MS-137
THE ESTELLE JEAN YENNEY COLLECTION
INTRODUCTION
MS-137, the Estelle Jean Yenney Collection, was accessioned into the Flesh Public Library Archives and Special Collections in February, 2006. A second and larger donation was accessioned into the Piqua Public Library from Miss Yenney’s Estate in December 2014. The two donations consisted of materials from Miss Yenney’s years of teaching calligraphy, cartooning and drawing at Edison State Community College, through her instruction by mail business and her work for the various Beery Companies of Pleasant Hill, Ohio. The two donations have been merged into a single manuscript collection, MS-137 in the archives of the Piqua Public Library. The collection is contained in two Gaylord 1215 boxes consisting of two Series, ten sub-series and 108 file folders. The material includes calligraphy and drawing instructions. There are no restrictions on the use of this collection.
SCOPE AND CONTENT
The Estelle Jean Yenney Collection is divided into two series and ten sub-series as follows:
SERIES I: Art and Drawing
Sub-Series I A: Written communications to students – Box 1, Files 1-3
Sub-Series I B: Beginners Course in Cartooning and Art – Box 1, Files 4-19
Sub-Series I C: Cartooning for Profit: A Complete 34 Lesson Course In Cartooning and Artby David Rand, Cartoonists’ Exchange, Pleasant Hill, Ohio, copyright 1946 and 1960 – this course is divided into six sections with printed lesson books for each section – Box 1, Files 20-59
Sub-Series I D: Paul Robinson’s Post Graduate Course: Professional Syndicate Cartooning For Greater Profits in two parts by Paul Robinson, Cartoonists’ Exchange, Pleasant Hill, Ohio, 1963 – Box 1, Files 60-62
Sub-Series I E: Other books about cartooning and drawing – Box 1, Files 63-76
Sub-Series I F: Other Miscellaneous Cartooning and Drawing papers, examples, assignments, lessons and brochures – Box 1, Files 77-84
SERIES II: Calligraphy Instructional Materials
Sub-Series II A: Introductions and advertising for Miss Yenney’s Calligraphy by mail Course – Box 2, Files 1-3
Sub-Series II B: Calligraphy instructional materials – Box 2, Files 4-10
Sub-Series II C: Calligraphy materials by topic – Box 2, Files 11-21
Sub-Series II D: Calligraphy materials specific and personal to Miss Estelle Yenney – Box 2, Files 22-24
HISTORY
Estelle Jean Yenney was born in Piqua May 30, 1916, the daughter of Forrest W. and Wilma Yenney. She graduated from Piqua High School in 1934. She began her career as an artist by taking a correspondence art course. Her first job was with Piqua Cap Company designing the small cardboard caps which fit into milk bottles. When Piqua Cap Company was sold, Yenney went to work for the Stanley Greeting Card Company in Dayton, Ohio doing drawings and lettering. During her years at Piqua Cap and Stanley Greeting Cards she also did some design work for the Tykie Toy Company of Piqua. She later said, “I designed three ducks, one of which was selected and made into a plastic toy.” She also designed an elephant and a lamb’s head for Tykie Toy.
When Stanley Greeting Cards moved their operations to New York City, Miss Yenney went to work for Piqua Granite Company designing memorials, tombstones and mausoleums. A number of tombstones at Forest Hill Cemetery were designed by Miss Yenney and she also did the design work for the St. Paris, Ohio World War II memorial.
Miss Yenney later taught correspondence cartooning and calligraphy courses for the Beery Correspondence Schools in Pleasant Hill, Ohio. The courses operated under the name Cartoonists’ Exchange and were taught at the beginning, intermediate and advanced levels. She also taught beginning, intermediate and advanced calligraphy courses at Edison State Community College and she taught some of Edison’s drawing and art classes. In the later years of her career Miss Yenney formed her on company, Yenney Enterprises, Inc., and used it to teach calligraphy and drawing by correspondence.
