Martha's Vineyard Museum
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A Finding Aid to the Carol Kolodny and Mary Rentschler Graphic Design Collection, circa 1980-2012
Table of Contents
Descriptive Summary
Repository | Martha's Vineyard Museum
Gale Huntington Research Library 59 School Street P.O. Box 1310 Edgartown, MA 02539 (508) 627-4441 |
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Call Number | RU 560 |
Creator | Kolodny, Carol |
Creator | Rentschler, Mary |
Title | Carol Kolodny and Mary Rentschler Graphic Design Collection |
Date [inclusive] | Circa 1980-2012 |
Extent | 5 boxes (2.520 cubic feet) |
Language | The materials are in English. |
Abstract | The collection contains advertisments, labels, and packaging featuring the graphic designs and typography of Carol Kolodny, Mary Rentshcler, their joint group, Kolodny and Rentschler, and Kolodny's work with Clifford Dorr at Kolodny (Clifford) Dorr Media Group. |
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
There are no restrictions.
Use and Reproduction Restrictions
Requests to reproduce material from this collection must be directed to the library's staff. Reproduction fees may apply.
Preferred Citation
Martha's Vineyard Museum, RU 560, Carol Kolodny and Mary Rentschler Graphic Design Collection.
Acquisition Information
- Gift of Carol Kolodny in 2013 (Accession no. 2013.029). [Donation]
Publication Information
Martha's Vineyard Museum
Gale Huntington Research Library59 School Street
P.O. Box 1310
Edgartown, MA 02539
(508) 627-4441
Processing Information
Finding aid prepared and machine-encoded by Clint Johnson in June 2015.
Related Materials
Related Materials
- See also, oral history interviews with Carol Kolodny, 2013 December 5.
- See also, Farm Neck Golf Club membership books, RU 473, which were perdominately designed by Kolodny and Rentschler.
- See also, MV Agricultural fair poster, accession no. 2003.042.003, a poster designed by Kolodny and Rentschler.
Index Terms
Genre(s)
- Booklets
- Brochures
- Business cards
- Certificates
- Cookbooks
- Decals
- Directories
- Fliers (printed matter)
- Greeting cards
- Labels (identifying artifacts)
- Menus
- Newspaper clippings
- Pamphlets
- Patches (quilt components)
- Periodicals
- Picture postcards
- Portfolios (groups of works)
- Scorebooks
- Sales catalogs
- Stationery
- Tourist maps
Geographic Name(s)
- Edgartown (Mass.)
- Marthas Vineyard (Mass.)
- Oak Bluffs (Mass.)
- Vineyard Haven (Mass.)
Personal Name(s)
- Dorr, Clifford
- Kolodny, Carol
- Rentschler, Mary
Subject(s)
- Black Dog Tavern (Vineyard Haven, Mass.)
- Farm Neck Golf Club (Martha's Vineyard, Mass.)
- Graphic arts equipment industry--United States.
- Graphic design (Typography)
- Graphic design (Typography)--United States--History--20th century.
- Graphic design (Typography)--United States--History--21st century.
Biography/Historical Note
Carol Kolodny was born in 1950 in Washington D.C. She spent many summers with her parents in the artist's community on Martha’s Vineyard. Then in 1975, after attending Antioch College where she had an interest in illustration, she moved to Martha’s Vineyard. She began working for her cousin at the Rainy Day Gift Shop and on the side, did small freelance graphic design projects for local businesses including posters and restaurant menus. She then returned to school in New York City to learn graphic design. When she returned to Martha’s Vineyard, she began work at Tisbury Printers where she gained much of her practical design skills.
Mary Rentschler is also a lifelong Vineyarder, originally hailing from the Chicago area. She comes from a long line of artists and has accumilated a broad understanding of design.
In the early 1980s, Carol and Mary started the Kolodny and Rentschler design group and created designs for such businesses and organizations as the Nathan Mayhew Seminars and Farm Neck Golf Club. In the beginning they worked closely with the Gazette, adhering to its advertisement precedents, but as they gained more business and popularity, branched out into their own style based on the client’s needs.
