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Ruffins (Reynold) graphic design files
M2724
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Reynold Ruffins graphic design files
Creator:
Ruffins, Reynold
source:
Ruffins, Reynold
Identifier/Call Number: M2724
Physical Description:
17 Linear Feet
(21 flat boxes, 1 record storage box, 1 manuscript storage box, and 1 half manuscript storage box)
Date (inclusive): 1965-2019
The Reynold Ruffins graphic design files primarily consists of artwork and related materials for various projects Reynold
Ruffins was involved in. There is also a small amount of correspondence, reviews, and awards. The project materials represent
Ruffins work for magazines, businesses, as well as his work in illustrating children's books. These materials consist of finished
art, mechanical layouts, comprehensive layouts, sketches, roughs, reproductions, and other materials.
Reynold Ruffins was a Black artist, illustrator, graphic designer, painter, and teacher.
Reynold Ruffins was born August 5, 1930 in New York, New York. He graduated from the High School of Music and Art in Manhattan.
After graduating from Cooper Union in 1951, became a founding member of Push Pin Studios along with fellow graduates Seymour
Chwast, Milton Glaser, and Ed Sorel.
In 1960 became a Ruffins left Push Pin Studios to work as a freelance artist and artistic director. Ruffins formed design
studio Ruffins/Taback with Simms Taback in 1963. He did design work for Fortune magazine, GQ, the New York Times, IBM, New
York Botanical Gardens, Gourmet magazine, and others.
In 1953 Ruffins married Joan Young, who had been a fellow student at Cooper Union, and they had four children.
He illustrated his first children's book in 1969 and ended up illustrating over twenty children's books. Ruffins was a frequent
collaborator with author Jane Sarnoff, together they produced 14 children's books. He illustrated the book
Running the Road to ABC, which earned him the Coretta Scott King Award for illustration from the American Library Association. In 1991 Ruffins collaborated
with Whoopi Goldberg and Herbie Hancock to produce
Koi and the Kola Nuts, a video and companion book.
Reynold Ruffins also taught at the School of Visual Arts, Parsons-New School of Design, Queens College, and Syracuse University.
Ruffins began painting in the 2000s and his work has been shown in national and international exhibitions.
Throughout his long career, Ruffins earned many awards including the Augustus St. Gaudens Award and the Presidential Citation
from Cooper Union, and awards from the New York Art Directors Club and the Society of Illustrators.
Reynold Ruffins died July 11, 2021 in Sag Harbor, New York.
Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use. Audiovisual materials
are not available in original format, and must be reformatted to a digital use copy.
While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital 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. See: http://library.stanford.edu/spc/using-collections/permission-publish
[identification of item], Reynold Ruffins graphic design files (M2724). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives,
Stanford Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
childrens books
Illustrators.
Graphic design
Graphic arts.
Calendars.
Ruffins, Reynold