Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
David F. Stern papers, 1945-2005
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Stern, David F.
- Title
- David F. Stern papers
- Dates
- 1945-2005 (inclusive)19452005
- Quantity
- 17.56 cubic feet (28 boxes including video and sound cassettes and sound tape reels)
- Collection Number
- 6100 (Accession No. 6100-001)
- Summary
- Advertisements, writings, and campaign materials of David Stern, an advertising executive and two-time mayoral candidate in Seattle, Washington
- Repository
-
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Open to all users.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
David F. Stern was born in Seattle in 1937 to parents Edward and Bernice Friedman Stern. He had one brother, Edward. Stern grew up on Capitol Hill and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1956 and the University of Washington with a degree in journalism in 1960. He was on the staff and served as sports editor for the school newspapers in both high school and college. He worked as an advertising executive after starting his own company in 1963 and incorporated the "Happy Face" symbol--of which he was one of the early creators--into much of this work.
Stern was also active in local politics and ran for mayor of Seattle in 1989 and 1993, although he was not elected. He also was instrumental in his mother, Bernice's, successful campaigns for the King County Council and worked on Slade Gorton's Senate campaign in 1980, as well as other local campaigns.
Stern lived much of his adult life in the Leschi neighborhood of Seattle with his wife, Margaret, and his daughters Debbie and Ruth.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Papers and scrapbooks related to David Stern's high school and college education, military service, advertising career, and Seattle mayoral campaigns. Includes yearbooks, ephemera, client files, print advertisements, writings and speeches, newspaper columns, and radio and television advertisements and campaign interviews on videocassettes, sound cassettes, and sound tape reels. Also included are materials related to the history of the "Happy Face" logo and political ephemera from local and national political campaigns, including his mother Bernice Stern's King County Council campaigns, Slade Gorton's Attorney General re-election campaign and 1980 Senate campaign, and Liem Tuai's 1973 mayoral campaign.
Some of Stern's advertising clients included William O. McKay Ford dealership, Tape Town, Fox's Gem Shop, the Seattle Supersonics, Marontate-Jones, Pacific Lincoln Nursery, State Mutual Savings Bank, Timberland Federal Savings and Loan Association, University Federal Savings Bank, the University of Washington Bookstore, Talcott Jewelers, John Stern, KIXI, Seattle Beauty School, Benaroya, Tower 801, Dag's, and Ivar's.
Also included are other materials related to Stern's family, including correspondence, clippings, and ephemera related to Bernice Stern's life and political career, as well as articles about and an obituary for Edward F. Stern.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 1 | Childhood and education | 1945-1959 |
| 1 | Military service | 1960-1961 |
| 1 | Early advertising career | 1961 |
| 1-5 | Advertising client files | 1960s-1980s |
| 5 | Gorable Oxen and Sacred Cows promotion | |
| 5 | Miscellaneous advertising posters and publicity | 1960s-1980s |
| 5 | George McGovern/Robin Hood poster materials (published in Time magazine) | 1972 |
| 5 | Invitations | 1960s-1980s |
| 5 | Advertising bumper stickers and other ephemera | 1960s-1980s |
| 5-6 | Writings, articles, advertisements, and campaigns | 1960s-1990s |
| 6 | Advertisements | 1980s |
| 6 | David Stern publicity articles | 1950s-1990s |
| 6-7 | Copy writings for Stern's accounts at Miller, Mackay, Hoeck & Hartung, Inc. | 1962-1963 |
| 7 | Writings, artwork, clippings, and other ephemera | 1960s-1980s |
| 7 | Advertisements for Fox's Gem Shops | 1981-1982 |
| 7-8 | David Stern mayoral campaigns | 1989-1993 |
| 7 | Political bumper stickers | circa 1980s |
| 8 | Liem Tuai mayoral campaign | 1973 |
| 8 | The Selling out of the President 1973 book materials | 1973 |
| 9 | Speeches and writings | 1960s-1990s |
| 9 | Unknowns for President | 1992 |
| 10 | David Stern biographical information | 1950s-1990s |
| 10 | Bernice Stern campaign and biographical materials | 1960s-1980s |
| 10 | Edward F. Stern materials | 1980 |
| 10 | "Happy Face" articles and ephemera | 1989-2000 |
| 10 | Libel lawsuit papers ( Stern v. Record-Chronicle) | 1978-1979 |
| 10 | Reverend Dale Turner cards and notes | 2006 |
| 11 | 2 volumes of bound issues of the Lincoln High Totem | 1954-1956 |
| 12 | Articles written by Stern for the Lincoln High Totem, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, University of Washington Daily, and others | December 1954-May 1959 |
| 12 | Articles written by Stern for the University of Washington Daily | 1956-1960 |
| 13 | State Mutual Savings Bank (SMSB) advertisement scrapbook | 1980-1982 |
| 13 | Timberland Federal Savings and Loan Association advertisement scrapbook | 1981-1982 |
| 14 | University Federal Savings Bank advertisement scrapbook | 1971-1981 |
| 14 | Miscellaneous advertisement scrapbooks | 1970s |
| 15 | Timberland Federal Savings advertisement scrapbook | early 1970s |
| 15 | University of Washington Bookstore advertisement scrapbook | 1970s |
| 16 | William O. McKay Ford advertisement scrapbook | early 1970s |
| 16 | Gunderson advertisement scrapbook | early 1970s |
| 16 | University of Washington Bookstore loose advertisements | 1970s |
| 17 | Olympia Federal Savings advertisement scrapbook | 1972-1982 |
| 18 | Talcott Jewelers advertisement scrapbook | 1971-1982 |
| 19 | Fox's Gem Shop advertisement scrapbook | 1970-1982 |
| 19 | Letter of protest regarding the trademark of the "Happy Face" symbol | 2005 |
| box:oversize | ||
| 20 | Oversize advertisements, newspaper columns, mayoral campaign materials, and Slade Gorton 1980 Senate campaign materials | 1960s-1980s |
| 21 | Oversize newspaper advertisements | 1960s-1970s |
| 22 | Oversize advertisements | 1960s |
| Box | ||
| 23-24 | Videocassettes of advertisements and campaign interviews | 1990s |
| 25-27 | Sound cassettes of advertisement and campaigns | 1970s-1990s |
| 28 | Posters | 1970s-1990s |
| Reel | ||
| 7" sound tape reels 20-29 | Sound tape reels of advertisements, campaigns, and celebrations | 1960s |
| 5" sound tape reels 11-21 | Sound tape reels of advertisements, campaigns, and celebrations | 1960s |
| 4" sound tape reels 1-3 | Sound tape reels of advertisements, campaigns, and celebrations | 1960s |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Advertisers--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Advertising agencies--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Campaign paraphernalia--Washington (State)--Seattle--Specimens
- Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
- Political campaigns--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Politicians--Washington (State)--Seattle
Personal Names
- Stern, David F.--Archives
- Stern, David F.--Family
