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Phil Patton Papers

About the Collection

Phil Patton (1952–2015) was a design and culture critic noted for the emphasis he placed on the significance of everyday objects, such as coffee cup lids and interstates, as well as his books on the UFO culture in Roswell and the impact of television on football. A significant portion of his writing is on automobile design—including a book on the history of the Volkswagen Beetle. He was also a faculty member in the SVA MA Design Research Department. The collection comprises notes and typescripts for books and articles, research materials, clippings and magazines containing articles by Patton, correspondence, and miscellaneous notes and notebooks.