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C. Stowe Myers Papers

A description of his papers at Syracuse University


Finding aid created by: MRC
Date: 22 Mar 2010



Biographical History

Charles Stowe Myers (1906-1995) was an American industrial designer. Born in Altoona, Pennsylvania, he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1930 and went to work for Norman bel Geddes in 1932. In 1934 he joined Walter Dorwin Teague; while with Teague he worked on exhibits for the New York World's Fair (1939-1940) as well as several military designs. In 1950 he joined Raymond Loewy and by 1952 was managing Loewy's Chicago office. In 1954 he left to open his own firm, Stowe Myers Design, in Evanston, Illinois. Between 1954 and 1970 the firm's projects ranged from Tinkertoy packaging to exhibits at the 1959 International Trade Fair in Casablanca. Myers was a founding member of the the West Coast Chapter of the Society of Industrial Designers and active in SID's New York and Chicago chapters as well. After retiring in 1976 he turned to painting, and was named official artist of the US Air Force in 1978.


Scope and Contents of the Collection

The C. Stowe Myers Papers consists of correspondence-subject files, memorabilia, photographs, recordings, and slides.

Correspondence-subject files include correspondence with other designers such as Rayond Loewy and Walter Dorwin Teague, material from organizations such as the American Society of Industrial Designers, and topical folders including trade fairs in Tripoli and Washington, D.C. and military ordnance manuals for projects in which Myers was involved.

Memorabilia contains assorted material relating to Myers' career, including awards and certificates, career information, stationery (business letterhead, envelopes, business cards, etc.), and a design portfolio. The portfolio was originally housed in a battered and non-descript black case; it has been removed from the case and placed into archival boxes.

The bulk of the Photographs are professional in nature, including Walter Dorwin Teague's offices in New York and Los Angeles, and various design projects. There are a few candid photos of Myers, and two folders of photographs of his watercolor artwork.

Recordings contains interviews with Myers and a piece (possibly a speech) on early industrial design.

A considerable number of Slides completes the collection. Most are unlabeled, and remain in original containers and original order.


Arrangement of the Collection

All series are arranged alphabetically by type or topic.


Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

The majority of our archival and manuscript collections are housed offsite and require advanced notice for retrieval. Researchers are encouraged to contact us in advance concerning the collection material they wish to access for their research.

Use Restrictions:

Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.


Subject Headings

Persons

Loewy, Raymond, 1893-1986.
Myers, C. Stowe (Charles Stowe)
Teague, Walter Dorwin, 1883-1960.

Corporate Bodies

Industrial Designers Society of America.
New York World's Fair (1939-1940 : New York, N.Y.)

Subjects

Industrial design -- United States.
Industrial designers -- United States.
Packaging -- Design.

Genres and Forms

Brochures.
Clippings (information artifacts)
Correspondence.
Photographs.
Posters.
Renderings (drawings)
Slides (photographs)

Occupations

Industrial designers.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

C. Stowe Myers Papers,
Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Gift of Charles Myers, 1997.


Table of Contents

Correspondence-subject files

Memorabilia

Photographs

Recordings

Slides


Inventory