Artists and Models Ball souvenir book cover

Souvenir book cover design

In the 1940s,  Artists and Models Ball dances were held at the Savoy Ballroom in Chicago to raise funds for the Southside Community Art Center, the oldest African American art center in the United States and Chicago Historic Landmark.  The books contained information about the event programs, but also advertisements from southside Chicago local businesses. It is possible but unconfirmed this was designed by William McBride, Jr.

The Vivian Harsh Research Collection at the Chicago Public Library has an incredible collection of Artists and Models Ball programs, many with screenprinted covers. In 2022, scholars viewed many of these objects during  a summer research institute supported by the Terra Foundation's “Chicago Designs:  New Approaches for Teaching Politics, Commerce, and Culture.” The session was led by Chris Dingwall.