At first, they were met with some skepticism. Given the seasonal nature of the majority of businesses on Martha’s Vineyard, possible clients did not understand why funding a third party design group would be profitable. Most individuals and businesses were accustomed to using the Vineyard Gazette as their media source and had designed many of their own advertisements. In addition, some of the old established businesses on Martha’s Vineyard doubted Kolodny and Rentschler’s abilities due to sexist sentiments.
Therefor, Kolodny and Rentschler primarily provided their services to new and more open minded businesses and organizations, specifically, The Black Dog, Espresso Love, Martha's Vineyard Community Hospital, Beadnicks, and numerous other restaurants and inns. As they gained popularity and respect on the Island, they received more business and became the prominent graphic design group for Martha’s Vineyard. Their designs have become familiar around the country, especially for The Black Dog’s logo.
While breaking through gender barriers, Kolodny and Rentschler also endured and embraced the technological revolution. Eventually in the late 1990s, Carol Kolodny began to work less with tactile graphics and work more with the technologies made available by personal computers. The technologies were new and difficult to learn but revealed infinite possibilities in typography and color. Mary Rentschler remained loyal to tactile methods, and hired additional employees to handle the technological aspect. This was one reason for the split between Kolodny and Rentschler. Kolodny moved on to work with Clifford Dorr and Rentschler continued with her profession by starting Rentschler and Company Interiors, an interior design group.
Scope and Content of Collection
The collection contains materials that feature the graphic art created by Carol Kolodny, Mary Rentschler, their joint project, Kolodny and Rentschler Design Group, and Kolodny's work with Clifford Dorr at Kolodny (Clifford) Dorr Media Group. The materials in the collection include advertisements, catalogs, informational brochures, and other materials used to promote local Martha’s Vineyard businesses, organizations, and individuals. The items included in the collection represent the collaborative works of the design group, the client, and other third party contributors.
Arrangement
- Series I: Private Business Client materials
- Series II: Community Client materials
- Series III: Individual Client materials
The collection is organized by client and then, when possible, chronologically. Original order was maintained.
Contents of Collection
Private Business Client materials, 1989-2014
Scope and ContentThe series includes materials from private businesses located on Martha’s Vineyard. It consists of items from the Farm Neck Golf Club, The Black Dog, Kolodny and Rentschler Design Group, Beadnicks, Louise Sweet Flowers, Fellah’s Barbeque Sauce, Espresso Love, Lorraine Parish, On Island: The Magazine of Martha’s Vineyard, Debbie Ware, The Inns at Menemsha, Sandpiper Realty, CB Stark Jewelers, Starbuck’s, L’etoile, Donaroma’s Nursery, LeRoux, The Boathouse, Mix: Vintage finds and Modern Ware, and other restaurants and inns on Martha’s Vineyard. The materials consist of membership booklets, sales catalogs, fliers, brochures, menus, calendars, greeting cards, postcards, a cookbook, tactile graphic art, stationery, newspaper clippings, labels, decals, gift certificates, portfolios, periodicals, maps, business cards, pamphlets, and golf tools. |
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Box | Folder | |||
Farm Neck Golf Club 25th Anniversary membership booklet, 1989, 1993, 2004 |
1 | 1 | ||
Farm Neck Golf Club membership booklets, 1989, 1993 |
1 | 1 | ||
Farm Neck Golf Club membership booklets, 1994-1996 NoteIncludes fifteenth anniversary booklet. |
1 | 2 | ||
