Name/Title
An Intimate Map of SaugatuckEntry/Object ID
2008.03Description
A black and white version of the birds-eye view of Saugatuck designed by Fred Stearns. Map is mounted on cardboard.
Map has a decorative title box in the lower left corner adorned with a stereotypical "Indian maid" and mermaid. The map shows both old and new channels, boats on the lake and river, the swing bridge, a very bare Mt. Baldhead with people leaping down the slope, Ox-Bow, Goshorn lake, orchards, the Big Pool, the Big Pavilion, the lumberyard and buildings on Butler Street and many other charming details.Artwork Details
Subject Place
* Untyped Subject Place
Kalamazoo LakeContext
An Intimate Map of Saugatuck Michigan by Fred Stearns
circa 1930
Fred Stearns was a student at the Art Institute of Chicago and first visited Saugatuck in 1907. He was art director of Burleigh, Withers, McCallum, Stearns and Jipson Co., a Chicago advertising firm that specialized in work for the auto industry. This map shows places that were important to Stearns — including the Ox-Bow School and a little boat at the lower right named Poison Ivy. Stearns wrote in the Chicago Tribune that “everybody who works amid the tumult of a big city will understand why Saugatuck, Mich. is my favorite town.”Collection
Maps, 1930+ Tourism, brochures, guides and mapsCataloged By
Voss, MaryAcquisition
Accession
2008.03Source or Donor
Manchester, JohnAcquisition Method
DonationMade/Created
Artist
Stearns, Fred 1885-1967Date made
1930Lexicon
Search Terms
Map, Birds-eye view, Landscape, Tourist Art, Cardboard, Saugatuck, Michigan, Map, Lake Kalamazoo, Mt. Baldhead, Kalamazoo River, Big PoolDimensions
Height
22-1/2 inWidth
31-1/2 inLocation
Drawer
Flat Files drawer 12 tourism mapsCondition
Overall Condition
FairNotes
Print dry mounted to board. Yellowing of paper and mount. Print also faded. Removed print from frame in September 2019.Relationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Stearns, Fred 1885-1967General Notes
Note
Caption fixed to back of frame with tape:
Fred Stearns was a student at the Art Institute of Chicago and first visited Saugatuck in 1907. He was art director of Burleigh, Withers, McCallum, Stearns and Jipsson a Chicago advertising firm that specialized in work for the auto industry. This "intimate map" of Saugatuck shows places that must have been important to him - including Ox-Box School area and perhaps even the little boat at the lower right named, "Poison Ivy." Stearns wrote in the Chicago Tribune that "everybody who works amid the turmult of a big city will understand why Saugatuck, Mich. is my favorite town."
Status: OK
Status By: Eric Gollannek
Status Date: 2019-09-18Create Date
January 28, 2008Update Date
June 18, 2024
