Special Collections is fortunate to have a large selection of holiday ephemera, both in the John and Jane Adams Greeting Card Collection and in the Topical Series of the John and Jane Adams Postcard Collection (now newly reopened after this fall's reprocessing). These collections can be drawn upon for primary sources to service a multitude of research topics and fields, including American Studies, graphic design, the history of advertising, and general cultural history. But tucked within Dr. Adams' personal papers lies a wonderful folder of unique Christmas greetings. These postcards are all addressed to the Adams' by their friend and colleague Everett Gee Jackson, who taught in the SDSU Art Department for over thirty years. One of San Diego's most recognized and respected artists, Jackson nurtured the Art Department through some of its most notable achievements as its chairman, including a 1934-1936 project to paint social realist murals in Hardy Tower (now restored and removed to the library).Each Christmas, Jackson created a quirky original linocut in his distinctive style to mark the season, and sent these postcards to intimate friends and loved ones. The designs were often poignant--the card from 1944 hopes for peace coming to a war-torn world. In the 1960s, the linocuts frequently allude to the contemporary space race, as this monkey on a rocket (below) from 1961; however, the Cthulhu astronaut from 1968 begs for explanation! Stop by Special Collections for a look at these fantastic greetings from a famous artist.
Beginning today, our hours will be Monday through Friday, 10am to 5pm. We will be closed December 24th through January 2nd. Join us in January for the 2011 Spring Semester!
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