In her personal work, she produced a number of oil and watercolor paintings and in 2003 she won the Great Artist Award during a Senior Art Show held for anyone over the age of 55. She was a member of the Dayton Painters and Sculptors Society. Miss Yenney died on December 16, 2012.
CONTAINER LIST
BOX 1
SERIES I: Art and Drawing
Sub-Series I A: Written communications to students
File
1 Typed and printed instructions on cartooning to students from Estelle (“E.J.”) Yenney and others at Cartoon Exchange.
2 Hand written instructions to students on cartooning and drawing techniques from Estelle Yenney to be sent to students.
3 Hand written instructions to students found in a folder entitled “Weekend Painting.” The instructions cover both oil painting techniques and water color techniques among other topics.
Sub-Series I B: Beginners Course in Cartooning and Art
File
4 Instruction book used by Ms. Yenney and others at the Cartoonists’ Exchange to teach beginning cartooning. The book is: Beginner’s Course in Cartooning and Art: 15 Easy Lessons by Col. Leo Egli, Cartoonists’ Exchange, Pleasant Hill, Ohio, copyright 1968 – 3 copies.
5 Ms. Yenney’s instruction and examples sent to the student to go along with Lesson #1: “These 4 Shapes Help You Get Started.”
6 Ms. Yenney’s instruction and examples sent to the student to go along with Lesson #2: “Things You Can Do With Circles.”
7 Ms. Yenney’s instruction and examples sent to the student to go along with Lesson #3: “What You Can Do With Figure 8’s.”
8 Ms. Yenney’s instruction and examples sent to the student to go along with Lesson #4: “Easy Way To Draw Animals.”
9 Ms. Yenney’s instruction and examples sent to the student to go along with Lesson #5: “Simple Way To Draw Birds.”
10 Ms. Yenney’s instruction and examples sent to the student to go along with Lesson #6: “How Figure 8 Helps You Draw Many Things.”
11 Ms. Yenney’s instruction and examples sent to the student to go along with Lesson #7: “How to Draw With Over-lapping Circles.”
12 Ms. Yenney’s instruction and examples sent to the student to go along with Lesson #8: “More Fun With Circles and Triangles.”
13 Ms. Yenney’s instruction and examples sent to the student to go along with Lesson #9: “Secret of Drawing Fowls Quickly.”
14 Ms. Yenney’s instruction and examples sent to the student to go along with Lesson #10: “How to Draw Horses, Cows and Dogs.”
15 Ms. Yenney’s instruction and examples sent to the student to go along with Lesson #11: “Easy Way to Draw Faces.”
16 Ms. Yenney’s instruction and examples sent to the student to go along with Lesson #12: “Tips About Drawing Children’s Faces.”
17 Ms. Yenney’s instruction and examples sent to the student to go along with Lesson #13: “An Easy Way to Get Perspective.”
18 Ms. Yenney’s instruction and examples sent to the student to go along with Lesson #14: “How to Draw Fat and Thin People.”
19 Ms. Yenney’s instruction and examples sent to the student to go along with Lesson #15: “How to Draw Men and Women.” At the end of Lesson #15 the student is advised to go on to a more intense set of 34 lessons by David Rand. These materials are also supplied by Cartoonist’s Exchange.
Sub-Series I C: Cartooning for Profit: A Complete 34 Lesson Course In Cartooning and Art by David Rand, Cartoonists’ Exchange, Pleasant Hill, Ohio, copyright 1946 and 1960 – this course is divided into six sections with printed lesson books for each section
File
20 Cartooning for Profit Section One, Lessons 1, 2, 3 & 4 – two copies of the student instruction book as it was copyrighted in 1946.
21 Cartooning for Profit Section One, Lessons 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 – one copy of the student instruction book as it was copyrighted in 1960.
