Chermayeff & Geismar Collection

The Chermayeff & Geismar Collection is organized into eleven series and includes 325 posters, 340 letterhead samples, and more than 1,000 print samples (including graphic standards manuals, annual reports, brochures, book and album covers, and packaging). Cambridge Seven projects are also represented in the Printed Samples series. Series I. Letterhead (Boxes 1-6) This series contains letterhead designed by Chermayeff & Geismar, and serves as a comprehensive guide to the logos designed by the studio. The letterhead is filed alphabetically except for Mobil, which is filed at the end of the alphabet, in Box 6. Series II. Printed Samples (Boxes 6-42) This series contains printed samples for the many items designed for C&G’s corporate and institutional clients; items include brochures and other promotional materials, periodicals, annual reports, graphics manuals, cards, and packaging. Cambridge Seven projects are also represented. This series is organized alphabetically by client. Please note that Mobil items are at the end of the alphabet in boxes 41 and 42. Series III. Oversize Printed Samples (Boxes 43-45) Series IV. Book Jackets (Box 42) Series V. Three Dimensional Objects (Boxes 45-46) This series includes Mobil oil cans and Mobil Masterpiece Theatre paperweights, as well as packaging samples for Liz Claiborne. Series VI. Album Covers (Box 47) The album covers in this series were all done for Gramavision Records. Series VII. Posters and Prints (Boxes 48 and 49, Flat file drawers 1-9) Posters and prints are filed alphabetically by client. Series VIII. Miscellaneous (Boxes 50-51) This series contains lettering created for Mobil, construction packages and color renderings for the firm’s design of the Bronx Zoo’s World of Birds, and the original art for an AIDS poster designed by Steff Geissbuhler. Series IX. Exhibition Catalogs (Box 52) Series X. About Chermayeff & Geismar (Box 52) Series XI. Digital Files This series contains digital files of Chermayeff & Geismar's covers for Pepsi-Cola World and Annual Reports, as well as their symbols for the National Park Service. Ivan Chermayeff and Tom Geismar initially formed their partnership in the late 1950s and went on to revolutionize the field of visual communication and build one of America’s most influential graphic design firms. Together they have created more than 300 corporate identity programs for companies such as Mobil Oil, Xerox, Chase Manhattan Bank, PBS, Univision, and Pam Am. Their work extends from logos to posters and publications to major exhibitions including the United States Pavilions at the World’s Fair in Montreal and Osaka, Japan. The Chermayeff & Geismar Collection contains much of the print material designed by the firm since its founding in 1957.