Guide to the Reynold Ruffins graphic design files M2724
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
2022
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: 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
Content Description
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.
Biographical / Historical
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.
Conditions Governing Access
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.
Conditions Governing Use
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
Preferred Citation
[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
Series 1: Commercial work
Scope and Contents
Illustrations for magazines and commercial illustrations for flyers, catalogs, records, etc.
Box 1
Graphic design files, reviews
Box 2, folder 3
Miscellaneous commercial and books works
Box 3, folder 1
Flyers and pamphlets
1965-1988
Box 3, folder 2
Flyers and pamphlets: Beneficial Mortgage Company
Box 3, folder 3
Flyers and pamphlets: New York Botanical Garden
Box 3, folder 4
Flyers and pamphlets: Dry Dock Savings Bank
Box 3, folder 5
Flyers and pamphlets: IBM
1970-1988
Box 3, folder 6
Flyers and pamphlets: publishing and magazines
1965-1985
Box 11, folder 7
Advertising - artwork
Scope and Contents
Includes artwork for Reynold Ruffins' books.
Box 14, folder 6
Artwork portfolio for commercial projects
Box 15, folder 3
Commercial artwork (1 of 2)
Box 15, folder 4
Commercial artwork (2 of 2)
Box 19, folder 1
Artwork
Scope and Contents
Mostly artwork for IBM.
Box 22, folder 5
Flyer and artwork for the New York Botanical Garden
Box 24
Carnival ; Denise Burden-Patmon with Kathryn D. Jones ; illustrated by Reynold Ruffins. Cleveland : Modern Curriculum Press
1992
Box 24
Cheesecake ; Lou Seibert Pappas ; illustrated by Reynold Ruffins. San Francisco : Chronicle Books
1993
Box 24
The code & cipher book ; Jane Sarnoff ; illustrated by Reynold Ruffins. New York : Scribner
1975
Box 24
The gift of the crocodile : a Cinderella story ; Judy Sierra ; illustrated by Reynold Ruffins. New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
2000
Box 24
A great aquarium book : the putting-it-together guide for beginners ; Jane Sarnoff ; Reynold Ruffins. New York : Charles Scribner's Sons
1977
Box 24
A great bicycle book ; Jane Sarnoff ; Reynold Ruffins. Harmondsworth, England : Kestrel Books
1976
Box 24
If you were really superstitious ; Jane Sarnoff ; Reynold Ruffins. New York : Charles Scribner's Sons
1980
Box 24
Koi and the kola nuts ; Brian Gleeson ; illustrated by Reynold Ruffins. Norwalk, Conn : Rabbit Ears
1992
Box 24
Koi and the kola nuts ; Brian Gleeson ; told by Whoopi Goldberg ; music by Herbie Hancock ; illustrated by Reynold Ruffins. Rowayton, Conn : Rabbit
Ears Productions
1991
Box 24
Light the candles! Beat the drums: a book of holidays ; Jane Sarnoff ; Reynold Ruffins. New York : Charles Scribner's Sons
1979
Box 24
Marco's run ; Wesley Cartier ; illustrated by Reynold Ruffins. San Diego : Green Light Readers/Harcourt
2000
Box 24
Misoso : once upon a time tales from Africa ; Verna Aardema ; illustrated by Reynold Ruffins. New York : Knopf
1994
Box 24
The monster riddle book ; Jane Sarnoff ; Reynold Ruffins. New York : Charles Scribner's Sons
1975
Box 24
Running the road to abc ; Denize Lauture ; illustrated by Reynold Ruffins. New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
1996
Box 24
So long, big duck ; Sam Holmes ; illustrated by Reynold Ruffins. [Sag Harbor, New York?] ; [publisher not identified]
2019
Box 24
Space: a fact and riddle book ; Jane Sarnoff ; Reynold Ruffins. New York : Charles Scribner's Sons
1978
Box 24
Take warning! A book of superstitions ; Jane Sarnoff ; Reynold Ruffins. New York : Charles Scribner's Sons
1978
Box 24
That's not fair ; Jane Sarnoff ; Reynold Ruffins. New York : Charles Scribner's Sons
1980
Box 24
There was an old lady who swallowed a trout! ; Teri Sloat ; illustrated by Reynold Ruffins. New York : Henry Holt and Company
1998
Box 24
Words : a book about the origins of everyday words and phrases ; Jane Sarnoff ; Reynold Ruffins. New York : Charles Scribner's Sons
1981
Sub-series: Artwork, tearsheets, jackets and mechanicals
Box 9, folder 2
Tear sheets: kids stuff
Scope and Contents
Includes tear sheets from
If you were really superstitious,
The monster riddle book,
The code & cipher book, and others.
