J. Tom Morgan Papers (MC 360)

Biographical Note

James Thomas Morgan (known as J. Tom Morgan) was born in Columbus, Georgia on February 7, 1911 to James Thomas Morgan and Frances G. Harris. His first wife was Lillie Patterson born on the 4th of July, 1935 in Washington, D.C. She died in 1988. They had two children, James Thomas Morgan III (1935-1995) and Frederick P. Morgan. Morgan married his second wife, Marietta Isabelle Solimeo, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on December 4, 1953. After having left Columbus to pursue a career as an artist, he returned to Columbus to make a career as a commercial artist, buying Commercial Printers Incorporated (formerly Walton Printing Company), at the courthouse door at its bankruptcy auction in 1933. The company was renamed Litho-Krome. He ran the company until Hallmark bought it in 1979. J. Tom Morgan died on December 30, 1999 and is buried in Parkhill Cemetery in Columbus, along with his second wife, Marietta Isabelle Morgan and his son J. Tom Morgan III.

According to the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer story by Tony Adams of February 15, 2015, Hallmark closed the Litho-Krome printing plant in Columbus in 2015, ending its more than eight-decade run in Columbus. The Columbus facility printed Hallmark greeting cards and packaging for Crayola products. In March of 2014 it halted work on reproduction of fine art and photos, while shifting portions of the greeting card production process to the Kansas facility. At one time, the Columbus company was known for producing limited-edition prints for a number of major art publishers and artists. Henry Nordhausen, Norman Rockwell and Thomas Kinkade were among those who used the company's fine art expertise.

Scope and Content

This collection consists Morgan's speeches throughout his long career and materials related to the 1983 publication of his book, Kiss Impressions: My Love Affair With Lithography, as well as the related endowment of the Morgan Scholarship endowment for printing students at the Rochester Institute of Technology. In addition, there are many awards, paintings, reproductions, photographs, plaques and artwork, all relating to Morgan's publishing/printing activities both at Litho-Krome and from his later business pursuits. Such work included reproductions of art work by Henry Nordhausen, Gloria Sampson and other artists, as well as samples of job printing such as brochures, ad campaigns, calendars, etc. There was no particular arrangement to these oversized materials. Some items have water damage.

1940s-1990s 3 boxes, 4 map-case drawers (7 l.f.)

Permission to Publish

Permission to publish material from the J. Tom Morgan Collection (MC 360) must be obtained from the Columbus State University Archives at Columbus State University. Use of the following credit line for publication or exhibit is required:

J. Tom Morgan Collection (MC 360) Columbus State University Archives Columbus, Georgia

Provenance

This was a gift from Susan D. Morgan in 2015.

Note to Researchers

See also: Litho-Krome Records (MC 353)

Box/Folder/Item Lists

Box 1

Folder 1 - Books - Advertising and its Mechanical Production by Carl Richard Greer, 1931 (rev. 1948)This book is oversized and filed in the map cases.

Folder 2 - Books - America's Faith by Norman Rockwell, 1982

Folder 3 - Books - The First American Color Printer by Kirke Bryan, 1957

Folder 4 - Books - Graphic Arts Management by Victor Strauss, 1973

Folder 5 - Books - The Single Color Offset Press by I. H. Sayre, 1944

Folder 6 - Correspondence, 1974-1980

Folder 7 - Correspondence, 1983-1988 This folder contains a letter from Ronald Reagan to Morgan thanking him for remembering the president during his hospitalization and for sending him a copy of Morgan's book.

Folder 8 - GATF - Reed Award, 1983 This folder contains materials relating to the selection of the 1983 winner of the Robert F. Reed Technology Medal, awarded by the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF). It also contains a certificate saying that Morgan was elected to the GATF's Society of Fellows.

Folder 9 - Litho-Krome - Newsletters (scattered issues), 1972-1980

Folder 10 - Newspaper clippings, 1964, 1983

Folder 11 - Photographs These are slides, prints and negatives of mostly unidentified and undated materials, although some are "candids" from the 1974 Timken meeting. Some are of family and professional occasions from the 1980s and 1990s. There is also a poor quality photocopy of a photograph of General Grant and staff at the Battle of Lookout Mountain dated November 26, 1863.

