Ricci Poster 110 - CARLI Digital Collections Featured Image

Here's a collection worth a look-through: a showcase of 135 posters designed by graphic artist (and Rosary College alum) Patricia Ellen Ricci in the late 1960s-early 1970s, from Special Collections, Rebecca Crown Library, Dominican University. Most of the examples in this digital collection are composed of vivid colors, simple shapes, and hand-lettered inspirational/motivational quotes and sayings. While the collection description emphasizes Ricci's Catholic background and employment history, the imagery and messages in her posters are non-denominational.

Take this quote by one C. Brown from the featured image, for example: "Happiness is anyone and anything at all that's loved by you." That's a pretty profound statement coming from an elementary school-age kid — although, really, the words were written by Clark Gesner for the 1967 musical You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. It's a line from the show's closing song, "Happiness."

The peanut butter jar as a backdrop for the quote in this 1968 poster is an interesting choice on Ricci's part, one that delves deeper than the comic strip title Peanuts. "Happiness is…" many things in the song – pizza with sausage, two kinds of ice cream, sharing a sandwich – but peanut butter is not among them.

In fact, as a frequent lunchtime consumer of peanut butter, Charlie Brown occasionally voices his thoughts and feelings about the foodstuff. Here's another quote from You're a Good Man: "Some psychiatrists say that people who eat peanut butter sandwiches are lonely…I guess they're right. And when you're really lonely, the peanut butter sticks to the roof of your mouth."

This one's from the animated TV special You're in Love, Charlie Brown (also 1967), screenwritten by Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz: "There's nothing like unrequited love to take all the flavor out of a peanut butter sandwich." (Though I must say, I prefer Schulz's original phrasing in the December 15, 1964 strip: "Nothing takes the taste out of peanut butter quite like unrequited love." Po-tay-to, po-tah-to.)

Not exactly happy, huh? If it makes you feel better (semi-spoiler ahead) eventually Charlie Brown gets the little red-haired girl – well, kind of. Still feeling down? Don't be a blockhead, take my advice and browse through Ricci's poster collection – it'll perk you up right away, trust me.

That'll be 5 cents, please.

Written by Ellen K. Corrigan, Associate Professor, Cataloging Services, Booth Library, Eastern Illinois University

For more information about this and other CARLI Digital Collections, visit http://collections.carli.illinois.edu

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