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Home | Stanley Kubrick Archive | Comic Book Collection | Edward Bawden Collection | Tom Eckersley Collection | Thorold Dickinson Collection | London College of Communication Collection | John Westwood Collection | Charles Pickering Collection | Robert Fenton Archive | C & A Collection | John Schlesinger Library | Jocelyn Herbert Archive |
The collections support learning across a wide range of creative subjects; the Centre is especially strong in film production material and all aspects of graphic design. To enquire about our collections please contact us. If you are interested in using any of the collections as part of your research please see our visiting information.
Collection descriptions are posted on the Archives Hub, where you can also view our online Stanley Kubrick highlights exhibition and Tom Eckersley highlights exhibition.
Collection descriptions:
The collection spans Kubrick's (1928-1999) entire career as a photographer for 'Look' magazine and as a film Director. His films are; Fear and Desire, Killer's Kiss, The Killing, Paths of Glory, Spartacus, Lolita, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, Eyes Wide Shut. Kubrick also planned to make two films, Napoleon and The Aryan Papers, but they never came to fruition. He also played an important role in the conception of AI: Artificial Intelligence, although it was made after his death by Steven Spielberg.
The collection held by the University is made up of an astounding range of material including film, props and scripts, Kubrick's personal research into films made, as well as those that were conceived but never visualised. By maintaining a high degree of control in the film making process, Kubrick was able to retain material generated by his pioneering techniques, research, and production work arguably making this collection one of the most complete examples of film making practice world wide. The Archive is integral to the history of the cinema and film, but perhaps more poignantly demonstrates articulately the process of artistic creation, creating a portrait of an individual who had a rigorous attention for detail in all aspects of his work. The Archive is being catalogued.
To read more about Kubrick and his life please click here.
Comic Book Collection (c1950-2003):
The collection contains 10,972 titles covering the UK and US mainstream and underground comic markets and specialist and international markets. There are also graphic annuals, a number of strips and related comic book ephemera such as posters and free gifts. The collection was compiled by Nicholas Pollard whose aim was to represent the best and most interesting comics with particular emphasis on artistic style, storytelling flair, innovation, scripting style and cultural significance. Graphic annuals cover the work of over seventy individual artists including Raymond Briggs, Guido Crepax, Will Eisner, P. Craig Russell and Moebius. The collection is an invaluable resource for researchers interested not only in comic graphics but also graphic design and illustration, alternative communication and social trends. Please note this is an extensive collection. For profiles of comic book artists and writers, as well as information on related events and articles please click here.
Bawden was a designer, illustrator and war artist. The collection contains examples of his work for advertising and book design for example, for Fortnum & Mason and Transport for London. There are also whimsical Christmas cards designed for family use. The Collection is catalogued, please click here to view it.
The collection contains posters produced by Eckersley (1914-1997) that reflect the range of his work from propaganda posters to his post-war posters. Eckersley used bold simple designs, often resembling collage. The collection shows the development of his style and poster art more generally. Eckersley was also a teacher of poster arts and established the first graphic design course in Britain at College of Printing (now College of Communication, part of University of the Arts London). The collection was formed by Eckersley and as well as printed posters it includes other work, such as magazine covers, and original artwork that shows his work processes. Eckersley designed for a wide range of companies, the collection features commissions from: London Transport; the Ministry of Information (also named the Central Office of Information); the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA); Austin Reed; the General Post Office; Gillette; The United Nations Children's Fund; the World Wide Fund for Nature; the National Business Calendar Design Awards; Cooks; British Leprosy Relief Association; National Bus Company; London College of Printing; the International Wildlife Film and Television Festival; the Inner London Education Authority; City and Guilds; Imperial War Museum; and advertising agency, WS Crawford. He also designed posters for events and seasons for example, one for a seminar Eckersley gave at the Grafiska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, in 1960. Exhibitions of his work have been held at the London College of Communication, to read an exhibition essay on Eckersley please click here. The Collection is catalogued, please click here to view it.
To view the online poster collection please click here.
To read more about Tom Eckersley and his life please click here.
The London Transport Museum has a collection of his works that are viewable online, please click here for more information.