Folder 12 - Samples of Printing, 1962, 1971, nd

Folder 13 - Scrapbook - David Hopewell, nd

Folder 14 - Speeches - International Printing House Conference - 29th Convention, Cleveland, Ohio, August 8, 1948 This speech is titled "A Frank Discussion of Combination shop Operations" and drafts.

Folder 15 - Speeches - International Association of Printing House Craftsmen (IAPHC) - 7th District Conference, Nashville, 1949 This speech is titled "Combination Pressroom Operation in a Small Shop" along with drafts. The folder also contains the typescript of a related article in Printing Magazine called "Litho-Krome's Story: Small Combination Plant Setting Quality Pace". There are multiple versions of the speech and multiple typescripts of each, with notes.

Folder 16 - Speeches - Junior Executives Club of Philadelphia, April 6, 1950 This speech is titled "Why Color Lithography?" There are multiple drafts of the speech, and multiple copies of these drafts.

Folder 17 - Speeches - Washington, DC, 1950 This speech to an unnamed printing professional group is titled "Quality in the Lithographic Industry". There are several drafts and copies of this speech.

Folder 18 - Speeches -Southern Graphic Arts Convention - Orlando, FL, May 7, 1954 This folder contains two drafts of Morgan's speech titled "Fine Color Printing".

Folder 19 - Speeches -Southern Graphic Arts Convention - Hot Springs, AK, May 26, 1955 This folder contains two drafts of Morgan's speech titled "Top Quality Must Be Planned".

Folder 20 - Speeches - Keystone Bottlers Assn., Pennsylvania, September 22, 1956 This folder contains two copies of Morgan's speech titled "Adjust to change . . . or die".

Folder 21 - Speeches - Graphic Arts Club - Birmingham, AL, October 25, 1956 This folder contains a speech with his notecards. The first page of the typescript is missing.

Folder 22 - Speeches - Southern Photoengravers Association - Chattanooga, TN, June 17, 1958 This folder contains drafts and copies of Morgan's speech titled "Color Under Control".

Folder 23 - Speeches - National Association of Photo-Lithographers - Philadelphia, PA, March 18, 1960 This speech is titled "Quality Levels in Lithography".

Folder 24 - Speeches - Bottler's Meeting - Grand Rapids, Michigan, May 2, 1960 This speech is titled "How to be a Failure".

Folder 25 - Speeches - National Association of Photo-Lithographers - Chicago, Illinois, October 6, 1960 This folder contains two copies of Morgan's speech titled "Quality Standards in Lithography".

Folder 26 - Speeches - Carnegie Institute of Technology, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, April 28, 1961 This speech is titled "Production Control". The folder includes a certificate of honorary membership in the Carnegie Printers Alumni group.

Folder 27 - Speeches - Southern Graphic Arts Convention - Nashville, TN, May 4, 1961 This folder contains correspondence on and drafts of Morgan's speech titled "Production Control".

Folder 28 - Speeches - International Association of Printing House Craftsmen's 42nd annual Convention, Chicago, Illinois, August 7, 1961 This folder contains three drafts of Morgan's speech titled "A Fresh Approach to Black and White and Color Lithography"

Folder 29- Speeches - Unknown location, December 18, 1961 This single page is titled "Comments of a Lithographer".

Folder 30 - Speeches - Printing Industry of Atlanta - Atlanta, February 15, 1962

Folder 31 - Speeches - National Association of Photo-Lithographers - New York, November, 1963 This folder contains handwritten comments, the opening prayer and expense account notes.

Folder 32 - Speeches - National Association of Photo-Lithographers - New York, September 10, 1964 This is Morgan's acceptance speech upon his receipt of the NAPL Soderstrom Award. Also included is a photo of Morgan accepting the award, with a caption incorrectly dated September 24, 1961.

Folder 33 - Speeches - Retirement Dinner for Ed Simons - Columbus Country Club, July 1, 1982

Folder 34 - Speeches - Retirement Dinner for Chuck Howard - Columbus Country Club, July 22, 1982

Folder 35 - Speeches - Dinner at Dr. Richard's home, September 8, 1983

Folder 36 - Speeches - Eddy Junior High School - Columbus, Georgia, October 22, 1984 This folder contains two very distinct drafts of Morgan's speech to these students.