22 A letter from Beecher Beery, CEO of The Beery School of Horsemanship and Cartoonists’ Exchange welcoming students to the 34 lesson course entitled Cartooning for Profit. Also included are samples used by Ms. Yenney and others for completion of Lesson #1, “Introduction and First Steps” and an explanation of the uses of the “Magic Marionette” which was supplied with the course. The marionette was a bendable wire and plastic stick figure that could by bent into almost any position and was used in the course to assist the students in the study of motion.
23 Examples and instructions to go along with Cartooning for Profit Lesson #2: “Expression of Moods.”
24 Examples and instructions to go along with Cartooning for Profit Lesson #3: “Features of the Head.”
25 Examples and instructions to go along with Cartooning for Profit Lesson #4: “Drawing the Head.”
26 Examples and instructions to go along with Cartooning for Profit Lesson #5: “Technique.”
27 Cartooning for Profit Section Two, Lessons 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10 – one copy of the student instruction book as it was copyrighted 1947.
28 Cartooning for Profit Section Two, Lessons 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10 – one copy of the student instruction book as it was copyrighted in 1960 and one copy of the book copyrighted in 1964.
29 Examples and instructions to go along with Cartooning for Profit Lesson #6: “Drawing the Child.”
30 Examples and instructions to go along with Cartooning for Profit Lesson #7: “Hair.”
31 Examples and instructions to go along with Cartooning for Profit Lesson #8: “Drawing Hands.”
32 Examples and instructions to go along with Cartooning for Profit Lesson #9: “Drawing the Feet and Shoes.”
33 Examples and instructions to go along with Cartooning for Profit Lesson #10: “Anatomy.”
34 Cartooning for Profit Section Three, Lessons 11, 12, 13, 14 & 15 – there are three books, one copyrighted in 1947, one copyrighted in 1964 and one copyrighted in 1967.
35 Examples and instructions to go along with Cartooning for Profit Lesson #11 – “Principles of Composition.”
36 Examples and instructions to go along with Cartooning for Profit Lesson #12 – “The Cartoon Strip.”
37 Examples and instructions to go along with Cartooning for Profit Lesson #13 – “Action.”
38 Examples and instructions to go along with Cartooning for Profit Lesson #14 – “Chalk Talking.”
39 Examples and instructions to go along with Cartooning for Profit Lesson #15 – “Portrait Sketching.”
40 Cartooning for Profit Section Four, Lessons 16, 17, 18, 19 & 20 – there are three books, one copyrighted in 1964 and two copyrighted in 1953.
41 Examples and instructions to go along with Cartooning for Profit Lesson #16: “Shades, Shadows and Textures.”
42 Examples and instructions to go along with Cartooning for Profit Lesson #17: “Drawing Women.”
43 Examples and instructions to go along with Cartooning for Profit Lesson #18: “Details for Cartoons.”
44 Examples and instructions to go along with Cartooning for Profit Lesson #19: “Indicating Folds in Clothing.”
45 Examples and instructions to go along with Cartooning for Profit Lesson #20: “National Symbols.”
46 Cartooning for Profit Section Five, Lessons 21, 22, 23, 24 & 25 – there are two books, one copyrighted in 1953 and one copyrighted in 1964.
47 Examples and instructions to go along with Cartooning for Profit Lesson #21: “Cartoon Domestic Animals,”
48 Examples and instructions to go along with Cartooning for Profit Lesson #22: Drawing Wild Animals.”
49 Examples and instructions to go along with Cartooning for Profit Lesson #23: “Editorial Cartooning.”
50 Examples and instructions to go along with Cartooning for Profit Lesson #24: “Perspective.”
51 Examples and instructions to go along with Cartooning for Profit Lesson #25: “Caricature”
52 Cartooning for Profit Section Six, Lessons 26, 27 & 28 – there are four books, one copyrighted in 1947, two copyrighted in 1953 and one copyrighted in 1964.
