TABLE OF CONTENTS
Descriptive Summary
Historical Note
Scope and Contents
Arrangement
Restrictions
Index Terms
Related Material
Administrative Information
Description of Series
Architectural Design,
1963-1994
Identity,
1966-1997
Packaging, 1982-1994
Advertising, 1960s-1996
Print, 1960s-1990s
Corporate Art, 1970s-1980s
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A Guide to the Chermayeff & Geismar Records,
1963-1997
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Creator: |
Chermayeff & Geismar |
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Title: |
Chermayeff & Geismar
Records |
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Dates: |
1963-1997 |
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Abstract: |
The Chermayeff and
Geismar Records consist of design materials created by the Chermayeff and
Geismar design firm for Mobil Corporation from 1963 to 1998. The majority of
the materials was created in the 1970s and 1980s and demonstrates the level of
detail involved in creating a pervasive corporate identity. Included in the
collection are posters, fine art slides, 3-D memorabilia, correspondence,
periodicals, blueprints, print advertisements, books, brochures, pamphlets,
product labels, instructional manuals, photographs, font mock-ups, and signs.
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Accession No.: |
2005-236 |
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OCLC No.: |
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Extent: |
10 ft., 10
in. |
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Language: |
Materials are written in
English. |
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Repository: |
Dolph Briscoe Center for American History,
The University of Texas at Austin |
Chermayeff and Geismar is a New York City design firm established in
1958. Led by Ivan Chermayeff and Thomas Geismar, the firm was one of the first
to streamline the design process and create cohesive corporate identities for
their clients. The firm’s work for large corporations now defines corporate
design of the second half of the 20th century.
Chermayeff and Geismar has partnered with PanAm, NBC, PBS, Chase Bank,
National Geographic, Barneys New York, Xerox, National Geographic, Mobil Oil
Corporation, and other global businesses. Included in their work are such
ubiquitous symbols as the NBC peacock and the Chase Bank logo. Later work
includes a partnership with Armani Exchange and the redesign of the Library of
Congress logo.
The firm’s long-standing relationship with Mobil resulted
in a corporate identity program known for its consistency and high standards.
All elements of the company, including corporate facilities, stations,
lettering, products, advertisements, sponsorship, and periodicals were
envisioned through Chermayeff and Geismar’s design sensibilities. The aim of
this pursuit was to make Mobil “look like the best-run oil company in the
world.”
Highlights of Chermayeff and Geismar's work for Mobil include
the Mobil logo with the iconic red "O," visionary gas station design,
adaptation of the Pegasus logo, and the selection of Mobil's fine art
collection. Chermayeff and Geismar’s relationship with Mobil lasted from 1963
to 1998.
Sources:
Herrera, P., Lightbown, M.J., & McQuade, W.
(1967). The graphic art of corporate image. Fortune, July, 127-130.
Wide Eye Creative (2011).
Chermayeff & Geismar. Retrieved from http://www.cgstudionyc.com/
Return to the Table of Contents
The Chermayeff and Geismar Records consist of design materials created
by the Chermayeff and Geismar design firm for Mobil Corporation from 1963 to
1998. The majority of the materials was created in the 1970s and 1980s and
demonstrates the level of detail involved in creating a pervasive corporate
identity. Included in the collection are posters, fine art slides, 3-D
memorabilia, correspondence, periodicals, blueprints, print advertisements,
books, brochures, pamphlets, product labels, instructional manuals,
photographs, font mock-ups, and signs.
The records illustrate Chermayeff and Geismar's work for cultural
organizations supported by Mobil (notably large-format posters advertising
cultural events), gas station layout and design, advertising, corporate
headquarters and vehicle design, Mobil's corporate art collection, articles
pertaining to Mobil's identity work, packaging design, and general corporate
identity information. These records were maintained by Chermayeff and Geismar
in their corporate headquarters located in Manhattan and donated in 2005. They
are arranged into record series by design type: Architectural Design, Identity,
Packaging, Advertising, and Print.
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Arrangement |
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The papers are arranged into five series: |
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- I. Architectural Design
- II. Identity
- III. Packaging
- IV. Advertising
- V. Print
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Access Restrictions
This collection is open for research use.
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Subjects (Persons) |
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Chermayeff, Ivan. |
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Geismar, Thomas H. |
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Warner, Rawleigh. |
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Subjects (Organizations) |
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Chermayeff & Geismar |
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Mobil Corporation |
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Socony Mobil Oil Company |
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Subjects |
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Graphic Design (Typography) |
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Design--History--20th Century. |
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Corporate image. |
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Packaging--Design. |
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Corporations,
American--History. |
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Return to the Table of Contents
Chermayeff & Geismar Records, 1963-1997, Dolph Briscoe Center for
American History, The University of Texas at Austin.