Folder 37 - Speeches - Unknown location, December 14, 1985

Folder 38 - Speeches - Technical Association of the Graphic Arts (TAGA) - King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, April 15, 1986 Morgan received a TAGA Honors award. The meeting program is here, but his acceptance speech is not.

Folder 39 - Speeches, nd This folder contains speech fragments, drafts, and unidentified speech materials.

Box 2 - KISS Materials

The Kiss material relates to the publication of J. Tom Morgan's book, Kiss Impressions: My Love Affair with Lithography, including: The acquiring of permissions to include materials from copyright owners, the contract with the Rochester Institute of Technology to establish and maintain the Morgan Scholarship Endowment, donations to the endowment, manuscripts of the book, and other ancillary items. T he reasons for placement of particular items in folders are not always obvious, but Tom Morgan usually had a reason. An example is the letters in the KISS - L folder which are not to or from individuals nor entities beginning with an L. It became clear to the processor, however, that they were considered part of the legal activities relating to copyright permissions, hence Morgan's placement of these items in the KISS - Legal folder. Folder 1 - KISS - Acknowledgements - A-E, 1983-1984 This folder and the next two contain messages written by Morgan in copies of his book.

Folder 2 - KISS - Acknowledgements - F-M, 1983-1985

Folder 3 - KISS - Acknowledgements - N-Z, 1983-1996

Folder 4 - KISS - Autographs, 1983

Folder 5 - KISS - Autographs, 1984-2000

Folder 6 - KISS - A, 1988

Folder 7 - KISS - A - Accounting of Book, 1985-1989

Folder 8 - KISS - B, 1985, 1989

Folder 9 - KISS - B - Book Data, 1981

This is a draft of part of the book.

Folder 10 - KISS - B - Book Data - Bruno, 1980-1982

Folder 11 - KISS - C - Cards (Orders and other data), 1980s

Folder 12 - KISS - C - CB&T, 1983

Folder 13 - KISS - C - Copyright/ISNB, 1981-1983

Folder 14 - KISS - C - Cowan, Roy, 1980-1984

Folder 15 - KISS - D, 1985

Folder 16 - KISS - E - Emory University, 1985

Folder 17 - KISS - F, 1985

Folder 18 - KISS - F - Form Letters, 1983

Folder 19 - Kiss - G, 1984-1986

Folder 20 - Kiss - G - GATF, 1982-1983

Folder 21 - Kiss - G - Graphic Composition, 1982-1983 This folder contains information concerning the preparation and printing of the book.

Folder 22 - KISS - H, 1983-1986, 1992

Folder 23 - KISS - H - Hallmark, 1981-1983

Folder 24 - KISS - H - Harris Graphics, 1981-1983

Folder 25 - KISS - I - Inventory, 1983

Folder 26 - KISS - J - Jeffrey, 1980-1981, 1984

Folder 27 - KISS - K, 1982-1984

Folder 28 - KISS - K - Kronenberg, 1928-1983

Folder 29 - KISS - L, 1981-1983

Folder 30 - KISS - L - Lallier, Victor, 1981-1982

Folder 31 - KISS - L - Legal (Rochester Institute of Technology), 1981-1983

Folder 32 - KISS - M, 1981-1995

Folder 33 - KISS - M - Marketing, 1983

Folder 34 - KISS - M - Miles, Norman A., March-June, 1983 Norman A. Miles was the Director of National Development for RIT, and thus managed the Morgan scholarship fund.