53 Examples and instructions to go along with Cartooning for Profit Lesson #26: “The Cartoon in Advertising.”
54 Examples and instructions to go along with Cartooning for Profit Lesson #27: “Cartoon Lettering.”
55 Examples and instructions to go along with Cartooning for Profit Lesson #28: “Getting Humorous Cartoon Ideas.”
56 Cartooning for Profit Section Seven, Lessons 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 & 34 – there are two books, one copyrighted in 1953 and one copyrighted in 1964.
57 Examples and instructions to go along with Cartooning for Profit Lesson #29: “Silhouettes.”
58 Examples and instructions to go along with Cartooning for Profit Lesson #30: “Difficult Positions Simplified.”
NOTE: Examples and instructions to go along with Cartooning for Profit Lessons #31, 32 and 34were not identified within the materials in this collection. Lesson #31 covered “Sports Cartoons,” lesson #32 covered “Comic Posters” and lesson #34 (the last lesson in this course) was entitled “Cash In On Ideas.”
59 Examples and instructions to go along with Cartooning for Profit Lesson #33: “How to Develop an Individual Style and Find the Type of Work for Which You are Best Suited.”
Sub-Series I D: Paul Robinson’s Post Graduate Course: Professional Syndicate Cartooning For Greater Profits in two parts by Paul Robinson, Cartoonists’ Exchange, Pleasant Hill, Ohio, 1963
File
60 Professional Syndicate Cartooning: Part 1. Part 1 is divided into fourteen visits to Paul Robinson’s studio. Each visit covers a particular subject and has an assignment for the student to complete. The visits in Part One are: #1 – What Syndication Has Done for Others; #2 – How I Managed to Get My Start; #3 – What You Should Know About Syndicates; #4 – Eight Stages in Creation of Comic Strip; #5 – Valuable Advice on Originating Characters; #6 – Tips on Developing Gags; #7 – Constructing Heads. Fine Pointers; #8 – Expert Tips on Expressions; #9 – How to Draw Hands As Aids to Expression; #10 – Pretty Girls. Their Place and Value; #11 – How Figure 8 Makes Body-Building Easy; #12 – Action is a MUST – How to Get It! #13 – Professional Exercises; #14 – Studio Assignments.
61 Professional Syndicate Cartooning: Part 21. Part 2 is divided into eleven visits to Paul Robinson’s studio. Each visit covers a particular subject and has an assignment for the student to complete. The visits in Part Two are: #15 – Advanced Instruction on Figure Drawing; #16 – Composition As Applied to Comic Strips; #17 – How to Draw Details and Background; #18 – Right Ways to Use Silhouettes; #19 – Laying Out the Idea Into Strip Form; #20 – Penciling the Strip; #21 – Inking-in the Words; #22 – My Own Secret of Sparking Ideas; #23 – Revealing Example of How I Work; #24 – How to Get Started as a Cartoonist; #25 – Final Studio Assignment for You.
62 Cartoons and drawings to go along with Paul Robinson’s Professional Syndicate Cartooning series.
Sub-Series I E: Other books about cartooning and drawing
File
63 Paul Robinson’s Illustrated Course in Animated Movie and TV Cartooning by Paul Robinson, Cartoonists’ Exchange, Pleasant Hill, Ohio, 1963 – two books, one copyrighted in 1958 and one in 1963. The course is divided into 15 lessons with each lesson covering a particular topic. The lessons are: #1 – Animated Character Suggestions; #2 – Humanizing Animals and Birds; #3 – Head Construction – How the Expert Animator Does It; #4 – How to Make and use an Animation Board; #5 – Facial Expressions for Animated Cartooning; 6 – How to Draw Animated Hands and Feet; #7 – How to Draw Animated Figures; #8 – Principles of Animation – Let the Magic Animator Help You; #9 – How to Make Hands Say, “Goodbye;” #10 – How to Make a Head Turn Fast or Slow; #11 – How to Make Many Parts Move At Same Time; #12 – Animated and Still Backgrounds; #13 – Special Instructions about “Moving” Backgrounds; #14 – How to Draw and Animate for TV; #15 – Combining Figures and Background.