This collection was processed by Nicole Hollon, October 2011.
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Architectural Design,
1963-1994 |
| box |
| 4K849 |
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Metal Old Price Signs,
ca. 1982-1984 |
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Mobil Retail Outlets Configurations Manual,
ca. 1985 |
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ID Signs,
1966-1988 |
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Current Price Signs,
1976-1991 |
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Miscellaneous Signs and Symbols,
1975-1991 |
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Interior Signs,
ca.1973-1982 |
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External Signs,
ca.1976-1988 |
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Mobil la station Pégase 21,
1986 |
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Mobil Aspetto Coordinato del Punto Vendita, 1984 |
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Mobil Planned Merchandising, 1984 |
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Truck signage, undated |
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Prototype for Service Stations, 1967 |
| box |
| 4K846 |
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Japanese Station Photos, 1963 |
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Planned Merchandising, 1970s |
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Launch and opening materials, 1980s |
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Sign blueprints, 1960s-1970s |
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Sign blueprints, 1980s |
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Pegasus 21, 1980s |
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Mobil Retail Outlet Standards Manual, undated |
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International Service Station Design Manual, 1969 |
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Station photographs, 1994 |
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Mobil Trademarks for Advertising, 1967 |
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L.A.H. program, 1979 |
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Mobil Retail Outlet Configurations Manual, 1980 |
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Retail Design and Graphics Guidelines, 1994 |
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Mobil standards booklets, ca. 1960s-1970s |
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Painting Service Stations, 1965 |
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Convenience Store Program, 1979 |
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Mobil Research & Development
Corporation, 1969 |
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Point-of-Purchase Sales Aids, ca. 1994 |
| box |
| 2W126 |
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Mobil Joliet refinery pictures, undated |
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Pictures of Mobil Oil trucks, undated |
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Mobil jet photos, undated |
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Photo of gas station model, undated |
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Pegasus 21-GS guide, undated |
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Pump decals, undated |
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Full size lettering samples, 1970 |
| box |
| 2W124 |
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Mobil Pump Signs, undated |
| box |
| 2W115 |
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Color control samples [plastic for Mobil
signs], 1986-1988 |
| box |
| 2.B12/MC 1.10 |
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Gas station signage blueprints, 1971-1983 |
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Photographs [Mobil stations] (3 oversize
prints), undated |
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Blueprints, Plans, ca. 1973-1978 |
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Identity,
1966-1997 |
| box |
| 4K843 |
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Global Positioning Project,
undated |
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Mobil Binder w/ Various Bulletins, ca. 1970s-1983 |
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Mobil Graphics Standards Manual, ca. 1976 |
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Mobil Graphics: Coordinators Desk Reference, ca. 1979 |
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Brand Identity Packet, 1997 |
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Graphics Overview brochures, undated |
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Mobil Graphics
publications, 1971-1979 |
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Mobil Graphics Standards-an overview, undated |
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Mobil Brand Identity, ca. 1990s |
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Graphics Standards Manual, undated |
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The Brand booklets (various
languages), undated |
| box |
| 4K852 |
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Mobil Communications Professionals Reference
Guides, ca. 1997 |
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Positioning Launch Kit, ca. 1990s |
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Binders, undated |
| box |
| 2W126 |
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Mobil design standards poster, ca. 1966 |
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Articles about graphic art and corporate
image, 1967 |
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Packaging, 1982-1994 |
| box |
| 4K849 |
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Delvac line expanded, 1983 |
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Mobil Premier Poly, undated |
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Mobil Packaging Manual Vol. 2 with
correspondence, ca. 1982,1985 |
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Mobil Packaging Manual Vol. 1, ca. 1988-1994 |
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Product photos and adhesives, undated |
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Product slides, undated |
| box |
| 2.227W/368 [LSF] |
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Container Samples [26 items], undated |
| box |
| 2.227W/369 [LSF] |
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Container Samples [13 items], undated |
| box |
| 2.227W/370 [LSF] |
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Container Samples [15 items], undated |
| box |
| 2.27W/371 [LSF] |
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Container Samples [11 items], undated |
| box |
| 2W126 |
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Product labels, undated |
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Advertising, 1960s-1996 |
| box |
| 4K844 |
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Mobil Showcase, |
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Agatha Christie's The Seven
Dials Mystery publicity materials, undated |
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The Ten Who
Dared, 1976-1977 |
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Edward the
King, 1979 |
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The
Entertainer, 1976 |
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Edward & Mrs.