Folder 35 - KISS - M - Miles, Norman A., July-December, 1983

Folder 36 - KISS - M - Miles, Norman A., 1984-1986

Folder 37 - KISS - M - Miles, Norman A., 1987-1992 & nd

Box 3 - KISS Materials

Folder 1 - KISS - M - Morgan Scholars, 1985-1994

Folder 2 - KISS - M - Museum, 1989

Folder 3 - KISS - N - NAPL, 1983, 1985

Folder 4 - KISS - N - Nicholstone Bindery, 1980-1985 & nd

Folder 5 - KISS - P - Permissions - A & P, 1982

Folder 6 - KISS - P - Permissions - American Journal of Pathology, 1981-1982

Folder 7 - KISS - P - Permissions - Ansco, 1981-1982

Folder 8 - KISS - P - Permissions - Beckett Paper Co., 1981

Folder 9 - KISS - P - Permissions - Bordon, Inc., 1981

Folder 10 - KISS - P - Permissions - Burton Manufacturing Co., 1981

Folder 11 - KISS - P - Permissions - Carter, Jimmy, 1981

Folder 12 - KISS - P - Permissions - Cartier, Inc., 1981

Folder 13 - KISS - P - Permissions - Champion, 1981-1984

Folder 14 - KISS - P - Permissions - Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, 1981

Folder 15 - KISS - P - Permissions - Dillard Paper Co., 1982-1983

Folder 16 - KISS - P - Permissions - Georgia Department of Natural Resources, 1981

Folder 17 - KISS - P - Permissions - Hallmark, 1982-1983

Folder 18 - KISS - P - Permissions - Harland Co., 1981-1983

Folder 19 - KISS - P - Permissions - Hudson, William I, 1982

Folder 20 - KISS - P - Permissions - Karsh, 1981-1982

Folder 21 - KISS - P - Permissions - Keppler, Victor, 1981-1982

Folder 22 - KISS - P - Permissions - Lallier, Victor, 1982-1983

Folder 23 - KISS - P - Permissions - Lenox, 1981-1982

Folder 24 - KISS - P - Permissions - Macmillan, 1982

Folder 25 - KISS - P - Permissions - McCall's, 1981-1983

Folder 26 - KISS - P - Permissions - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1981

Folder 27 - KISS - P - Permissions - Mill Pond Press, 1982

Folder 28 - KISS - P - Permissions - Muray, Nick, 1982-1983

Folder 29 - KISS - P - Permissions - N.A.P.L., nd but probably 1981 or 1982

Folder 30 - KISS - P - Permissions - Nordhausen, A. Henry, 1982

Folder 31 - KISS - P - Permissions - Paramount, 1981

Folder 32 - KISS - P - Permissions - Royal Crown Cola, 1981

Folder 33 - KISS - P - Permissions - Scott Paper, 1981

Folder 34 - KISS - P - Permissions - Sloan Paper Co., nd but probably 1981 or 1982

Folder 35 - KISS - P - Permissions - Sterling's Magazines (Modern Screen), 1981

Folder 36 - KISS - P - Permissions - Steuben Glass, 1981-1982

Folder 37 - KISS - P - Permissions - Thaxton Enterprises, 1982

Folder 38 - KISS - P - Permissions - Timkin, 1981

Folder 39 - KISS - P - Permissions - Travel/Holiday, 1981-1982

Folder 40 - KISS - P - Permissions - Twentieth Century Fox, 1981

Folder 41 - KISS - P - Phillips, Herbert E., 1982

Folder 42 - KISS - P - Phillips, Herbert E., 1983

Folder 43 - KISS - P - Phillips, Herbert E., 1984

Folder 44 - KISS - P - Phillips, Herbert E., 1985

Folder 45 - KISS - P - Phillips, Herbert E., 1986-1992 & nd

Folder 46 - KISS - R - Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), 1981-1983 & nd This folder contains several brochures and announcements about the Morgan Endowment Fund. While they are undated, they clearly refer to the start-up of the fund in 1983.

Folder 47 - KISS - R - Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), 1984

Folder 48 - KISS - R - Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), 1985-1998

Folder 49 - KISS - R - Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) - Publications, 1983-1998 and nd

Folder 50 - KISS - S - Sullivan, Margaret, 1983-1985

Folder 51 - KISS - T, 1981-1984, 1989

Folder 52 - KISS - V, 1983

Folder 53 - KISS - W, 1983-1985

Folder 54 - KISS - W - White's Book Store, 1983-1985

Folder 55 - Unidentified materials, nd This folder contains notes, newspaper clippings, unused pressed releases, a birthday card and other unsorted items.

Folder 56 - Metal award presented to J. Tom Morgan by the Atlanta Club of Printing House Craftsmen, 1961 This item is filed along the side of Box 3 due to its size.

