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Dan Arje papers

 Collection
Identifier: KA-0001-01

Online Access

Available digital items: https://digital.archives.newschool.edu/index.php/Detail/collections/KA000101.

Summary

Dan Arje (1923-1993) was a designer and display director for Bonwit Teller. The collection primarily consists of albums of photographs and news clippings about Arje's displays, and correspondence regarding his decorating work for the White House during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, including decoration of the White House Christmas tree. Also present are materials about Bonwit Teller and Tiffany's designer Gene Moore.

Dates

  • 1949 - 1981

Creator

Extent

2.2 Cubic Feet (5 boxes, 5 folders)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Scope and Content of Collection

The Dan Arje papers include clippings, correspondence, numerous photographs, publications, and a scrapbook. All materials are of a professional nature, and primarily document his work as a display designer and display director at the Bonwit Teller department store. In addition to materials documenting Arje's role at Bonwit Teller, clippings and photographs also document the work of Gene Moore. The papers are divided into three series by format.

General includes clippings about Dan Arje and Bonwit Teller, especially Arje's predecessor as display director, Gene Moore; correspondence, including materials from the Kennedy and Johnson White Houses; and a scrapbook comprised of clippings, correspondence, and numerous photographs.

Photographs includes materials originally housed in albums--without accompanying materials such as clippings or correspondence--and file folders. The majority of the photographs are black and white prints depicting Bonwit Teller display windows featuring women's apparel and accessories. One folder of color photographs, which postdate Arje's employment with Bonwit Teller, depicts an unidentified department store's displays for Adolfo perfumes. An unidentified fashion show, possibly dating to the late 1970s, is also documented in color snapshots. Dated prints span 1949 through 1981. Also included are glossy publicity materials with attached color stereo slides produced by Merchandise Display News. Bonwit Teller employed artists such as Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, and Robert Rauschenberg; their work--along with the work of unidentified artists--is depicted in these photographs. Of note are a series of photographs of Bonwit Teller perfume displays featuring actor and photographer Cris Alexander dressed in drag. According to William McCarthy, a manager in advertising and display from the early 1950s to 1975, the Bonwit Teller management was never informed that the perfume model was not a woman.

Publications feature the display design work of Dan Arje and Gene Moore.

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research use. Please contact archivist@newschool.edu for appointment.

Use Restrictions

To publish images of material from this collection, permission must be obtained in writing from the New School Archives. Please contact: archivist@newschool.edu.

Biographical Note

After serving in the South Pacific during World War II, Daniel Arje (prounounced AR-jay) graduated from Cooper Union in 1948 and began work at Bonwit Teller on New York's Fifth Avenue that same year. As a member of Bonwit's display team, Arje was promoted to assistant display director in 1954 and succeeded Gene Moore as display director in 1961. His window displays often showcased the work of lesser known artists, including Andy Warhol in the 1950s and Jim Rosenquist in the early 1960s. Throughout the Johnson administration, Arje was invited to the White House to design the Blue Room's annual Christmas tree and other White House events. After leaving Bonwit Teller in 1973, Arje worked for Wamsutta Pacific, Frances Denney, and Dan River; he later consulted for Time Warner, Tishman-Speyer and the French Tourist Board. Dan Arje died in his native New York in March 1993. He was 69 years old.

Source: www.nytimes.com/1993/03/24/obituaries/daniel-arje-69-dies-fashion-display-artist.html

Organization and Arrangement

Organized in 3 series: 1. General, 1962-1973; 2. Photographs, 1949-1981; 3. Published material, 1955-1972

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Transferred from Fashion Design Department, Parsons School of Design, 1997.

Related Materials

The New School Archives holds a collection of fashion designer portraits by Parsons School of Design instructor Dora Mathieu (KA.0032). A letter from Mathieu to Arje is present in the Dan Arje papers.

Subjects

Record Groups

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Guide to the Dan Arje papers
Status
Completed
Author
New School Archives and Special Collctions
Date
September 14, 2010
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Revision Statements

  • December 15, 2015: Additional description added.