Simpson, 1978 |
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Mobil Showcase folders, undated |
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Queen of the Stardust
Ballroom, 1976 |
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Why Didn't They Ask
Evans?, undated |
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Churchill and the
Generals, undated |
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Mobil-sponsored civic events, ca. 1970s-1980s |
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Mobil-sponsored PBS television, 1970s-1990s |
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PBS Life on
Earth, 1970s |
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David Attenborough, A Portrait of
the Earth, undated |
| box |
| 4K845 |
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The Pegasus Prize for Literature, 1980s |
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Mobil Masterpiece Theatre invitations, undated |
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Various Mobil Masterpiece Theatre program
materials, 1970s |
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Mobil Masterpiece Theatre Anniversaries, 1980-1991 |
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Mobil Masterpiece Theatre folders, undated |
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Posters Made Possible
pamphlets, 1988 |
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A Murder of Quality VHS
Sleeves, 1991 |
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Mobil Grand Prix, 1988 |
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Small promotional cards, undated |
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As of October 1, undated |
| box |
| 4K848 |
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Mobilgear 600 Series, undated |
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Mobil Steam Turbine Program, undated |
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Newspaper and magazine ads, 1960s-1990s |
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Mobil Colonnade, 1980s |
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Advertisement cards, undated |
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Edward the King wooden
box, ca. 1979 |
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Edward and Mrs. Simpson
promotional materials box, ca. 1978 |
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Mobil Showcase When Havoc Struck
and Between the Wars promotional materials
boxes, 1978 |
| box |
| 4K840 |
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Lord Mountbatten The Last
Viceroy paperweight, |
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PBS Life on Earth
paperweight, |
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James Clavell's The Children's
Story paperweight, |
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Two by Forsyth
paperweight, |
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Danger UXB
paperweight, |
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Edward & Mrs. Simpson
paperweight, |
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The Last Place on Earth
paperweight, |
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A Town Like Alice
paperweight, |
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Edward the King: Monarch Among
Men book, |
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Edward the King: Prince of
Hearts book, |
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The Mayor of Casterbridge
by Thomas Hardy book, |
| box |
| 2W126 |
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Oversize advertisements, ca. 1970-1996 |
| box |
| 2.B12/MC 1.10 |
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Posters (117), 1970s-1990s |
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Print, 1960s-1990s |
| box |
| 4K847 |
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Cover Samples, undated |
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Paint Samples, 1960s-1990s |
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The Mobil
Comet, ca. 1963 |
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Informational pamphlets, ca. 1980s |
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Mobil journals and magazines, 1960s-1990s |
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Marketing
Highlights, ca. 1980s |
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Welcome to Mobil, undated |
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Mobil Benefit Plans, undated |
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Mobil Communities, 1970s-1980s |
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Leadership Into the
90s, 1988 |
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Calendars, 1980-1982 |
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Templates and document formatting, 1970s-1980s |
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Annual Reports, 1960s-1990s |
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Lettering standards, ca. 1970s-1980s |
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Mobil: the Second
Century, 1966 |
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Protective Coating Systems, 1974 |
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Guía de
Servicio, 1966 |
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Mobil Chemical, undated |
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Mobilmet Manual, 1970 |
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Foreign language publications, 1970s-1980s |
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L.P. Gas Advertising and Sales Promotion, ca. 1970s |
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Real Estate Services, 1980s |
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Mobil 1 Winning Around the World, 1980s |
| box |
| 2W126 |
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Mobil Travel Guides, 1969 |
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Mobil World magazine clippings, ca. 1968-1981 |
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Mobil Happenings magazine, 1986-1991 |
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Quick Lube Times, 1990s |
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Mobil World Magazine, 1966-1995 |
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Mobil 1973 calendar, |
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Letraset instant lettering, undated |
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Corporate Art, 1970s-1980s |
| box |
| 4K850 |
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Fine art slides-Joseph Richards, 1980s |
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Fine art prints, slides, miscellaneous, 1970s-1990s |
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Photography for corporate facility, undated |
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Fine art slides, 1970s-1990s |
| box |
| 4K851 |
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Fine art slides, 1970s-1990s |
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Artists-in-Residence slides, 1980-1981 |
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Fine art color transparencies, ca. 1970s-1980s |
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Mobil art pamphlets and booklets, ca. 1970s-1980s |
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Joseph Koudelka artwork, ca. 1970s-1980s |
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Arte Popular Mexicano
book, 1987 |
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Sammlung Mobil
book, 1983 |
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Across the Board
magazine, 1985 |
| box |
| 2W125 |
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Flying Red "O" model, |
| box |
| 4K841 |
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Flying Red "O" model, |
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