The University of Chicago Library > The Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center > Finding Aids > Guide to the Frances Hooper Papers 1928-1976
© 2007 University of Chicago Library
| Title: | Hooper, Frances. Papers |
|---|---|
| Dates: | 1928-1976 |
| Size: | 26.5 linear feet (29 boxes) |
| Repository: |
Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center |
| Abstract: | Frances Hooper (1892-1986) was a journalist and advertising executive. She was founder and president of the Frances Hooper Advertising Agency. Hooper was also an author and avid collector of books and art. Correspondence, books, photographs, and notes in the collection reflect Hooper's personal life between the 1920s and 1970s. Correspondence, memorandum, records, layouts, and mockups describe the professional work of Frances Hooper, Inc., between the 1940s and 1970s. The major accounts of Frances Hooper Inc. included the Wrigley Company, the related Good Teeth Council for Children, and the Arizona Biltmore Hotel. |
The collection is open for research.
When quoting material from this collection, the preferred citation is: Hooper, Frances. Papers
Frances Milliken Hooper was born on September 18, 1892, in Chicago, Illinois to James Hooper and Mary (Milliken) Hooper.
Hooper studied at the University of Chicago for one year before leaving to attend Smith College in Massachusetts, where she graduated in 1914.
Hooper began her professional career as a journalist for the Chicago Herald newspaper. She left that job to work in the promotions department at Marshall Field's, employment that led to her interest in advertising. In the 1920s, Hooper founded the Frances Hooper Advertising Agency, becoming one of the first female advertising executives in the United States. The agency's largest account was with the Wrigley Company. Hooper Advertising produced specialized campaigns for educational, parenting, and women's magazines including Redbook, Family Circle, Teacher's Magazine, and Parent's Magazine. The agency also handled advertising for Wrigley's public service dental promotions including the Good Teeth Council for Children.
Hooper was a collector of art and books. Her collections included photographs by Tina Modotti, as well as books, manuscripts, and drawings by Carl Linnaeus, George Cruikshank, Kate Greenaway, Lewis Carroll, Virginia Woolf, Selma Lagerlof, and Emily and Anne Bronte. Hooper donated her collections to multiple institutions. Her Kate Greenaway collection was given to the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation. Her Linnaeus materials were donated to the Chicago Horticulture Society, and the bulk of her Virginia Woolf materials went to Smith College. Five photographs by Italian photographer and student of Edward Weston, Tina Modotti remain with Hooper's papers.
In her catalog "Collecting Kate Greenaway, and Me" (1980) written for an exhibit at the Hunt Institute, and in her book A Collector in Being (1973), Hooper reflects the motivations of the collector as well as the contents of her own collections. A Collector in Being was published by Hooper's small, independent press, the Chihuahua Press located in Kenilworth, Illinois. Other books written by Hooper and published by Chihuahua Press include Penny Candy (1970); The Bonnet (1972); and A Pilgrimage to Gosta Berling's Varmland (1976).
Active in many organizations, Hooper was a member of the Hroswitha Club, a group of women book collectors. She was also a member of the Woman's Athletic Club of Chicago, the Post and Paddock Club, and a co-founder of Kay's Animal Shelter.
Frances Hooper died on April 30, 1986 in Kenilworth, Illinois.
The Frances Hooper Papers consist of three series. Series I consists of Frances Hooper's personal papers, including correspondence with family and friends, copies of books written by Hooper, and materials relating to Hooper's travels, clubs, as well as her collections of books and art. Series II consists of the records of the Frances Hooper Advertising Agency. The series includes professional correspondence and minutes, as well as layouts and mockups for Agency accounts including the Arizona Biltmore Hotel, the Wrigley Company, and the Good Teeth Council for Children. The Wrigley advertising undertaken by the Frances Hooper Agency included dress patterns, recipes, parenting tips, and directions for children's crafts and games. The Good Teeth Council materials included offprints relating to dental health, children's books, and plans and scripts for dental related stage and television shows. Series III consists of oversized items, including layouts and mockups of advertising copy. The series also includes materials from the Jack and Judy television show, a show that focused on dental heath. Five photographs by Tina Modotti, collected by Hooper, are also part of this series.
