A rich collection of graphic design prints, transparencies, sketches, mock-ups, and maquettes, as well as promotional materials (pamphlets, flyers, leaflets, brochures, advertisements) created by Erwin G. Harris and his design firm. Included within are commercial advertising materials for hotels, restaurants, and tourist attractions in Florida, other parts of the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean; wines and spirits; and other companies, such as IGENE Biotechnology, Scopitone, and Mastro Plastics.
The collection also includes correspondence to and from Erwin G. Harris, photographs, advertisement proposals, resumes, biographies, portfolios and other documents pertaining to Harris and Company Advertising, and Inc. and Erwin G. Harris’ other businesses, along with legal documents, correspondence, and news clipping detailing Harris' feud with the Cuban government under Fidel Castro during the early 1960s.
This collection contains a wide variety of posters advertising events, political elections, travel destinations, organizations, and corporations, pertaining in particular to Florida, South America, Central America, the Caribbean, Spain, and Vietnam.
"Original artwork, including penciled sketches and watercolor mock-ups of small posters, created by this California artist for the San Francisco-based shipping line, The Grace Line (working here through a local advertising agency). The bulk of Ramm's art and papers were donated to the Smithsonian's Archives of American Art in 1994; subsequently, little of Ramm's work has appeared on the market. The group of work for a specific advertising campaign in 1931-1932 includes four watercolor mock-ups of posters/store cards from the Grace Line's 'Havana and Return' cruise; watercolor mock-up of poster for Grace Line's 'California to Victoria and Seattle cruise;' watercolor painting of an untitled cruise ship sailing along a rock coast; Ramm's scrapbook for art created for Grace Line menu cards; plus nine different sketches on tissue paper, being Ramm's rough drawings for menu card ideas." -Marc Selvaggio, Bookseller, A.B.A.A.