Folder 57 - My Love Affair with Lithography (3/4 inch VHS tape) produced by Joel Gilmore for J. Tom Morgan Enterprises, nd

Oversized Materials

These items were originally mounted on display boards to showcase samples of commercial printing techniques. The section titles of the display are centered below.

Map Case 12 - Drawer 1

General

Item 1a -Sara Lee ChocolateItem 1b -Sara Lee Chocolate Cake (DraftItem 2a -Sara Lee Cream CheeseItem 2b - Sara Lee Cream Cheese Cake (Draft)Item 3a - Lennox ChinaItem 3b - Timken calendar for January, 1979Item 3c - Timken calendar for September, 1979Item 3d - Reproduction of a photo by Robert Perry of a young woman leaning on a sports car

Box and Can Labels

Item 4a - Stuckey's CandyItem 4b - Stuckey's Cashews labelItem 4c - Stuckey's Mixed Nuts and Dry Roasted Cashews labelsItem 4d - Stuckey's Mint FrappesItem 4e - Stuckey's Nut-Butter CrunchItem 4f - Stuckey's Pecan ClustersItem 4g - Stuckey's Pecan Arctic Fudge & Betty Benson Peanut BrittleItem 4h - Stuart's Pecan Eskimo FudgeItem 4i - Stuart's Pecan FudgeItem 4j - Stuart's Chocolate Pecan Fudge

Annual Reports

Item 5a - Russell Corporation, 1976Item 5b - Russell Corporation, 1977Item 5c - Russell Corporation, 1978Item 5d - Russell Corporation, 1979

Item 5e - Westport Pepperell, 1976Item 5f - Westport Pepperell, 1977Item 5g - Westport Pepperell, 1978Item 5h - Westport Pepperell, 1979

Golf Catalogs

Item 6a - Ben Hogan Seventy-One EquipmentItem 6b - Benn Hogan PuttersItem 6c - Burton, 1974Item 6d - Burton Ladies BagsItem 6e - Royal '74Item 6f - Royal Seventy Five

Labels

Item 7a - Florida TemplesItem 7b - Florida GrapefruitItem 7c - Florida TangerinesItem 7d - Florida OrangesItem 7e - ApplesItem 7f - Peaches (I)Item 7g - Peaches (II)Item 7h - Pears

Printed ForBeckett Paper Company

Item 8a - Cut grass titled "Brilliant!"Item 8b - Score a hit every runItem 8c - The "pet sheet" for printers. . .Item 8d - For care-free printing. . .Item 8e - Something wonderful happens. . .Item 8f - "Young lady deep in thought. . .Item 8g - For brilliance for color. . .Item 8h - UntitledItem 8i - Beckett Text. It's your best shot

Color Proof

Item 9 - Printed PageItem 10 - Color Overlays (3 colors)Item 11 - Enlargement overlays (3 colors)

Printed forWarren Paper Company

Item 12 - Folder with ads for Warren Paper Co.Item 13 - Ad for Warren Paper—Man with a gold aviator helmetItem 14 - Ad for Warren Paper - Golden crabItem 15 - Ad for Warren Paper - Red, White and Blue hair brushItem 16 - Ad for Warren Paper - Painting by Bob Peak used in an adItem 17 - Ad for Warren Paper Co - Astronaut in Space

Brouchure for Harland Bank Stationer

Item 18a - Part 1Item 18b - Part 2Item 18c - Part 3Item 18d - Part 4

Printed forChampion Paper Company

Item 19 - Ad for Wedgewood Weave Offset with a seal balancing a ballItem 20 - Ad for Templer Coated offset with a Parrot

Kromekota Paper

Item 21 - Ad with sliced breadItem 22 - Ad with raspberriesItem 23 - Ad with spoonsItem 24 - Ad with chipped iceItem 25 - Ad with eggsItem 26 - Ad with a Christmas tree in the forestItem 27 - Ad with walnutsItem 28 - Ad with glasses and various wines and liquors (6 copies)

Calendars

Item 29 - Litho-Krome Calendar, 1979Item 30 - Litho-Krome Calendar, 1980

Seald-Sweet

Item 31 - Ad for Florida Grapefruit (whole)Item 32 - Ad for Florida Grapefruit (sliced)Item 33 - Ad for Florida Grapefruit (sections)Item 34 - Ad for Florida Oranges

Sara Lee

Item 35 - Cheese Cake (2 copies)Item 36 - Chocolate Cake (2 copies)

Map Case 12 - Drawer 2

The following items were among the loose material in the J. Tom Morgan collection and are grouped by theme or subject.