Farm Neck Golf Club membership booklets, 1997-1999 |
1 | 3 | ||
Farm Neck Golf Club membership booklets, 2000-2002 |
1 | 4 | ||
Farm Neck Golf Club membership booklets, 2003, 2005-2006 NoteNo 2004 membership booklet present. |
2 | 1 | ||
Farm Neck Golf Club membership booklets, 2007-2009 NoteIncludes mailing envelope for 2009 membership booklet. |
2 | 2 | ||
Farm Neck Golf Club membership booklets, 2010-2012 NoteIncludes mailing envelope for 2010 membership booklet. |
2 | 3 | ||
Farm Neck Golf Club membership booklets, 2013, 2014 NoteIncludes packaged duplicate of 2014 membership booklet. |
2 | 4 | ||
Farm Neck Golf Club ball-mark repair tool, 1996 NoteIncludes printed instructions and golf tees. |
3 | 1 | ||
Farm Neck Golf Club price lists, 1994, 2001-2002 NotePrinted as "fee schedules". |
3 | 2 | ||
Farm Neck Golf Club Café menus, undated |
3 | 3 | ||
Farm Neck Golf Club decals, undated |
3 | 4 | ||
Farm Neck Golf Club score-books, undated NoteInclude local rules and etiquette. |
3 | 5 | ||
Farm Neck Golf Club tournament fliers, 2013 NoteIncludes folder in which materials were originally found. |
3 | 6 | ||
The Black Dog seasonal sales catalogs, 1991-1993 |
3 | 7 | ||
The Black Dog seasonal sales catalogs, 1994-1995 NoteThe 1994-1995 catalog is also a calendar. |
3 | 8 | ||
The Black Dog seasonal sales catalogs, 1995-1997 NoteThe 1995-1996, 1996-1997, and 1997 Holiday catalog are also calendars. |
3 | 9 | ||
The Black Dog seasonal sales catalogs, 1998-2001 NoteThe 1998, 1999, and 2001 Holiday catalogs are also calendars. |
3 | 10 | ||
The Black Dog decals, undated |
3 | 11 | ||
The Black Dog Holiday greeting cards, 1995 |
3 | 12 | ||
The Black Dog directory, undated |
3 | 13 | ||
The Black Dog postcard, undated |
4 | 1 | ||
The Black Dog promotional certificate, 1994-1995 NoteIncludes folder in which materials were originally found. |
4 | 2 | ||
The Black Dog cloth patches, undated |
4 | 3 | ||
The Black Dog Summer on the Vineyard cookbook, 2000 |
4 | 4 | ||
The Black Dog tactile graphic art, undated NoteMaterials consist of the original graphic designs created by Kolodny and Rentschler Design Group that were then used for the Black Dog advertisements. |
4 | 5 | ||
The Black Dog tactile graphic art, 1987, undated NoteMaterials consist of the original graphic designs created by Kolodny and Rentschler Design Group that were then used for the Black Dog advertisements. |
4 | 6 | ||
Kolodny and Rentschler Design Group brochures, undated |
4 | 7 | ||
Kolodny and Rentschler newspaper clipping, 1990 NoteNewspaper clipping is an advertisement for the design group. |
4 | 8 | ||
Beadnicks stationery, undated |
3 | 9 | ||
Beadnicks gift certificate, undated NoteIncludes temporary tattoos. |
3 | 10 | ||
Louise Sweet Flowers stationery, undated NoteAlso includes Louise Sweet Flowers tags and business cards. |
3 | 11 | ||
Fellah's Barbeque Sauce decals and labels, undated |
3 | 12 | ||
South Mountain Company brochure, undated |
3 | 13 | ||
Espresso Love sales catalog and booklet, 2001 |
4 | 14 | ||
Espresso Love menus, undated |
4 | 15 | ||
Espresso Love decals, undated |
4 | 16 | ||
Espresso Love gift certificate, undated |
4 | 17 | ||
Espresso Love coffee sleeve, undated |
4 | 18 | ||
Lorraine Parish portfolios, 1986-1987 |
4 | 19 | ||
Lorraine Parish calendars, 1986, 2000 NoteIncludes duplicate of 1986 calendar. |
OS General 10 | 14 | ||
On Island: The Magazine of Martha's Vineyard periodical, 1990 NoteSummer publication. |
4 | 20 | ||
On Island: The Magazine of Martha's Vineyard fliers, undated NoteIncludes folder in which materials were originally found and a sheet of blank stationery. |
4 | 21 | ||
Debbie Ware brochures, 2002, 2004 |
4 | 22 | ||
Debbie Ware sales catalog, 2004 |
4 | 23 | ||
The Inns at Menemsha map, undated NoteThe inns are named "Menemsha Inn" and "The Beach Plum". |
5 | 1 | ||
The Inns at Menemsha decals, undated |
5 | 2 | ||
