Chip Kidd papers

This large and heterogeneous collection provides a remarkably complete overview of Kidd’s life and career to date. It is clear from the present material that Kidd tends to keep everything he makes or collects, and that he has been an avid collector and prolific creator since early childhood. Researchers interested in Kidd’s creative process or stylistic development should find plenty of material to support critical analyses: there are portfolios from Penn State, early freelance projects, rejected proposals, book covers and full publication designs in every state between sketch and print, as well as works in other media.

Beyond a study of graphic design or Kidd himself, the archives may also facilitate research on related topics, such as the history of Knopf, the American publishing industry more broadly, or select contemporary literary figures. Kidd’s wide network of collaborators includes a number of authors, editors, illustrators, and designers who are eminent in their fields, and the nature of their correspondence may be both personal and professional.

Kidd’s personal library (though not yet cataloged) is a potentially rich source of contextual information, encompassing a range of eclectic genres: mainstream and small press comics; popular literature and fine editions; books and magazines on photography, illustration, design, and typography; auction catalogs, toys and all variety of Batman memorabilia.

The time period covered in the collection means that both analog and digital formats are present, but it is not simply that one supersedes the other at a given date. Kidd’s design process often involves both physical and digital iterations of the same project. Digital materials in this collection, like the analog, include published and unpublished images, text, audio, video, and other data formats stored on a range of devices and computer drives.

The additions to this collection contain materials similar in content and format to the original papers but the bulk of the additions range from the 2000s to 2010s. These include items related to conventions and festivals attended by Chip Kidd, correspondence and papers from his time at Knopf, and drafts and proofs for books and book covers. These additions continue chronicling Kidd's work into the 2020s. Along with paper items, there are video and audio formats including CDs, DVDs, tape cassettes, and audio records. The additions also contain vintage toys, books, and other collectibles that served as inspiration to Kidd.