C. Stowe Myers
1906-1995
20th Century American Artist, Designer and Photographer
Acknowledgements and Links to Other Sites that may be of Interest
Credits
1. Many images of Stowe’s work appearing in the industrial design galleries are provided through the C. Stowe Myers Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries. A special thanks to Nicolette Dobrowolski, Assistant Director of Collections and Access Services, at the Special Collections Research Center for making Stowe’s design materials available for viewing, copying and use in this website.
The Special Collection Research Center at Syracuse University houses archival materials of many designers including those of Ray Spilman. Mr. Spilman's recordings of his interviews with many designers conducted through his National Endowment of the Arts Grant Project are also archived at the Center.
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2. Emily Musumecci has been the WIX website expert who has made important improvements to Stowe's website over the last couple years. She not only knows all the technical angles of the software, but as an artist herself, she knows how to make a site more aesthetically pleasing to the eye. I highly recommend Emily for any website work.
3. The photo portrait of Stowe on the Home page is by the late Don R. Rocker and provided courtesy of Mrs. Don Rocker. Don’s photography work of the Design Planning Group’s promotional booklet in 1972 was exceptional and captured the spirit of these skilled professional designers.
4. Credit the United States Air Force Art Program for the paintings of Stowe’s he donated to that important program and appearing in the Gallery of Stowe's Paintings.
5. The promotional video of Jason Morris’ film, Teague Design and Beauty is provided courtesy of Jason Morris.
6. Video of Paul Specht is approved by Paul Specht for showing only on this website.
7. Video of Edward Zagorski is approved by Edward Zagorski for showing only on this website.
8, Some information on the Sheaffer Triumph Fountain Pen was provided by Richard Binder through emails. Richard Binder is the author of a number of books on the history of the fountain pen and he operates a website: www.richardspens.com
9. The link to Russell Flinchum's article, Why Teague Matters, is approved and provided courtesy of Russell Flinchum,
Ph.D (full credit is listed in that gallery).
10. Credit Dale Fahnstrom for the informative text on Design Planning Group (DPG) and for photo editing collages.
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Acknowledgements and Thank Yous
First and Foremost are Sara & Jim Hennessey who encouraged me to develop a
website for Stowe as they had done for Sara's famous artist father, Sig Purwin.
Other important people who inspired me are Vicki Matranga, Jason Morris and
Richard Pennington. Of course, Maureen Daly, my wife, must be included as
she had to listen to all my vacillations and some disappointments over a decade,
but she always remained encouraging on my bringing Stowe's tribute to fruition.
Vicki is the Design Programs Coordinator at the International Housewares
Association and the Chair of IDSA's Design History Section. I first met
Vicki over 20 years ago when she interviewed Stowe in New Orleans just
a few months before he died. She wrote an excellent tribute to Stowe in the
IDSA newsletter at the time and through the years she has kept me informed
quite regularly on ID news and new information on designers of the past.
I seemed to pick up her interest on the subject or maybe the term is obsession
which probably is a major element of my motivation for getting the website
published and ready for viewing. Jason Morris, the Director of Design at the
Western Washington University and who produced the documentary film,
Teague Design and Beauty, spent a day with me collecting some of Stowe's
materials for his film. This showed me how Stowe's work of both painting
and of his industrial design career should be seen and his story told.
Also, Jason's very effective editing of Stowe's film clips showed me that a fresh story can be told from such old and in some cases, decaying materials as some items were salvaged from Hurricane Katrina. Richard Pennington was a roommate of mine in a Pilsen (Chicago) apartment while we were attending the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle as it was called back then. A few years ago Richard wrote a comprehensive documentary on the Lows Tile Company and his speaking engagements on the book have been numerous. He also was very supportive about me getting Stowe's work in some form to be presented. This was before knowing even what format or medium would be the best option.
There are also two living legends in the field of industrial design who were colleagues of Stowe's and who gave me much support and wonderful material from their recollections: Paul Specht and Edward Zagorski. I have been so fortunate to know them and I have enjoyed a continuing correspondence with them. They have always been so generous with their time and supportive about my sharing Stowe's life of art and design. Of course, they deserve their own recording of their stories as their careers during such formative times in industrial design are legendary.
More Acknowledgements
Helen Baer with the Harry Ransom Center in Austin, Texas was wonderful in recognizing the value of Stowe's interview recordings and arranged for them to be professionally rerecorded. She also encouraged me to think in terms of a show of Stowe's work.
Allison Teague, the granddaughter of Walter Dorwin Teague provided an excellent example of how to put together a well designed comprehensive show of a famous and talented designer and in her case family member. She also was very encouraging of my pursuing a show and video of Stowe's work and history in the field of industrial design.
Charlie Myers (Stowe's son) February 8, 2018
Please check out the website links below of the following organizations: IDSA History Section, Industrial Design Sand Box, Industrial Design History, Palette & Chisel Chicago, the Evanston Art Center (EAC)
edit me. It's easy.
This is an excellent website for learning about the founders of the field of industrial design and for all those designers who have contributed to the field.
Vicki Matranga is the IDSA History Section Chair and she has coordinated many industrial design history projects as well as the annual student design competition through the International Housewares Association in conjunction with IDSA. Vicki is currently working on a book that tells the story of how Chicago became a first class center for industrial design.
IDSA History Section
Industrial Design History
Bret Smith, IDSA, currently serves as the Senior Associate Dean of University College in the Division of Academic and Student Affairs. Prior to his position at NCS, he was a professor of design at Auburn University where he created this fascinating and informative website on the history of industrial design.
