Guide to the Archie Boston Graphic Design files M2685
Gurudarshan Khalsa
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
2021
Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford 94305-6064
specialcollections@stanford.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Archie Boston graphic design files
Creator:
Boston, Archie, 1943-
Creator:
Archie Boston Graphic Design
source:
Boston, Archie, 1943-
Identifier/Call Number: M2685
Physical Description:
1.5 Linear Feet
One manuscript storage box, one half manuscript storage box, and one flat box
Physical Description:
2 gigabyte(s)
1 thumb drive.
Date (inclusive): 1972-2009
Abstract: Archie Boston is an award-winning African-American graphic design artist, educator and author.
Content Description
This collections consists of award certificates, advertising prints and proofs, ephemera, logos, interim reports, brochures,
posters, DVDs, books, digital files, academic syllabi, videos, CV, and one thumb drive. The materials include some of Archie
Boston early iconic work as well as his work for FMC Corporation, Yamaha, Varian Associates, Motorola, California Raisin Advisory
Board, California Table Grape Commission, Pentel, California State University Long Beach and others. Some of the language
used to describe African Americans in the graphic design pieces may be triggering.
Biographical / Historical
Archie Boston was born in Clewiston, Florida in 1943 and was raised in St. Petersburg, Florida. Boston graduated from the
Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles, California with a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in Advertising Design in 1964. In
1965 Boston worked as an art director at Hixson and Jorgensen Advertising while also serving in the Army Reserves. He started
Boston & Boston with his older brother, Bradford Boston in 1967, and worked there from 1967 to 1969. He also worked at Carson
Roberts and as an instructor at the Chouinard Art Institute. From 1969 to 1977 Boston worked at Botsford Ketchum Advertising
as an art director while also starting his own firm, Archie Boston Graphic Design in 1973. In 1977 he received a Masters Degree
in Liberal Arts from the University of Southern California.
In 1977 Archie Boston became a professor at California State University, Long Beach, teaching advertising and graphic design.
He started the University's graphic design program and became the head of the visual communication design program. He retired
in 2009.
Archie Boston also served as the President of the Art Directors Club of Los Angeles and received numerous awards for his work,
including the American Institute of Graphic Arts Fellows Award. He wrote two memoirs and produced two documentaries.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use. Audiovisual & born-digital
materials are not available in original format, and must be reformatted to a digital use copy.
Conditions Governing Use
While Special Collections is the owner of the physical items, permission to examine collection materials is not an authorization
to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission or reproduction
beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], Archie Boston Graphic Design files (M2685). Department of Special Collections and University Archives,
Stanford Libraries, Stanford, California.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Advertising
art, graphics, advertising
African Americans in advertising
African American executives
Boston, Archie, 1943-
Box 1
Books written and/or designed by Archie Boston
2001-2014
Scope and Contents
Overcoming the odds by Charley J. Williams (2014), Lil' colored rascals in the sunshine city by Archie Boston (2009) (x3),
and Fly in the buttermilk by Archie Boston (2001) (x3)
Box 2, Folder 3
The cause of the 1965 Watts Riot: a creative project for MLA 999 by Archie Boston
1976
Box 2, Folder 4
Advertising prints
Scope and Contents
The prints include California Table Grape Commission, Berkeley Bio-Engineering Inc., Centinela Hospital Medical Center, Seafarer
Country Club, Braemar Palos Verdes, Little Company of Mary Hospital, Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic, University of Souther
California, California State University Long Beach, Yamaha, Pentel, California Raisin Advisory Board, Boston & Boston and
Archie Boston Graphic Design.
Box 2, Folder 5
Black Humor Card Company Christmas cards
Box 2, Folder 6
Graphic design conferences posters
1975-1977
Scope and Contents
Includes posters for Viz Com Design Association, Art Directors Club of Los Angeles 30th Annual Western Advertising Exposition
(1977) and Graphex 7 the Seventh Annual Midwestern Exhibition of Advertising and Editorial Art and Design (1975).
Box 2, Folder 7
Awards
1966-2004
Scope and Contents
Includes awards for: International Center for the Typographic Arts (1966), Western Art Directors Club-West Coast Show (1981),
Art Directors Club of Los Angeles membership card, Print Magazines's Regional Design Annual Award (1997), Communication Arts
Magazine: CA-77 18th Annual Exhibition award (1977), Art Directors Club of Los Angeles 30th Annual Western Advertising Art
Exposition award, Art Directors Club: the One Show award, Western Directors Club 17th West Coast Show award (1982), Western
Art Directors Club 14h West Coast Show award (1978), Communication Arts Society membership card, Bicentennial Black Achievement
Exhibit, California State University Long Beach Outstanding Professor award (2004),
Box 3, Folder 1
San Francisco Society of Communicating Arts Exhibition, Award of Excellence
1974
Box 3, Folder 4
Advertising prints
Scope and Contents
Advertisement prints for FMC Corporation, Varian Associates, International Rectifier, National Athletic Health Institute,
Yamaha, Union de Transports Aériens (UTA), and FedMart.
Box 3, Folder 5
Advertising prints
Scope and Contents
The prints include the following companies: Varian Associates, FMC Corporation, Motorola and International Rectifier.
Box 3, Folder 6
Advertising prints
Scope and Contents
Includes prints for Lloyds Bank California and First Western Bank.
Box 3, Folder 7
Advertising prints
Scope and Contents
Prints for Lloyds Bank California.
Box 3, Folder 8
Advertising prints
Scope and Contents
Includes prins for Pentel, Monteverde (Palm Properties Inc.), and Braemar Country Club (Braewood Development Corporation.
Box 3, Folder 9
Advertising prints
Scope and Contents
Prints for Pentel.
Box 3, Folder 10
Advertising prints
Scope and Contents
Includes prints for Varian Associates, Art Directors Club, anti-drug, pro-adoption and California State University Long Beach.
Box 3, Folder 11
Advertising prints
Scope and Contents
Advertising prints for Boston & Boston and Archie Boston Graphic Design Office.
Box 3, Folder 12
Advertising prints
Scope and Contents
Includes prints for the California Raisin Advisory Board, Parker Seal Company and California State University Long Beach.
Box 3, Folder 13
Posters
Scope and Contents
Includes a poster for an Archie Boston talk at the St. Petersburg Public Library and a poster for the Black Pioneers of the
Sunshine City.