The Inns at Menemsha event planning brochures, undated NoteBrochures are for wedding and gala events at "The Beach Plum". |
5 | 3 | ||
Sandpiper Realty decals, undated |
5 | 4 | ||
Sandpiper Realty stationery, undated NoteIncludes folder in which materials were originally found. |
5 | 5 | ||
CB Stark Jewelers sales catalog, undated |
5 | 6 | ||
Coastal Showroom Opening Celebration invitation, undated |
5 | 7 | ||
Edgartown and Chilmark Inn brochures, undated NoteIncludes brochures from "The Inn at Blueberry Hill", "The Dr. Shiverick House", "Hob Knob Inn", and "The Daggett House". |
5 | 8 | ||
Starbuck's menus, undated |
5 | 9 | ||
l'etoile menu, undated NoteIncludes l'etoile stationery and the folder in which materials were originally found. |
5 | 10 | ||
Vineyard Restaurant menus, 1999, undated NoteIncludes menus from "Alchemy", Ray's Bar-B-Q", "The News from America", "V. Jaime Hamlin Catering", "The Coach House", "The Artcliff Diner", and a cover to the desert menu of "The Oyster Bar". |
5 | 11 | ||
Donaroma's Nursery perennials listing, 1986 |
5 | 12 | ||
Donaroma's Nursery brochures, undated |
5 | 13 | ||
South Mountain Company holiday greeting card, undated |
5 | 14 | ||
LeRoux Mail Order sales catalog, undated |
5 | 15 | ||
The Charlotte Inn booklet, undated |
5 | 16 | ||
The Boathouse activity pamphlets, 2008, 2010 |
5 | 17 | ||
The Boathouse booklet, undated NoteIncludes folder in which materials were originally found. |
5 | 18 | ||
Mix: Vintage finds and Modern wares business cards, undated NoteOne business card is also a decal. |
5 | 19 | ||
Community Client materials, 1984-2006
Scope and ContentThe series includes materials from community organizations located on Martha’s Vineyard. It consists of items from the Martha’s Vineyard Community Hospital, Martha’s Vineyard Community Housing Bank Coalition, Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust, Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation center, The Nathan Mayhew Seminars, Focus: Fellowship of Christians in Universities and Schools, and community theater. The materials consist of brochures, pamphlets, pledge cards, annual reports, and a playbill. |
||||
Box | Folder | |||
Martha's Vineyard Preservation Trust brochure, undated |
5 | 20 | ||
Martha's Vineyard Community Hospital "Building for the Next Generation" pamphlets, 2003 |
5 | 21 | ||
Martha's Vineyard Hospital annual report, 2006 NoteIncludes note from MVH Chief Executive Officer, Timothy J. Walsh. |
5 | 22 | ||
Martha's Vineyard Community Hospital pledge card, undated NoteIncludes folder in which materials were originally found. |
5 | 23 | ||
Martha's Vineyard Community Housing Bank Coalition brochure, 2005 |
5 | 24 | ||
Breastfeeding: Better Beginnings brochure, undated |
5 | 25 | ||
Kiss Me Kate playbill, undated |
5 | 26 | ||
Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation Center folder, undated |
5 | 27 | ||
The Nathan Mayhew Seminars brochure, 1984-1985 |
5 | 28 | ||
Tabernacle Restoration Fund brochure, 1999 |
5 | 29 | ||
Focus: Fellowship of Christians in Universities and Schools event brochures, 1994-1999 |
5 | 30 | ||
Individual Client materials, undated
Scope and ContentThe series includes materials from individuals on Martha’s Vineyard. It consists of items from Caroline Worthington, Tom Maley, The Nightingales, and Susan Branch. The materials consist of invitations, a brochure, and a sales catalog. |
||||
Box | Folder | |||
Caroline Worthington: Cello brochure, undated |
5 | 31 | ||
Tom Maley Sculptures of Martha's Vineyard sales catalog, undated |
5 | 32 | ||
The Nightingales celebration invitation, undated |
5 | 33 | ||
Susan Branch Holiday Party invitations, undated NoteHosts also include Kansas and Rick Brew, Jennifer Johnson, Fred Fournier, Joe Hall, Tuna and Wah Kiersted, Wendy and Jim LeRoux, Sandy Lockwood, Lil Provence, and Peggy and Bob Schwier. |
5 | 34 | ||