Three letters originally from the Frances Hooper Papers are now housed separately in the Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection in Special Collections. They include a letter from Jane Addams to Harriet Comstock, a letter from Adeena Rich to Harriet Comstock, and a letter from A. Edward Newton to Paul Lemperly.
Series I: Personal |
| Box 1 Folder 1 | Correspondence, Harriet J. Comstock, 1931-1936 |
| Box 1 Folder 2 | Correspondence, Rena Buck Wells, 1939-1942 |
| Box 1 Folder 3 | Correspondence, General, 1931-1969 |
| Box 1 Folder 4 | Correspondence, Postcards, 1930-1974 |
| Box 1 Folder 5 | Correspondence, Mexican Recipes, 1963 |
| Box 1 Folder 6 | Address Books, n.d. |
| Box 1 Folder 7 | Binding Samples, n.d. |
| Box 1 Folder 8 | Book Project Materials, 1964-1968 |
| Box 1 Folder 9 | Brooklyn Museum Tour of Russia, 1967-1968 |
| Box 1 Folder 10 | Cacciatori Visit to the United States, 1958-1961 |
| Box 2 Folder 1 | Cacciatori Visit to the United States, 1961-1966 |
| Box 2 Folder 2 | Clippings, 1950-1970s |
| Box 2 Folder 3 | Field Museum, 1969 |
| Box 2 Folder 4 | Kate Greenaway, Piermont Morgan Library, 1964-1969 |
| Box 2 Folder 5 | Frances Hooper, The Bonnet (1972) |
| Box 2 Folder 6 | Frances Hooper, Collector in Being (1973)
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| Box 2 Folder 7 | Frances Hooper, "Importance of Style in Selling," (1928) |
| Box 2 Folder 8 | Frances Hooper, The Penny Candy Store, (1976) |
| Box 2 Folder 9 | Frances Hooper, A Pilgrimage to Gosta Berling’s Varmland (1976) |
| Box 2 Folder 10 | Housing, Financial Records, Volume I, 1939-1940 |
| Box 2 Folder 11 | Housing, Financial Records, Volume 2, 1939-1940 |
| Box 3 Folder 1 | Housing, Financial Records, Volume 3, 1941-1945 |
| Box 3 Folder 2 | Housing, Four Oakes, 1968 |
| Box 3 Folder 3 | Hroswitha Club, 1965 |
| Box 3 Folder 4 | Hroswitha Club, 1966-1967 |
| Box 3 Folder 5 | Hroswitha Club, 1964-1969 |
| Box 3 Folder 6 | Iceland and Paris Trip, 1969 |
| Box 3 Folder 7 | India Trip, 1969 |
| Box 3 Folder 8 | Italian Art Reproductions, n.d. |
| Box 3 Folder 9 | Notes, n.d. |
| Box 3 Folder 10 | Peru Trip, 1965 |
| Box 4 Folder 1 |
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| Box 4 Folder 2 | Post and Paddock Club, 1962-1969 |
| Box 4 Folder 3 | Receipts, 1934 |
| Box 4 Folder 4 | Russian Children’s Books, 1931 |
| Box 4 Folder 5 | Stamps, Decorative Metal, n.d. |
| Box 4 Folder 6 | Women’s Athletic Club, 1942-1969 |
| Box 4 Folder 7 | World’s Fair, Admissions Ticket, 1933 |
| Box 4 Folder 8 | "Ye Olde Cock Tavern" Reproduction, n.d. |
Series II: Frances Hooper, Inc. |
| Box 4 Folder 9 | Incorporation Bylaws, 1956 |
| Box 4 Folder 10 | Liquidation, 1970 |
| Box 4 Folder 11 | Minutes, 1965-1969 |
| Box 4 Folder 12 | Minutes, 1965-1969 |
| Box 5 Folder 1 | Advertising Data, 1946-1959 |
| Box 5 Folder 2 | Advertising Data, 1961-1968 |
