Hello,
I saw this note on a possible new Vogue Picture Record Book. I think it's a great idea. In fact when I saw that Nauck's has a current "complete collection" of 1945-'47 Vogues and all their related picture record works up for auction May 18, 2002, I had previously emailed them and suggested they ought to make a complete full-sized, full-color set of pictures with a story on this collection before they sell it.
I've also been doing a little Vogue picture record research myself. Recently, I have identified two of the six named Vogue artists on the records themselves. I have been able to confirm this research by finding and corresponding with the family members of these two illustrators. The first two of several articles has been sent into the AVPRC for their newsletter and to MAPS if they want to use them. I am advised AVPRC may be publishing the first one soon, and the next one later this summer. I'll be sending in a package of additional materials and pictures this week for them to do a possible third article by one of the family members. I hope they generate a little interest to help find some additional leads on the other four (or more ??) Vogue illustrators. If ARSC wants the articles to use, I'd send them to them as well.
Maybe this note can serve the same purpose.
"Corbett" on the R756, R782 and the S100 is "Ruth Corbett" (1912-1997). Once she was identified, it was easy to find a lot of information about her that was non-Vogue related, but even her daughter was unaware her mom had been a Vogue artist until she saw the picture records and the signature on them.
"Sprink" on the numerous Vogue picture records is "Walter F. Sprink" (1910-1974). He was one of the more prolific of the Vogue artists. When his son was contacted, he was aware that his dad had been one of the Vogue picture record illustrators, but was not aware the general public or Vogue collectors didn't know it was his dad who did the work. He has been very helpful with information and documentation on the Vogue segment of his dad's working life. He has even confirmed that his dad, mom and he were models for some of these illustrations in the Vogue records.
While some strong search leads currently exist on "Will Wirts", "R. Forbes", "M. Kanouse", and "Richard Harker", I'm still looking for family of them to confirm their identities and association as the Vogue picture record artists. The leads so far suggest Will Wirts is "William J. Wirts", and R. Forbes is believed to be "Robert E. Forbes", while M. Kanouse was recalled by Sprink's son as "Max Kanouse" possibly the Max Kanouse (1904-1970) from Birmingham, Michigan, and Richard Harker" may be "Richard F. Harker" who was found to do other illustrations for books around and after the Vogue time frame. Again, these are just leads that need to be followed up on to confirm or deny their Vogue connection.
Then there is another illustrator who did some Vogue picture record advertisement art that I recently came across named "(Carl??) Reynolds, Jr." I'm not positive on the "Carl" just because of the difficulty reading the ad, but the "Reynolds Jr." is clear. The only association I have so far is the ad from 1945 itself. I do not know whether some of the unsigned Vogue records may have been done by illustrators other than the six who signed their work.
If anyone has further leads they would like to share on any of the Vogue artists or their families, I'd be interested. Maybe all of this will help generate even greater interest in a new Vogue Picture Records Book. I hope so.
Ed Basl
basl440law@xxxxxxx
arsclist Possible Vogue Picture Records Book?