64 Cartoons and drawings to go along with Paul Robinson’s Illustrated Course in Animated Movie and TV Cartooning
65 Lesson Correction Portfolio by David Rand, Cartoonists’ Exchange, Pleasant Hill, Ohio – 3 copies, one copyrighted in 1946, one copyrighted in 1953 and one copyrighted in 1961. This book is designed to accompany Cartooning for Profit: A Complete 34 Lesson Course In Cartooning and Art by David Rand, Cartoonists’ Exchange, Pleasant Hill, Ohio. In the Lesson Correction Portfolio there are corrections suggested for the assignments in each of the 34 lessons in Cartooning for Profit.
66 Questions and Answers about Marketing Cartoons by David Rand, Cartoonists’ Exchange, Pleasant Hill, Ohio, 1947 – this 19 page booklet list in additions to general questions and answers, a list of Newspaper Syndicates that sell cartoons to newspapers, a list of the major cartoon markets and a list of the minor cartoon markets.
67 Comic Character Creator, Cartoonists’ Exchange, Pleasant Hill, Ohio – this booklet provides an easy and quick method by which anyone can create comic character heads.
68 How to Make Money with Simple Cartoons and Art, Cartoonists’ Exchange, Pleasant Hill, Ohio – this booklet describes the market for various types of cartoons. It is actually and advertising booklet to introduce the David Rand Cartooning for Profit 34 lesson course. (2 copies)
69 Home Course in Portrait Painting: Complete in Three Parts by David Rand, Cartoonists’ Exchange, Pleasant Hill, Ohio – There are two copies of the book, one copyrighted in 1947 and the other in 1961. Part One contains the following topics: the two types of portraits; how to begin a portrait; posing the model; the colors for your palette; how to mix your colors; blocking out the portrait; bringing out the color of the face; how to save paint and preserve brushes; how to make the form of face “real”; all techniques based on one stroke; painting eyes and a formula for painting hair. Part Two contains the following topics: starting your “self-portrait”; choosing good lighting; “building up” color; how to make rapid portrait sketches; tips for the “portrait caricaturist” and broad pencil method for rapid sketches. Part Three Contains the following topics: quick way to make “polished portrait”; easy way to achieve smooth effects; how to use water color in portraits; simplified plan for watercolor technique; caution about use of brilliant color; the “crayon-water color” portrait; individual lesson assignments and do’s and don’ts of portraiture.
70 Cartoonists’ Exchange Professional Sign Painting: One Day System by David Rand, Cartoonists’ Exchange, Pleasant Hill, Ohio, copyright 1960. Parts 1-5 of a 20 part sign painting course. (2 copies)
71 Cartoonists’ Exchange Professional Sign Painting: One Day System by David Rand, Cartoonists’ Exchange, Pleasant Hill, Ohio, copyright 1960. Parts 6-11 of a 20 part sign painting course. (2 copies)
72 Cartoonists’ Exchange Professional Sign Painting: One Day System by David Rand, Cartoonists’ Exchange, Pleasant Hill, Ohio, copyright 1960. Parts 12-16 of a 20 part sign painting course. (2 copies)
73 Cartoonists’ Exchange Professional Sign Painting: One Day System by David Rand, Cartoonists’ Exchange, Pleasant Hill, Ohio, copyright 1960. Parts 17-18 of a 20 part sign painting course. (2 copies)
74 Cartoonists’ Exchange Professional Sign Painting: One Day System by David Rand, Cartoonists’ Exchange, Pleasant Hill, Ohio, copyright 1960. Parts 19-20 of a 20 part sign painting course. (2 copies)
75 How to Make Money in Commercial Art, 3rd edition by E. J. Yenney, Piqua, Ohio, 1976. This book was developed by Miss Estelle Jean Yenney after she left Cartoonists’ Exchange and began her own art by mail company, Yenney Enterprises, Box 1181, Piqua, Ohio 45356. The book is divided into twelve sets with four assignments in each set. There are two copies of the book and the folder also includes printer’s proof pages for the book.
