Edward H. Weiss papers, 1949-1985, bulk 1960-1985

For listening purposes, it is necessary to use a copy, not the original (and to have a listening copy made if one is not available)

All rights owned by the donor, including copyright, were deeded to Chicago Historical Society. Copyright may be retained by the creators of items, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law, unless otherwise noted.

Gift of James Weiss (accession #: 1992.0184.).

Edward H. Weiss papers (Chicago History Museum) plus a detailed description, date, and box/folder number of a specific item.

Correspondence, newspaper clippings, programs, organizational records, scrapbooks, biographical materials, exhibition catalogs, and other papers of Edward H. Weiss about his career as an artist and advertising agency executive and his association with organizations such as the American Association of Advertising Agencies, Business Committee for the Arts, Chicago Council on Fine Arts, Friends of the Chicago Public Library, Museum of Contemporary Art, and the University of Chicago. Weiss was especially well-known as a portraitist. Also includes three reel-to-reel sound recordings of lectures given by Weiss.

Edward H. Weiss (1901-1984) was a Chicago artist and chairman of the adverting agency Edward H. Weiss and Company (formerly known as Weiss and Geller; later known as Lee King and Partners). He was especially well-known for his portrait paintings of famous people. Weiss received a degree in sociology from the University of Chicago and later studied at the Art Institute of Chicago. Weiss began his career in advertising in the 1920s and retired in 1981. He was also an art collector and active in numerous organizations, including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the University of Chicago.

Related materials at Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include the Edward H. Weiss collection of visual materials (1992.0184) and publications cataloged separately.

• Names
  • Weiss, Edward H.--(Edward Huhner)--1901-1984--Archives
  • Bouras, Harry
  • Haydon, Harold
  • Humphrey, Hubert H.
  • Newman, Ralph Geoffrey
  • American Association of Advertising Agencies
  • American Federation of Arts
  • Business Committee for the Arts
  • Chicago Council on Fine Arts
  • Edward H. Weiss & Company
  • Friends of the Chicago Public Library
  • Museum of Contemporary Art (Chicago, Ill.)
  • National Endowment for the Humanities
  • University of Chicago
• Subject
  • Advertising agencies--Illinois--Chicago--20th century
  • Advertising executives--Illinois--Chicago--20th century
  • Art--Collectors and collecting--Illinois--Chicago
  • Art and society--United States
  • Art and industry--United States
  • Artists--Illinois--Chicago--20th century
  • Commercial art--Illinois--Chicago--20th century
• Geographic Coverage
  • Chicago (Ill.)--Commerce--20th century
  • Chicago (Ill.)--Social conditions--20th century
  • Chicago (Ill.)--Social life and customs--20th century
  • United States--Illinois--Cook County--Chicago

The collection is arranged in six series: Series 1. Biographical files, 1970-1985 (box 1-12) Series 2. Advertising, art, and business materials, 1949-1980 (bulk 1970-1980) (box 13-15) Series 3. Topical files, 1953-1980 (box 16-21) Series 4. Museum of Contemporary Art materials, 1968-1978 (box 21-23) Series 5. Publications and scrapbooks, 1960-1985 (box 23-24, 9 v.) Series 6. Sound recordings, ca. 1970 (3 reels)

Series 1. Biographical files, 1970-1985 (box 1-12)

Series 1 consists of biographies, correspondence, notes, bulletins, articles, event programs, artistic prints, commentaries on Weiss' paintings, and other papers concerning Weiss' personal and professional life. Includes some records and publications from organizations with which Weiss was involved, including the Friends of the Chicago Public Library, the St. Paul Art Center, and the University of Chicago.

Series 2. Advertising, art, and business materials, 1949-1980 (bulk 1970-1980) (box 13-15)

Series 2 contains correspondence, notes, newspaper clippings, reports, bulletins, publicity materials, financial records, and other papers pertaining to Edward H. Weiss and Company, the American Association of Advertising Agencies, the American Federation of Arts, and other organizations. Also present are biographical materials and exhibition catalogs, some of which include art by Weiss.

Series 3.Topical files, 1953-1980 (box 16-21)

Series 3 consists of correspondence, notes, speeches, programs, and articles related to Weiss' personal and professional life, including consumer research, lists of art owned by and/or created by Weiss, and materials from the Chicago Council on Fine Arts. Also present is correspondence with artist Harold Haydon and U.S. Senator Hubert H. Humphrey, Jr.

Series 4. Museum of Contemporary Art materials, 1968-1978 (box 21-23)

Series 4 contains articles, correspondence, publicity, programming, and fund raising materials, as well as other papers related to Weiss' involvement with the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) in Chicago. Weiss was an early supporter of the MCA and raised funds for the museum. Also present are programming materials from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Series 5. Publications and scrapbooks, 1960-1985 (box 23-24, 9 vol.)

Series 5 contains clippings, articles, magazines, and scrapbooks depicting artwork and advertisements by Weiss. Also includes articles and other published commentaries on Weiss' artwork.

Series 6. Sound recordings, ca. 1970

Series 6 contains three reel-to-reel sound recordings featuring Weiss, including a lecture and a discussion of the legal aspects of donating and/or collecting art with Harry Bouras and Ralph Newman on WFMT radio.