Examples of his London based work can also be viewed, click here.
The collection covers various aspects of Dickinson's (1903-1984) work both as a film director and his film work for the United Nations and Ministry of Information. The papers cover aspects of film production, scripts, correspondence, reports of visits made, items relating to the Association of Cine-Technicians, accounts, press cuttings and Dickinson's library. The library includes books and journals dating from the late 1920s until his death in 1984 and includes some rare items relating to film.
Of particular interest are papers relating to his work as Chief of the United Nations Film Services Office comprising papers and correspondence relating to his appointment, 1956; accounts of the Film Services Department and personal expenses, 1958; correspondence, programs, press cuttings and invitations relating to film screenings and festivals, lectures, committees and film societies, 1956-1960; correspondence and papers, including film script, concerning 'Blue Vanguard', Dickinson's production on the first United Nations emergency force in Egypt, 1958; script, synopsis, publicity material and papers concerning Out, United Nations film on refugees from Hungary, 1956-1957; papers concerning United Nations film budgets, 1957-1958; employment papers, 1958-1959; correspondence with friends in the film world, 1956; press cuttings relating to film, 1956-1960; publicity material and press cuttings for Power Among Men, 1959; correspondence to Dickinson concerning investigative trips to Pakistan for making United Nations films, [1956-1960]. The Collection is being catalogued. Related material can be found at the British Film Institute.
To read more about Dickinson and his life please click here.
London College of Communication Collection (1893-):
The papers cover two collections. The first, documents the development of the College and its predecessor bodies from its inception in 1893 to the present day. London College of Printing was formed from the amalgamation of several colleges: St Bride Foundation Printing School, Bolt Court Technical School, College for Distributive Trades and the Printing Department of the North Western Polytechnic. In 1990 the College merged with the College for Distributive Trades. The Archive is strong in prospectuses, examples of student work, yearbooks and photographs of previous accommodation. It also contains some College administrative records. The second, is a collection of ephemera collected for teaching purposes, this includes celebratory cards, printers samples books and examples of graphic work. The Collection is being catalogued.
The collection contains items collected by Westwood, a former head of design at Her Majesties Stationary Office. There are items exampling typography, design and printing such as programmes, invites and menus. It includes posters for European travel, Transport for London, Post Office and the Ministry of Information. There are also maps and materials relating to Zurich.
The collection contains material collected by Pickering covering the history of printing, typography and the book trade from the 16th to 20th centuries and includes some interesting early bindings and a collection of posters. It also includes memorabilia of the Double Crown Club. Charles Pickering was an Inspector of Education [HMI] and the collection also includes items relating to this work.
The collection contains papers and information relating to composition and printing. Fenton (1891-1989) worked at the London College of Communication from 1920-1961 and the materials relate to his time there, prior to this he was a successful commercial printer working for people such as the National Institute for the Blind as deputy head of letterpress, 1918-1920. Included are examples of his work, typesetting sheets, composing tools and working notebooks. The Colletion is being catalogued.
The collection contains materials relating to marketing activities: slides of fashion plates, c1920s-1940s; images of shop displays and shop front; colour slides, photographs and information relating to fashion campaigns, c1980s-1990s; information on the companies main/first first UK store on Oxford Street dating from 1922 when it opened until 2001 when it closed. C & A was founded in 1841 and is still trading in Continental Europe, Russia and Turkey.
The London College of Fashion holds a collection of original advertising posters designed by Margrit Seck, dating from the 1950s, that were designed for C & A.
John Schlesinger(1926-2003) was a film director. The collection contains his books, film posters and video tapes, there are also a set of storyboards and contact sheets for 'Yanks'. The books cover a wide range of subjects especially design, biographies and music scores. For a full list see the Library catalogue. Related material can be found at the British Film Institute. Please note that we do not currently have video playback.The collection is catalogued, please click here to view it.
The Centre is working with Wimbledon College of Art to catalogue and make available this important Archive of theatre and film designer Jocelyn Herbert. The collection is catalogued, please click here to view it. Approx. 2,500 images of Herbert's design drawings are available online, please click here.
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