Fred Greenhill fashion illustrations, circa 1960s-1980s KA.0022 This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit February 28, 2017 Describing Archives: A Content Standard Kellen Design Archives February 14, 2011 66 5th Ave./ lobby level New York, NY, 10011 212.229.5942 archivist@newschool.edu
Table of Contents Collection Overview... 2 Biographical note... 3 Scope and Contents of Collection... 4 Organization and Arrangement... 4 Administrative Information... 4 Related Materials... 5 Keywords for Searching Related Subjects... 5 Other Finding Aids note... 5 Collection Inventory... 5 Collection Overview Repository Kellen Design Archives Creator - Artist Greenhill, Fred Creator Lord & Taylor. Creator Saks Fifth Avenue (New York, N.Y.). Creator University of North Texas. Art Gallery. Title Fred Greenhill fashion illustrations Date [inclusive] circa 1960s-1980s Extent 13.5 linear ft: 1 box, 5 oversize boxes - Page 2 -
Summary Fred Greenhill (1925-2007) graduated from Parsons School of Design in 1950. He went on to work as a fashion illustrator for Neiman Marcus in the 1950s, and was the primary artist for Saks Fifth Avenue in the 1960s and early 1970s. Greenhill is most recognized for his Lord & Taylor illustrations, including the company's trademark long-stemmed rose. The New School Archives holds approximately 700 fashion illustrations that Greenhill created from the 1960s through the 1980s. Preferred Citation note [Identification of item], [date (if known)], Fred Greenhill fashion illustrations, KA.0022, box, folder, New School Archives and Special Collections, The New School, New York, New York. Biographical note Fashion illustrator Fred Greenhill was born and raised in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas area (different sources give 1925 and 1930 as his year of birth, but the former is more probable). Greenhill briefly studied art and French at the University of Texas in Austin after serving in the army during World War Two. In 1948, Greenhill moved to New York City to attend Parsons School of Design, earning a degree in costume design in 1950. Upon returning to Texas after graduation, Greenhill worked as a freelance designer before eventually finding his vocation and developing a portfolio as a fashion illustrator for local department stores. In 1953, Greenhill was offered a position at Neiman Marcus, which helped him further develop his professional portfolio. Greenhill returned to New York City in 1957, and landed a permanent position at Saks Fifth Avenue as its primary illustrator. Greenhill s illustrations began to appear daily in local New York newspaper advertisements, the designs becoming a standard of fashion advertisements in the 1960s. Greenhill began working for Lord & Taylor in 1974, beginning a long relationship with the department store where he created some of his most recognized work, including the Lord & Taylor Woman illustrations of the 1970s and 1980s, and the long-stemmed rose design that became Lord & Taylor s trademark image, emblazoned on their shopping bags for more than a decade. In addition to his work with Neiman Marcus, Saks and Lord & Taylor, Greenhill illustrated for the cosmetics firms Elizabeth Arden, Revlon and Estée Lauder. His illustrations were featured in advertisements that appeared in Vogue, Harper s Baazar and The New York Times. After nearly twenty years at Lord & Taylor, and over forty years in the fashion industry, Greenhill left New York City and returned to Texas. He died in his Austin home in August, 2007. - Page 3 -
Scope and Contents of Collection The collection is comprised almost exclusively of fashion illustrations executed by Fred Greenhill, who rendered the bulk of the approximately seven hundred drawings in charcoal and ink washes. Other media include marker and pastels. Unless otherwise noted in a folder title, illustrations are charcoal and ink wash. Some drawings also bear evidence of editorial markings, stamps, and targets. With minimal exception, Greenhill's fashion illustrations depict women's apparel. Jewelry and cosmetics are also represented. Of note are a number of illustrations depicting women engaged in a variety of leisure activities, such as shopping, reading, attending parties, or being waited upon by servents. Although no illustrations are dated, approximately sixty drawings were clearly executed for Saks Fifth Avenue, including several depicting Saks Fifth Avenue store interiors. While the majority of the drawings were likely executed for Lord & Taylor, most offer no indication of who commissioned the work. Designer and manufacturer names include Elizabeth Arden, Estée Lauder, Gloria Sachs, J.P. Stevens, and Natori. In addition to the drawings, the collection includes clippings and tearsheets featuring Greenhill's illustrations, as well as a press kit and a catalog issued by the University of North Texas for an exhibition of the illustrator's work in 1992. Organization and Arrangement Loosely arranged by medium. Administrative Information Publication Information Kellen Design Archives February 14, 2011 Conditions Governing Access note Collection is open for research use. Please contact archivist@newschool.edu for appointment. Use Restrictions To publish images of material from this collection, permission must be obtained in writing from the New School Archives. Please contact: archivist@newschool.edu. Immediate Source of Acquisition note Donated by Fred Greenhill, 2000 and 2004. - Page 4 -
Related Materials The New School Archives' Designer files collection (PC.08.04.01) includes a folder of clippings about Fred Greenhill. Fashion illustrations by Fred Greenhill are also held by the Fashion Institute of Technology. Keywords for Searching Related Subjects Genre(s) Drawings. Fashion illustrations (layout features). Occupation(s) Fashion illustrators. Subject(s) Department stores -- United States -- 20th century. Fashion drawing. Fashion merchandising. Women's clothing -- United States -- 20th century -- Pictorial works. Other Finding Aids note For selected item-level description and images from the Fred Greenhill fashion illustrations, see The New School Archives Digital Collections at http://digitalarchives.library.newschool.edu/index.php/detail/ collections/ka0022. Collection Inventory General 1 2-7, 10-13 k_10 10-12 OSx-1 8, 10-11 OSxx-1 7-12 OSxxx-1 3-4 - Page 5 -
General: Estée Lauder Cosmetics OSx-1 9 General: Hats 1 9 General: Intimates and sleepwear OSx-1 10-11 General: Jewelry General: Mounted illustrations and proofs 1 14 k_10 13 OSx-1 12 1 8 OSx-1 13-14 OSxx-3 3 OSxxx-2 6 General: Proofs OSxx-3 1 Charcoal: General OSx-1 1-5 OSxx-1 1-4 OSxxx-1 1 Charcoal: Menswear OSxx-1 5 Charcoal: Portraits Clippings and publicity materials: General, 1959-1976, undated 1959-1976, undated OSx-1 6 OSxx-1 6 1 1 k_10 9 OSxx-3 7 Clippings and publicity materials: Lord & Taylor, 1975 OSxxx-1 2 Clippings and publicity materials: University of North Texas Art Gallery, 1992 Consists of press kit and oversize exhibition catalog. Ink: General k_10 9 OSxx-3 8 k_10 14 OSx-1 7 OSxx-2 1-5 OSxxx-1 5 Ink: Proofs OSxx-3 2 Lord & Taylor OSx-1 15 Lord & Taylor: Mounted Proofs OSxx-3 14 Marker 1 15-16 OSx-1 16 OSxx-2 6-9 OSxxx-2 1-2 - Page 6 -
Pastel OSxx-2 10 Include set of three illustrations depicting a horse and a polo player. OSxxx-2 3 Pencil OSxx-1 13 Reproductions OSxx-3 9 Saks Fifth Avenue 1 17 OSxx-4 1-5 OSxxx-2 4 Watercolor: General k_osxxx-8 1 OSxx-2 11 OSxxx-2 5 Watercolor: Proofs OSxx-3 3 - Page 7 -