Item 1 - Portrait of President Dwight EisenhowerItem 2 - Woman in Red, 1952Item 3 - Woman in Gold, 1952Item 4 - Woman in Blue, 1952Item 5 - Woman in Teal, 1952Item 6 - Black and white photographic portrait of an unidentified manItem 7 - Black and white photographic portrait of an unidentified man Black and white photographic portrait of an unidentified manItem 8 - Black and white photographic portrait of an unidentified manItem 9 - Black and white photographic portrait of an unidentified manItem 10 - Oil on board painting of a farm in snow by Joan Simcock, 1953

Map Case 12 - Drawer 3

Item 1 - Flyer for the J. Tom Morgan, Jr. Education Fund for Working ScholarsItem 2 - Pencil sketch of J. Tom Morgan surrounded by images of his various business locationsItem 3 - Reproduction of portrait of J. Tom Morgan by A. Henry NordhausenItem 4 - Photo of silverware in a wine glass by Albert GommiItem 5 - Photo of a girl on a beach in a bikiniItem 6 - Envelope with 7 photos of Lake Tahoe and other outdoor scenes from ANSCOItem 7 - Reproduction of a painting by an unidentified artist of the Columbus High School band marching down BroadwayItem 8 - Reproduction of a photograph by Mike Roberts of San Francisco titled "Night & the City"Item 9 - Reproduction of a photograph by Tim Oliver of opera glasses, case, top hat and camellia with concert tickets and program (2 copies)Item 10 - Reproduction of a painting by Hazzell (?) of a horseraceItem 11 - Reproduction of a watercolor titled "A Scene in Bellingraph Gardens"Item 12 - Reproduction of a watercolor by Wendell Taylor of a stream in a woods and meadowItem 13 - Reproduction of a painting by A. Henry Nordhausen of a blond ballerina (2 copies)Item 14 - Reproduction of a painting by A. Henry Nordhausen of a nude woman with read drapery (3 copies)Item 15 - Reproduction of a painting by A. Henry Nordhausen titled "Yvette" of a nude woman (2 copies)Item 16 - Reproduction of a painting by A. Henry Nordhausen titled "Ballerina in White" (3 copies)Item 17 - Reproduction of a painting by A. Henry Nordhausen titled "Ballerina Resting" (3 copies)Item 18 - Lithographic proof set of a color photograph by Charles W. Thill of a still-life with peppermint candies in a jar, apples, wine, etc. (9 sheets of varying shades)Item 19 - Lithographic proof set of a color photograph by Charles W. Thill of a still-life with wine and cheeseItem 20 - Lithographic proof set of a color photograph by Charles W. Thill of a still-life with a ceramic jug and wine glass on old books, with a bowl of fruit, wine carafe and walnuts in foreground (15 sheets of varying shades)Item 21 - Lithographic proof set of a color photograph by Charles W. Thill of a still-life with a white pitcher with apples, cherries and limes with a glass of lemonade (2 sheets of varying shades)Item 22 - Part of lithographic proof set of a color photograph by Charles W. Thill of a still-life with a newspaper dated 1873 behind a stack of old books with a pewter inkwell and quill pen, and a long pipe (1 sheet)Item 23 - Lithographic proof set of a color photograph by Charles W. Thill of a still-life with a platter with bread, raisins, cherries, walnuts and an apple (16 sheets of varying shades)Item 24 - Reproduction of a painting by Thomas Palmerton titled "Sunday Pancakes", a corporate cultural project of Mrs. Paul's Kitchens, Inc, 1973

Map Case 12 - Drawer 4

Item 1 - Framed reproduction of Nordhausen portrait of J. Tom MorganItem 2 - Lithography printing stone with an image of a cavalier and the name CadillacItem 3 - Set of Hallmark Master Control color coding sheetsItem 4 - Moistrite Offset paper by Mead