| Box 5 Folder 3 | Advertising Data, 1964-1968 |
| Box 5 Folder 4 | Yearly Schedule Material, 1968 |
| Box 5 Folder 5 | Educational Campaigns, 1943-1967 |
| Box 5 Folder 6 | New Contract Data, 1963-1966 |
| Box 5 Folder 7 | Educational Campaigns, 1968 |
| Box 5 Folder 8 | Book Project Proposals and Records, 1963-1969 |
| Box 6 Folder 1 | Arizona Biltmore Advertising Campaign |
| Box 6 Folder 2 | Arizona Biltmore Advertising Campaign |
| Box 6 Folder 3 | Arizona Biltmore Advertising Campaign, 1931-1938 |
| Box 6 Folder 4 | Arizona Biltmore Advertising Campaign, n.d. |
| Box 6 Folder 5 | Chewing Gum Pamphlets, 1934, 1940 |
| Box 6 Folder 6 | Children’s Letters and Drawings, 1964-1965 |
| Box 6 Folder 7 | Dental Off-Prints, 1935-1944 |
| Box 6 Folder 8 | Good Teeth Council Newsletters and Pamphlets, 1936-1945 |
| Box 6 Folder 9 | Good Teeth for Life Campaign, 1965 |
| Box 6 Folder 10 | Little Jack, Good Teeth Fair, n.d. |
| Box 6 Folder 11 | Little Jack, Good Teeth Puppet Show, n.d. |
| Box 7 Folder 1 | Little Jack Travelogue, 1944, 1961-1962 |
| Box 7 Folder 2 | Noah’s Ark Dental Show, 1939 |
| Box 7 Folder 3 | Publication, I Know a Secret, 1949 |
| Box 7 Folder 4 | Publication, Jackie and Judy, 1942 |
| Box 7 Folder 5 | Publication, Jimmy Chew, 1934, 1940 |
| Box 7 Folder 6 | Publication, Mouth Health Catechism, 1943 |
| Box 7 Folder 7 | Publication, My Teeth, 1940 |
| Box 7 Folder 8 | Publication, Toward Good Teeth, n.d. |
| Box 7 Folder 9 | Publication, They’re Your Teeth, 1949 |
| Box 7 Folder 10 | Publication, Wildlife Near Your Home, n.d |
| Box 7 Folder 11 | Everywoman, Women’s Day, Family Circle Okays, 1941 |
| Box 7 Folder 12 | Everywoman, Women’s Day, Family Circle Okays, 1941 |
| Box 7 Folder 13 | Simplicity and Du Barry Layouts and Okays, 1942 |
| Box 8 Folder 1 | Simplicity and Du Barry Layouts and Okays, 1942 |
| Box 8 Folder 2 | Wrigley Advertising, 1943-1947 |
| Box 8 Folder 3 | Wrigley Advertising, 1943-1947 |
| Box 8 Folder 4 | Wrigley Advertising, 1943-1947 |
| Box 8 Folder 5 | Wrigley Okays, 1947 |
| Box 8 Folder 6 | Wrigley Educational Okays, 1947 |
| Box 8 Folder 7 | Wrigley Okays, 1949 |
| Box 8 Folder 8 | Wrigley Okays, 1949 |
| Box 8 Folder 9 | Wrigley Educational Proofs, 1949 |
| Box 9 Folder 1 | Wrigley Educational Proofs, 1950-1951 |
| Box 9 Folder 2 | Wrigley Grocery Okays, 1951 |
| Box 9 Folder 3 | Wrigley Grocery Okays, 1951 |
| Box 9 Folder 4 | Wrigley Educational Okays, 1951 |
| Box 9 Folder 5 | Wrigley Educational Okays, 1951 |
| Box 9 Folder 6 | Wrigley Educational Okays, 1952 |
| Box 9 Folder 7 | Wrigley Educational Okays, 1952 |
| Box 9 Folder 8 | Wrigley Grocery Okays, 1952 |
| Box 10 Folder 1 | Wrigley Grocery Okays, 1952 |
| Box 10 Folder 2 | Wrigley Educational Proofs, 1952 |
| Box 10 Folder 3 | Wrigley Educational Okays, 1952 |
| Box 10 Folder 4 | Wrigley Educational Okays, 1952 |
