Angela Reeves Collection, 1960s-2008 | University of Northampton Archive

By Phil Oakman, Maggie Peach, Lucy Culverhouse

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Collection Overview

Title: Angela Reeves Collection, 1960s-2008

Predominant Dates:1970s - 1990s

ID: AR/01/Gra

Primary Creator: Reeves, Angela

Extent: 0.0

Date Acquired: 10/06/0009. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Angela Reeves, Design, Graphics, Reeves, Angela, The University of Northampton Angela Reeves Collection

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

This series of design ephemera and memorabilia was collected by Angela Reeves, 1942-2008 and kindly donated by her family.

The collection contains works designed by Angela as well as ephemera and memorabilia relating to all aspects of graphic design collected by her.

Early drawings and sketches by Angela date back to her school and college days. A number of the drawings that she produced indicate that they were submitted as part of a portfolio for entrance to the London School of Printing and Graphic Arts.

Later designs reflect both her freelance work and that carried out while employed by companies such as British European Airways, the BBC, Royal Mail, New York University, Chermayeff and Geismar, Ilford and the Torin Corporation. Many publications relating to the industry were collected and retained by Angela over her life time and form part of this collection. These include pamphlets, booklets, annual reviews and promotional material published by Newell and Sorrel (Utopian Papers), Pentagram Design and the Wynkyn de Worde Society.

Also forming part of the collection are news stories, memorabilia and ephemera that relate to people and events that featured in Angela's life. The people include Marcel Breuer, Claes Oldenberg and F.H.K. Henrion while the events include the 1975 American bicentenial exhibition at the British Museum and the 1968 Mexican Olympics.

Collection Historical Note

Angela had a solid career in corporate graphic design and she kept pretty much everything from her career - from all her exercises at Foundation at Chelsea College , through most of her work at the London College of Printing in the early 60's. She then went straight into working for BEA and other corporate organisations, was self employed for some time, was president of the Design Research Unit, worked with Chermayeff and Geismar in New York 68 - 72; ran the BBC Educational books design section; worked for Royal Mail in stamp commissioning through the 80's and early 90's and then went back to New York to work on the design standards of the Smithsonian Museums again for Chermayeff and Geismar. She also worked a lot at Exeter and Brighton supporting design student portfolios.

Biographical note created by family member.

Subject/Index Terms

Angela Reeves
Design
Graphics
Reeves, Angela
The University of Northampton Angela Reeves Collection

Administrative Information

Repository: University of Northampton Archive

Accruals: We do not expect that there will be major accruals to this collection but the University would welcome the chance to discuss any further potential donations of records relating to Angela Reeves or graphics and design more generally.

Access Restrictions: All items are accessible

Use Restrictions:

Normal copyright restrictions apply

The University of Northampton takes copyright seriously and only makes content available in its Archive Catalogue in accordance with current UK legislation.

All reasonable effort is made by The University of Northampton to obtain copyright holders’ consent before publishing the images represented in our Archive Catalogue. We would like to ask that any copyright owners who are not properly identified in our Archive Collections contact us so that we may make the necessary corrections or removals.

Acquisition Source: Kindly donated and supported by Camilla Hale and Professor Adam Reeves.