Box 12, folder 2
Books Alive!: book mobile
1980
Box 17, folder 4
The code and cipher book: mechanicals
Box 11, folder 3
A friend for King Amadou: mechanicals (1 of 3)
Box 11, folder 4
A friend for King Amadou: mechanicals (2 of 3)
Box 11, folder 5
A friend for King Amadou: mechanicals (3 of 3)
Box 21, folder 1
The gift of the crocodile: original artwork
Box 13, folder 1
Grandmother Crocodile: mock-up
Box 23
Koi and the kola nuts: original art, paper cut-outs
Box 17, folder 2
Marco's run: art and mechanicals
Box 10, folder 1
Misoso: art and sketches (1 of 7)
Box 10, folder 2
Misoso: art and sketches (2 of 7)
Box 10, folder 3
Misoso: art and sketches (3 of 7)
Box 10, folder 4
Misoso: art and sketches (4 of 7)
Box 10, folder 5
Misoso: art and sketches (5 of 7)
Box 10, folder 6
Misoso: art and sketches (6 of 7)
Box 10, folder 7
Misoso: art and sketches (7 of 7)
Box 7, folder 5
Monster riddles - mechanicals
Box 11, folder 6
The monster riddle book: mechanicals
Box 20, folder 1
The monster riddle book: artwork
Box 9, folder 3
My brother never feeds the cat
Box 21, folder 2
Running the road to abc: original artwork
Box 21, folder 3
There was an old lady who swallowed a trout: original artwork
Box 11, folder 1
Turtle likes to sleep in...: art (1 of 2)
Box 11, folder 2
Turtle likes to sleep in...: art (2 of 2)
Turtle likes to sleep in... art (1 of 2)
Turtle likes to sleep in... art (2 of 2)
Box 17, folder 1
Words: art and mechanicals
Box 2, folder 2
Jane Sarnoff and Reynold Ruffins calendars
1977-1980
Box 9, folder 4
Monster calendar sketches
Box 15, folder 1
Artwork
Scope and Contents
Also includes artwork for
That's not fair.
Box 15, folder 2
Monster riddle calendar: 4 piece calendar - original art
Box 20, folder 2
Monster riddle calendar: artwork
Box 20, folder 3
Monster riddle calendar: artwork
Box 22, folder 6
Beastly riddle calendar: artwork
1977
Box 16, folder 3
Works in progress: black-and-white artwork
Box 18, folder 1
Artwork
Scope and Contents
Includes artwork for
Fortune magazine.
Box 18, folder 2
Artwork
Scope and Contents
Includes artwork for
Cosmopolitan magazine.
Box 18, folder 3
Artwork
Scope and Contents
Includes artwork for
Fortune magazine.
Box 3, folder 8
Tear sheets: Family Circle/kids stuff
1976-1983
Box 3, folder 9
Tear sheets: kids stuff
1975-1982
Box 3, folder 10
Tear sheets: Gourmet magazine
1986-1992
Box 3, folder 13
Tear sheets: miscellaneous
Box 4, folder 1
Gourmet magazine: original art (1 of 5)
Box 4, folder 2
Gourmet magazine: original art (2 of 5)
Box 4, folder 3
Gourmet magazine: original art (3 of 5)
Box 4, folder 4
Gourmet magazine: original art (4 of 5)
Box 4, folder 5
Gourmet magazine: original art (5 of 5)
Box 6, folder 1
Original art, drawings, and prints (1 of 7)
Scope and Contents
Includes artwork for Family Circle and other publications.
Box 6, folder 2
Original art, drawings, and prints (2 of 7)
Scope and Contents
Also includes artwork for calendars and books.
Box 6, folder 3
Original art, drawings, and prints (3 of 7)
Scope and Contents
Artwork for GQ.
Box 6, folder 4
Original art, drawings, and prints (4 of 7)
Scope and Contents
Includes artwork for
Cheesecake book by Lou Seibert Pappas.
Box 6, folder 5
Original art, drawings, and prints (5 of 7)
Scope and Contents
Includes artwork for Cosmpolitan magazine and GQ.
Box 6, folder 6
Original art, drawings, and prints (6 of 7)
Scope and Contents
Artwork for Cosmopolitan magazine.
Box 6, folder 7
Original art, drawings, and prints (7 of 7)
Scope and Contents
Includes artwork for IBM.
Box 7, folder 1
Gourmet: original art (1 of 4)
Box 7, folder 2
Gourmet: original art (2 of 4)
Box 7, folder 3
Gourmet: original art (3 of 4)
Box 7, folder 4
Gourmet: original art (4 of 4)
Box 8, folder 2
Original artwork and drawings (1 of 4)
Scope and Contents
Includes artwork for
The monster riddle book,
Cosmopolitan, and
GQ.
Box 8, folder 3
Original artwork and drawings (2 of 4)
Box 8, folder 4
Original artwork and drawings (3 of 4)
Scope and Contents
Includes artwork for
Cosmopolitan magazine.
Box 8, folder 5
Original artwork and drawings (4 of 4)
Box 13, folder 3
Artwork
Scope and Contents
Includes artwork for Scuba magazine and other projects.
Box 16, folder 1
Works in progress (detailing stages of works)
Scope and Contents
Includes artwork for
Gourmet magazine.
Box 16, folder 2
Works in progress
Scope and Contents
Includes artwork for
Gourmet magazine, and the
New York Times.
Box 22, folder 1
Gourmet magazine: artwork