| Box 10 Folder 5 | Wrigley Educational Source Okays, 1952-1953 |
| Box 10 Folder 6 | Wrigley Educational Source Okays, 1952-1953 |
| Box 10 Folder 7 | Grocery Okays, 1953 |
| Box 10 Folder 8 | Wrigley Grocery Okays, 1953-1954 |
| Box 10 Folder 9 | Wrigley Grocery Okays, 1953-1954 |
| Box 11 Folder 1 | Wrigley Proofs for Parent’s and Teacher’s, 1953-1955 |
| Box 11 Folder 2 | Wrigley Educational Okays, 1954 |
| Box 11 Folder 3 | Wrigley Educational Okays, 1954 |
| Box 11 Folder 4 | Wrigley Educational Okays, 1955 |
| Box 11 Folder 5 | Wrigley Educational Okays, 1955 |
| Box 11 Folder 6 | Source Okays, 1955 |
| Box 11 Folder 7 | Source Okays, 1955 |
| Box 11 Folder 8 | Wrigley Grocery Okays, 1955 |
| Box 11 Folder 9 | Wrigley Grocery Okays, 1955 |
| Box 12 Folder 1 | Wrigley Educational Okays, 1956 |
| Box 12 Folder 2 | Wrigley Educational Okays, 1956 |
| Box 12 Folder 3 | Wrigley Educational Okays, 1956 |
| Box 12 Folder 4 | Grocery Okays, 1956 |
| Box 12 Folder 5 | Grocery Okays, 1956 |
| Box 12 Folder 6 | Wrigley Grocery Proofs, 1956 |
| Box 12 Folder 7 | Wrigley Educational Proofs, 1955-1957 |
| Box 12 Folder 8 | Educational Proofs, 4-H and Scouting, 1956-1958 |
| Box 12 Folder 9 | Wrigley Source Grocery Okays, 1957 |
| Box 12 Folder 10 | Educational Proofs, Parent’s Magazine, 1957 |
| Box 13 Folder 1 | Source Okays, 1957 |
| Box 13 Folder 2 | Source Okays, 1957 |
| Box 13 Folder 3 | Wrigley Grocery Okays, 1957 |
| Box 13 Folder 4 | Wrigley Grocery Okays, 1957 |
| Box 13 Folder 5 | Educational Proofs, Parent’s Magazine, 1958 |
| Box 13 Folder 6 | Wrigley Educational Okays, 1958 |
| Box 13 Folder 7 | Wrigley Educational Okays, 1958 |
| Box 13 Folder 8 | Teepee Village Complaints, 1958-1959 |
| Box 13 Folder 9 | Teepee Village Complaints, 1959 |
| Box 14 Folder 1 | Wrigley Educational Proofs, 1958-1960 |
| Box 14 Folder 2 | Wrigley Educational Okays, 1959 |
| Box 14 Folder 3 | Wrigley Educational Okays, 1959 |
| Box 14 Folder 4 | Wrigley Educational Okays, 1959 |
| Box 14 Folder 5 | Grocery Okays, 1960 |
| Box 15 Folder 1 | Grocery Okays, 1960 |
| Box 15 Folder 2 | Educational Proofs, Scouting, 1962-1964 |
| Box 15 Folder 3 | Educational Proofs, Girl Scout Leaders, 1962-1964 |
| Box 15 Folder 4 | Educational Proofs, 4-H News, 1962-1964 |
| Box 15 Folder 5 | Educational Final Okays, 1964-1968 |
| Box 15 Folder 6 | Educational Final Okays, 1964-1968 |
| Box 15 Folder 7 | Educational Final Okays, 1964-1968 |
| Box 16 Folder 1 | Wrigley Grocery Source and Okays, 1967-1969 |
| Box 16 Folder 2 | Wrigley Grocery Source and Okays, 1967-1969 |
| Box 16 Folder 3 | Educational Advertising Statistics, 1969 |
| Box 16 Folder 4 | Educational Advertising Statistics, 1969 |
| Box 16 Folder 5 | Advertising Mock Ups, n.d. |
| Box 16 Folder 6 | Type Book, 1952 |
| Box 17 Folder 1 | Type Book, 1952 |
| Box 17 Folder 2 | Type Book, 1952 |
Series III: Oversized Items |