76 Assignment papers and instruction sheets to go along with How to Make Money in Commercial Art, 3rd edition.
Sub-Series I F: Other Miscellaneous Cartooning and Drawing papers, examples, assignments, lessons and brochures
77 Fashion drawings, labeled “Fashion Trends”, sent by Estelle Yenney as examples with instructions to her students.
78 Instructions in drawing the human body using classical art and sculpture figures to copy for practice. The drawings contain human skeletons and muscles and were used by Miss Yenney and others to teach proportion in human drawings.
79 Instructions in drawing animals using classical art forms. The drawings were used to teach proportion in animal drawings.
80 Instruction drawings by Miss Yenney on tracing paper showing human proportions, positions and motions among other topics.
81 Instruction drawings by Miss Yenney on tracing paper showing animal proportions, positions and motions.
82 How To Sell Your Cartoons, Artists Market, 9933 Alliance Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45242 – a brochure and the print proofs.
83 Miscellaneous examples and instructions for use by students.
84 Portrait drawing and painting instructions.
BOX 2
SERIES II: Calligraphy Instructional Materials
Sub-Series II A: Introductions and advertising for Miss Yenney’s Calligraphy by mail course.
File
1 Advertising materials and fliers describing the beginning and intermediate calligraphy offered by Yenney Enterprises including supplies price lists, sign-up forms and introductory materials for the beginning and intermediate calligraphy courses offered by Miss Yenney.
2 Yenney Enterprises advertising print masters and drafts for advertising the calligraphy course.
3 E. J. Yenney’s Intermediate Calligraphy Diploma – blank (3 copies)
Sub-Series II B: Calligraphy instructional materials
File
4 History of Calligraphy and lettering – three sets of 10 pages copied from Learning Calligraphy: A Book of Lettering, Design and History by Margaret Shepherd, also notes and typed pages to accompany the 10 page handout all covering the history of lettering.
5 Beginning calligraphy course including instructions, pages to be given to students as examples and pages for student practice. There is also a blank “E. J. Yenney’s Beginners Calligraphy” Diploma.
6 Intermediate calligraphy course including instructions, pages to be given to students as examples and pages for student practice.
7 Speedball Steel Brush Instruction Chart 9: Handcraft Lettering – 10 charts on 5 pages (both sides) illustrating the exact strokes to use to make various style of letters with Speedball ¼”, 3/8”, ½” and ¾” Steel Brush pens.
8 Calligraphy Course teacher materials – print masters of materials used by Miss Yenney to teach her calligraphy courses.
9 Calligraphy Course student assignment worksheets – print masters of student assignment materials mailed out to the students.
10 Calligraphy Handbook edited by C. M. Lamb – These are hand written sections by Miss Yenney from Lamb’s book.
Sub-Series II C: Calligraphy materials by topic.
File
11 Calligraphy styles and style sheets.
12 Calligraphy composition.
13 Calligraphy design and decorative design.
14 Calligraphy in greeting cards and show or advertising cards.
15 Ink – types, preparation and uses.
16 Calligraphy uses in making posters.
17 Printing techniques on various media.
18 Pentalk and other technical pamphlets, fliers and notes.
19 Marketing and reference sources – Sources for calligraphy books and instructional materials. Also names and addresses of companies where calligraphy work might be marketed or where calligraphers are hired.
20 Examples of “Family Trees” using calligraphy to enhance in genealogy.
21 Standard Proof Readers Marks – a chart showing the marks and their definitions.
Sub-Series II D: Calligraphy materials specific and personal to Miss Estelle Yenney
File
22 Samples of calligraphy produced by Miss Estelle Yenney.
23 Calligraphy practice sheets for lettering certificates for the Japan Aikido Association – there is one certificate in the folder and numerous practice sheets.
24 Lecture notes used by Miss Yenney in her art and calligraphy classes at Edison State College.