Abstract
Ephram Edward Benguiat (October 27, 1927–October 15, 2020) was a typographer and lettering artist. Most of his typefaces are published by International Typeface Corporation; some of his more notable typefaces include Bookman, Panache, Souvenir, and Avant Garde Condensed. Benguiat became the typographic design director of Photo-Lettering Inc (PLINC) in 1962 and, in 1971, played a critical role, along with Herb Lubalin, Aaron Burns and Ed Ronthaler, in the establishment of the International Typeface Corporation (ITC), the first independent licensing company for type designers. Benguiat eventually became Vice President of ITC, and he partnered with Lubalin to found "U&lc," ITC’s house magazine. Benguiat was also responsible for designs or redesigns for logotypes for Esquire, The New York Times, McCall’s, Sports Illustrated, and The San Diego Tribune, among many others. As a design consultant for the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, he created the typeface ITC Barcelona. His revival of Korinna, also for ITC, can be seen almost daily on the game board on the game show "Jeopardy!" His eponymous typeface, ITC Benguiat, returned to the public eye in the title sequence of the TV show, "Stranger Things." A longtime SVA instructor, Benguiat began teaching at the College in the mid-1960s. He was a member of the Art Directors Club Hall of Fame.
Date
1966 – 1993
General Physical Description
Four oversize flat boxes and one flat file drawer.
Scope and Contents
The collection comprises printed material (mainly poster advertisements showcasing typefaces, mounted on foam core, but also logotypes and periodical covers) and working files (drafts, sketches, original art for typefaces and logos) for Benguiat's work with Photo-Lettering Incorporated, and those published by the International Typeface Corporation.
Arrangement
The Ed Benguiat Collection is arranged in four series. Series 1. Photo-Lettering Incorporated, contains printed material and working files directly related to his work at Photo-Lettering Incorporated. Series 2. International Typeface Corporation, comprises printed material and working files for typefaces designed by Benguiat and published by the ITC. Series 3. Miscellaneous Logotypes, describes logotypes that did not fit clearly into series 1 or series 2. Series 4. Miscellaneous, contains items that did not clearly fit into series 1, 2, or 3: a letter and photograph of Benguiat as a young child, and a poster/invitation to the Type Directors Club 1988 holiday party mounted on foam core.
Restrictions
This collection is open for research.
Citation
Ed Benguiat Collection, [series. item]. Milton Glaser Design Study Center and Archives, Visual Arts Foundation, New York.
Container List
Milton Glaser Design Study Center and ArchivesEd Benguiat CollectionSeries 1. Photo-Lettering Incorporated (MG.24.S01)
Milton Glaser Design Study Center and ArchivesEd Benguiat CollectionSeries 1. Photo-Lettering Incorporated (MG.24.S01)Subseries 1. Printed Material (MG.24.S01.S01)
Milton Glaser Design Study Center and ArchivesEd Benguiat CollectionSeries 1. Photo-Lettering Incorporated (MG.24.S01)Subseries 2. Working Files (MG.24.S01.S02)
Milton Glaser Design Study Center and ArchivesEd Benguiat CollectionSeries 2. International Typeface Corporation (MG.24.S02)
Milton Glaser Design Study Center and ArchivesEd Benguiat CollectionSeries 2. International Typeface Corporation (MG.24.S02)Subseries 1. Printed Material (MG.24.S02.S01)
Milton Glaser Design Study Center and ArchivesEd Benguiat CollectionSeries 2. International Typeface Corporation (MG.24.S02)Subseries 2. Working Files (MG.24.S02.S02)
Milton Glaser Design Study Center and ArchivesEd Benguiat CollectionSeries 3. Miscellaneous Logotypes (MG.24.S03)
Milton Glaser Design Study Center and ArchivesEd Benguiat CollectionSeries 4. Miscellaneous (MG.24.S04)