Acquisition Method: Donation.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1: Folder containing drawings, sketches and designs, 1950s-1960s],
[Box 2: Folder containing drawings, sketches and designs, 1960s],
[Box 3: Folder containing drafts of work, 1960s],
[Box 4: Folder containing drawings, sketches and designs, 1960s],
[Box 5: Box containing Angela's artistic tools and ephemera, 1961-2000],
[Box 6: Box containing Pentagram publications and examples of typefaces., 1970-1998],
[Box 7: Box containing different publications on the subject of typography, 1957-1991],
[Box 8: Box containing a mix of publications relating to design - graphic and fashion., 1971-1998],
[Box 9: Box containing publications relating to work by various designers, 1945-1996],
[Box 10: Box containing publications and ephemera relating various companies and Angela Reeves, 1956 - 2009],
[Box 11: Box containing material relating to Claes Oldenburg, 1969-1970],
[Box 12: Box containing Angela's Curriculum Vitae and certificates, 1976-2006],
[Box 13: A tied cardboard folder holding items relating to the Touch Exhibition, September 1999],
[Box 14: Box containing letters, drawings and examples of work, 1960s-2006],
[Box 15: Box containing 4 books, 1961-1982],
[Box 16: Box containing various items relating to company policies, and some designs by Angela and others., 1997-1999],
[Box 17: Box containing two companies' design guidelines, 1965-1986],
[Box 18: Box containing ephemera from graphic design companies, 1964-2004],
[Box 19: Box containing annual reports, design guidelines and other graphic design ephemera, 1972-1999],
[Box 20: Box containing ephemera from companies that specialise in engraving and paper production and ephemera from events, 1964 - 1999],
[Box 21: Portfolio containing examples of Angela's work, 1962-1996],
[Box 22: Box containing memorabilia relating FHK Henrion and profiles of designers, 1987-1991],
[Box 23: Box containing a mixture of publications relating to many aspects of design, 1964-2004],
[Box 24: Slides, 1996],
[Box 25: Slides, [1996]],
[Box 26: Slides and other ephemera, [1984-]],
[Box 27: Box containing exhibition catalogues, ephemera from the Mexican Olympics, some articles and ephemera, 1968-1975],
[Box 28: Box containing items relating to design research and guidelines, 1967-[1974]],
[Box 29: Box containing booklets that relate to a broad range of design topics and several booklets unrelated to design., 1967-1984],
[Box 30: Box containing New York University Publications, 1969-1973],
[Box 31: Box containing New York University Publications, 1969-1971],
[Box 32: Box containing examples of Angela's work and other ephemera, 1920-1962],
[Box 33: Box containing exhibition catalogues and photographs, annual reports and design guidelines, 1970-1973],
[Box 34: Box containing company publications that Angela designed, 1971-1979],
[Box 35: Box containing examples of Angela's work, 1962-1996],
[Box 36: Box containing a red folder holding design work by Angela, personal and professional correspondence and other ephemera, 1981 - 2008],
[Box 37: Box containing Angela's sketch books, stamps and framed pictures, 1959-1993],
[Box 38: Portfolio containing examples of Angela's work, 1965-1983],
[Box 39: Folder containing certificates, diplomas and a poster, 1964-1991],
[Box 40: Envelope entitled Graphics Collection, 1984],
[Box 41: Tube containing 18 Torin Exhibition drawings, 1974-1979],
[[information restricted]],
[Box 43: Box containing three folders of typefaces, 1973],
[Box 44: Box containing the Smithsonian Design Guidelines, 1998],
[Box 45: Two paintings, 1967],
[All]

Box 26: Slides and other ephemera, [1984-]

The box contains three folders containing over two hundred slides of some of the corporate identities that Angela worked on during her time at Chermayeff & Geismar Associates. Inside one of the folders are a lot of papers, some handwritten notes by Angela, some typed information. There are also several letters from Ivan Chermayeff and Tom Geismar, addressed to Angela, and a photograph of Angela, probably from the 1970s with her work colleagues (duplicate of this in box 36, item 29). In the box there are three paper weights. Two are miniature red post-boxes. One is made from glass and has Angela's name inscribed on it, which was presented to her by the British Post Office at the London Economic Summit of June 1984.

Note: October 2018 - Slides removed from their original folders to digitise and for reasons of preservation. Slides now contained in archival quality slide boxes.

Condition: Good

Location: A3 - d (Archive racking)

Unique Identifier: AR/01/GRA/026

Item 1: Ivan Chermayeff Correspondence, c. mid 1970s

Contained in this item are two correspondence from Ivan Chermayeff. One is a postcard addressed to Angela Reeves at her Lisle Street, London address asking her to send him a telephone number. The postcard itself is marked as showing the Man eating Jalebee 1975 by Bhupen Khakhar, is date stamped but not fully, and bears a 10p stamp.

