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The Picture Collection of Donald Moss

 Collection
Identifier: MS 017

Scope and Content Note

The Donald Moss Illustration Collection is comprised of approximately thirty linear feet of newspaper and magazine clipping, stamps, postcards, maps, photographs and original illustrations that were used as a morgue file during Moss’ career as an artist and illustrator. Images may be used to provide background work for visual arts projects. The collection also contains two signed illustrations and four oil paintings, the latter commissioned for the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. Original photographs which were interfiled with the sports clippings were separated and foldered together in their own series. Notes on files indicate where original drawings or photographs were removed. Of particular note are the original programs for the Boston Bruins from the 1930s

Dates

  • Creation: 1950-1999

Creator

Access Restrictions

Open for research without restrictions.

Use Restrictions

Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the:
Ruth A. Haas Library
Archives and Special Collections
181 White Street
Danbury, CT 06810
Phone: 203-837-8992
E-mail: stevensb@wcsu.edu

Historical/Biographical Note

Donald Moss is an artist/illustrator who for 30 years was the premier artist for Sports Illustrated with more covers and editorial illustrations than any American painter. His varied techniques included realism, abstraction, pointillism and surrealism in a variety of media: oil, acrylic, tempera, watercolor and enamel.

Named "Sports Artist of the Year" in 1985 by the United States Sports Academy, he has won many honors and awards for fine art paintings as well as his sports art. President Ronald Reagan invited him to the White House opening of "Champions of American Sport:" at the Smithsonian Institution in which three of Moss' Sports Illustrated paintings were featured. He has designed a dozen stamps for the U. S. Postal Service and 36 First Day Covers. Senior Vice President of The Society of Illustrators, and Chairman of the U. S. Airforce Art Program, Mr. Moss has traveled worldwide to produce over 20 paintings for the U.S.A.F. Art Collection. He is a Trustee of The National Art Museum of Sport, member of The New Britain Museum and Life Member of the First Marine Division Association (Guadalcanal).*

Donald Moss passed away in 2010.

Sources:

  • *National Art Museum of Sport: Retrospective. Donald Moss Sports Art, September 21-May 27, 1997.

Extent

21 Linear Feet (, 14 boxes and 2 OS folders)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The collection is comprised of approximately thirty linear feet of newspaper and magazine clipping, stamps, postcards, maps, photographs and original illustrations that were used as a morgue file during Moss’ career as an artist and illustrator.

Arrangement

Folders are arranged alphabetically by subject.

The files are grouped into 2 series: General Subject files and Sports Files. There are sports related materials in the general subject files but the Sports series is ONLY sports. The arrangement presumably reflects Moss' own arrangement of his files.

Provenance

In 1999, Mr. Moss generously donated his source materials to the Ruth A. Haas Library. In 2018, additional sports related materials were donated by Donald Moss' wife and children and were collocated together with the original files.

Related Materials

For more info on Donald Moss art, see: http://www.lib.uconn.edu/about/exhibits/Moss/moss.htm

Title
Guide to the Picture Collection of Donald Moss
Status
Unverified Full Draft
Author
WCSU Archives staff. 2018 additions processed by Jamie Cantoni, Ann Victor, and Shae Zalinski.
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Description is in English.
Edition statement
This version was derived from Donald Moss Collection.doc

Repository Details

Part of the Western Connecticut State University Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Haas Library
181 White St
Danbury 06810 USA US
203.837.8992
203.837.8322 (Fax)