from Terri Eastman regarding the logo and a note to engraver with instructions.

  • Folder: 7, [Drawings for the Hippocrass and Emminent Europeans] 12 pen and ink drawings. , 1927

    The Hippocrass series contains a suite of 8 pen and ink drawings, some with partial shading in blue pencil, one including initial pencil sketches and list of possible captions on reverse, depicting a typical Seuss beast, the Hippocrass, designed to accompany verses by Alexander Laing; The Emminent Europeans contains a suite of 4 pen and ink drawings with ink wash, 2 concerning a croupier and 2 museum guides, also to have been accompanied by Laing's verse; all drawings signed "Seuss." Two typescripts, "Introducing the Hippocrass" and "The Hippocrass at the White House"; and typed letter to Laing, dated from Springfield, Mass., May [1927], signed Ted Geisel, discussing the two series (spelling the second "Emminent...").

  • Folder: 8, "Bartlett and Geisel Sniffing it out" 27 x 19 cm. Pencil sketch on the last leaf of a Shoreham Hotel menu. , 1945
  • Folder: 9, "I've a darned good mind to get caught, just to go up and hear Ford argue." Watercolor, 26 x 18 cm., 1935

    Appeared in "This Week," March 3, 1935.

Box: 8, Dates: circa 1921-1950

Contains oversize broadsides and artwork.

Access Restrictions

Unrestricted

Box Contents

  • Folder: 1, "The Gark," ink drawing. 57 x 46 cm, undated
  • Folder: 2, Cat Ski Joring, Pen and ink drawing. 5 x 56 cm., circa 1925
  • Folder: 3, "Starve the Squander Bug, Buy More War Bonds," Broadside, 30 x 117 cm. , circa 1944
  • Folder: 4, "Quick Henry the Flit!" broadside, 1947
  • Folder: 5, "I've got a darned good mind to get caught, - just to go up and hear Ford argue", 1935

Box: 9, Dates: 1943

Nine illustrations produced for "This is Anne," a US Army anti-malarial pamphlet.

Access Restrictions

Unrestricted

Box Contents

  • There is no folder listing for this box.

Box: 10, Dates: 1930-1974

Printing plates for the illustrations within the 1930 and 1931 Dartmouth Winter Carnival programs and one "Cat in the Hat Digital Watch."

Access Restrictions

Unrestricted

Box Contents

  • There is no folder listing for this box.