Collection consists of print and television advertisements and promotional materials created by Revlon, Incorporated, 1936-1986.
Scope and Contents:
Collection consists of print and television advertisements and promotional materials created by Revlon, Incorporated for its products dating from 1936 to 1986. Revlon experienced substantial growth using these materials and semi-annual promotions to become one of the leading brands of the cosmetics industry. The materials provide insight into the depiction and importance of beauty throughout the decades. Additionally, the names of models and photographers are identified on the materials. The collection is arranged in two series: Series 1, Revlon Advertisements, 1936-1986; and Series 2, Other Revlon Incorporated Brand Advertisements, 1965-1986.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged in two series.
Series 1, Revlon Advertisements, 1936-1986
Series 2, Other Revlon Incorporated Brand Advertisements, 1965-1986
Historical:
Revlon began as a single product company in New York in 1932. The founders of the company American businessmen Charles Haskell Revson (October 11, 1906- August 24, 1975), Joseph Haskell Revson (October 11, 1906-August 24, 1975), and chemist Charles Lachman started the business with a desire to create a mainstream market for nail enamel. With an innovative manufacturing process and the introduction of new colors every year the company was able to build a successful brand and dedicated market. Revlon introduced lipstick in 1940 and continued to expand its product line to include skincare, cosmetics, hair color, fragrances, and beauty tools.
Source: New York Times obituary for Charles Revson, August 25, 1975.
Related Materials:
Materials in the Archives Center
Warshaw Collection of Business Americana (NMAH.AC.0060)
Albert W. Hampson Commercial Artwork (NMAH.AC.0561)
Cover Girl Advertising Oral History and Documentation Project (NMAH.AC.0374)
NW Ayer Advertising Agency Records (NMAH.AC.0059)
Provenance:
The collection was donated by Martin Stevens in 2007.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Merrill, Richard M., Wallbank, Richard W. R., Bull, Vanessa, Salazar, Patricio C. A., Mallet, James, Stevens, Martin, and Jiggins, Chris D. 2012. "Disruptive ecological selection on a mating cue." Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 279, (1749) 4907–4913. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2012.1968.
Hultgren, Kristin M. and Stachowicz, John J. 2011. "Camouflage in decorator crabs: integrating ecological, behavioural and evolutionary approaches." In Animal camouflage: mechanisms and function. Stevens, Martin and Merilaita, Sami, editors. 212–236. New York: Cambridge University Press.
This collection features business documents, legal papers, and examples of prints from Martin J. Weber, who pioneered the "Weber Process."
Scope and Contents:
This collection documents the Weber Process for printing that made images on paper appear more three dimensional, as well as the photomechanical apparatus Weber developed to implement it . The collection contains patent documents, contracts and business papers, correspondence, design drawings, advertisements for the Weber Process and for his studio, and a paper he delivered to the American Photo Engravers Association. It also contains numerous samples of Weber's work, including magazines covers and advertisements, annual reports from companies featuring images enhanced by Weber, brochures, and other printed material.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged into nine series.
Series 1: Articles, 1931-1971
Series 2: Awards, 1931-1971
Series 3: Business Documents, 1931-1971
Series 4: Correspondence, 1931-1971
Series 5: Legal Documents, 1931-1971
Series 6: Prints, 1931-1980
Series 7: Weber Process Documents, 1931-1971
Series 8: Photographs, 1931-1971
Series 9: Large Prints, 1931-1971
Biographical / Historical:
Martin J. Weber was born in 1905 and worked as a graphic artist, inventor and typographer in the commercial art industry into his eighties. He died in 2007 at the age of 102.
Weber invented and patented the Weber Process in 1942, which utilized a photomechanical apparatus that altered images and text photographically to give pattern, texture, and shadow. Also known as Posterization, the process gave two-dimensional surfaces the "illusion of being reproduced in three dimensions" by printing multiple layers offset from one another. Weber helped to define the look of mid-twentieth century American advertising art, offering a "low-cost way of simulating multiple color reproduction." The process revolutionized lithography, screen printing, and standard printing, and later influenced computer typography.
Sources
Heller, Steven. "Martin Weber in the Third Dimension." Design Observer. June 19, 2007. Accessed August 03, 2016. http://designobserver.com/article.php?id=5657.
Provenance:
Donated to the Archives Center by Martin J. Weber's son, Carl Weber, 2011.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.