The second correspondence is a marriage announcement declaring that Ivan Chermayeff and Jane Clark were married on September 24, 1978 in North Salem, New York. It is retained with it's original envelope which bears the New York postmark and 3 US stamps, one depicting a quill and ink pot and the other two bearing the American flag.

Condition: Good condition

Unique identifier: AR/01/GRA/026/01

Item 2: Tom Geismar Correspondence, c. 1980 - mid 1990s

This item consists of 6 handwritten letters from Tom Geismar to Angela Reeves. Some are personal notes arranging meetings/lunches and sharing personal news. The others contain some information relating to the amount of money the company of Chermayeff and Geismar were paying her for aspects of her work for them.

Condition: In excellent condition

Unique Identifier: AR/01/GRA/026/02

Item 3: Typed index of slides from binder 1, c.1960s - 1970s

Typed index of the slides that were contained within a binder giving some detail as to the companies Angela Reeves worked for and the images relating to those companies that are displayed on the slides.

Condition: The print remains clear and easily legible.

Unique identifier: AR/01/GRA/026/03

Item 4: Handwritten index of slides from binder 1, 1960s - 1970s

A handwritten list in black ink on lined paper detailing the contents of the slides contained originally in binder 1, now stored in archival quality boxes for preservation.

Associated material: This item seems to relate to the printed index found at AR/01/GRA/026/03

Condition: Good. Some discolouration to the edges but very clear and legible writing

Unique identifier: AR/01/GRA/026/04

Item 5: The Slides - Presentation notes

This is a typed, numbered index that appears to have corresponded to the slides within binder 3. It appears to have been related to different projects that Angela Reeves had worked on for a variety of companies and demonstrates a range of her designs, presumably used in a talk she delivered to an unidentified person/persons.

Condition: Excellent condition

Unique identifier: AR/01/GRA/026/05

Item 6: Mobil Gas Design Standards

Sent on headed paper from the offices of Chermayeff and Geismar Associates, this is a typed 9 page design standard for the company Mobil LP-Gas.

Unique identifier: AR/01/GRA/026/06

Item 7: Black and white photograph., c 1973

Black and white photograph showing 5 individuals. It is taken in what looks to be a work environment and depicts Angela Reeves in discussion with the other members of the group. There is a possible reference number written in pencil on the reverse as well as the date 1973

Condition: Image remains clear and crisp

Unique identifier: AR/01/GRA/026/07

Item 8: Slides from binder 1

This slide box contains approx 200 slides from various projects worked on by Angela Reeves that were previously contained within a black slide folder. These were removed in October 2018 for preservation purposes.

Unique identifier: AR/01/GRA/026/08

Item 9: Slides from binder 2

This slide box contains approx 190 slides that were previously contained within a black binder, removed and placed into archival quality slide boxes in October 2018.

Unique identifier: AR/01/GRA/026/09

Item 10: Slides from binder 3

This slide box contains approx 100 slides used in a talk/presentation given by Angela Reeves showing some of the work she did for a number of different companies and industries. Prior to October 2018 these were stored in a black binder with slide holding inserts. These have since been removed to enable preservation and the slides are now stored in archival quality boxes.

Unique identifier: AR/01/GRA/026/10

Item 11: Replica Postboxes

This item consists of two red replica postboxes bearing the crown mark and a mock mail collection times notice. The bottom is covered in felt.They stand approx 12cm high.

Location: Currently on display in cabinet NW007

Unique identifier: AR/01/GRA/026/11

Item 12: London Economic Summit Paperweight, 1984

This is an acrylic paperweight square in shape, which contains a postage stamp depicting Lancaster House which looks to have been produced to commemorate the London Economic Summit of 1984. It bears the logo of the summit and the date June 1984. The front is inscribed with the name Angela Reeves. The bottom of the paperweight is black and is inscribed with the words Presented by the British Post Office.

Location: Currently on display in cabinet NW007

Unique identifier: AR/01/GRA/026/12