| Box 18 | Frances Hooper Scrap Book (of published advertisements), 1938 |
| Box 19 Folder 1 |
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| Box 19 Folder 2 | Photographs of Frances Hooper, n.d. |
| Box 20 Folder 1 | Film Reel, Selections from the Jack and Judy Television Show, August 16, 1949 |
| Box 20 Folder 2 | Jack and Judy Show, Script and Planning Materials, 1940s |
| Box 20 Folder 3 | Alice in Wonderland Script (Acting Copy), n.d. |
| Box 21 Folder 1 | Peggy and Mr. Sniffin Show, Drawings and Photographs, 1940s |
| Box 21 Folder 2 | Jack and Judy Show, Designs, 1946 |
| Box 21 Folder 3 | Jack and Judy Show, Designs, 1946 |
| Box 21 Folder 4 | Blueprints, Visual Education Puppet Theatre, Good Teeth Council for Children, n.d. |
| Box 22 Folder 1 | Seven Minute Fudge, Women’s Day and Family Circle Advertising, 1968 |
| Box 22 Folder 2 | Pizza Lunch, Women’s Day and Family Circle Advertising, 1968 |
| Box 22 Folder 3 | Popcorn Balls, Women’s Day and Family Circle Advertising, 1968 |
| Box 22 Folder 4 | Sweet Potato Casserole, Women’s Day and Family Circle Advertising, 1968 |
| Box 22 Folder 5 | Angel Cookie Cutter, Women’s Day and Family Circle Advertising, 1968 |
| Box 23 Folder 1 | Transparencies, Grocery Advertising, 1969 |
| Box 23 Folder 2 | Daisy Cupcake, Grocery Advertising, 1969 |
| Box 23 Folder 3 | Pumpkin Pecan Pie, Grocery Advertising, 1969 |
| Box 23 Folder 4 | Holiday Turkey, Grocery Advertising, 1969 |
| Box 23 Folder 5 | Rice Pudding, Grocery Advertising, 1969 |
| Box 23 Folder 6 |
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| Box 23 Folder 7 |
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| Box 24 Folder 1 | Galleys, Wrigley’s Advertising, 1969 |
| Box 24 Folder 2 | Galleys, Wrigley’s Advertising, 1969 |
| Box 24 Folder 3 | Galleys, Wrigley’s Advertising, 1969 |
| Box 24 Folder 4 | Galleys, Wrigley’s Advertising, 1969 |
| Box 25 Folder 1 | Galleys, Wrigley’s Advertising, n.d. |
| Box 25 Folder 2 | Galleys, Wrigley’s Advertising, 1968-1969 |
| Box 25 Folder 3 | Galleys, Wrigley’s Advertising, 1968-1969 |
| Box 25 Folder 4 | Galley’s Wrigley’s Advertising, 1969 |
| Box 26 Folder 1 | Advertising Layouts, Teacher’s Magazine, 1969 |
| Box 26 Folder 2 | Advertising Layouts, Parent’s Magazine, 1969 |
| Box 26 Folder 3 | Advertising Layouts, Women’s Day and Family Circle, 1969 |
| Box 26 Folder 4 | Advertising Layouts, Women’s Day and Family Circle, 1969 |
| Box 26 Folder 5 | Advertising Layouts, Teacher’s Magazine (II), 1969 |
| Box 26 Folder 6 | Advertising Layouts, Teacher’s Magazine (I), 1969 |
| Box 27 Folder 1 | Advertising Layouts, Parent’s Magazine, 1969 |
| Box 27 Folder 2 | Advertising Layouts, Teacher’s Magazine, 1969 |
| Box 27 Folder 3 | Advertising Layouts, Teacher’s Magazine, 1969 |
| Box 28 Folder 1 | Photograph, Unidentified Man |
| Box 28 Folder 2 | Photograph, Group of Young Women |
| Box 29 | Tina Modotti Photographs |