Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries
Ernest Ralph Norling drawings
Norling, Ernest R. (Ernest Ralph), 1892-
PH0553
5 boxes
87 illustrations ; sizes vary; 5 boxes and 1 folder
1927-1954
Original drawings, paintings, illustration mock-ups, and printed proofs by the artist Ernest Ralph Norling. Includes book designs, mural designs, and miscellaneous illustrations.
Collection materials are in English.
Ernest Norling (1892-1974) was born in Pasco, WA on September 26, 1892. In 1895 his family moved to Ellensburg, Washington. Norling attended Whitman College where he majored in math and physics. After college he worked as a draftsman for the city engineer's office before moving to Chicago. He studied at the Chicago Art Institute and the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and then moved to Seattle, where he began teaching art at the Cornish School. While teaching, Norling wrote Perspectives Made Easy (1939), a book on the use of perspective in art. He was one of fifty artists in Washington to take part in the Public Works of Art Project (PWAP) during the Great Depression, creating documentary paintings of the Civilian Conservation Corps at work. Norling worked as an artist for the Seattle Times and as the art director for the Boeing Aircraft Company Preliminary Design Unit. He worked as an illustrator for a number of children's books, including the Kenneth Gilbert books Bird Dog Bargain (1947), Triple Threat Patrol (1953), and Cruise of the Dipsy Do (1954). Norling and his wife, Josephine Stearns, also worked together on a series of "Pogo" books that featured a dog inspired by their daughter's pet. The novels explored underrepresented topics in children's literature such as lumberjacking and train mechanics. Over 12 years, Norling and his wife produced 20 childrens books set in the Pacific Northwest, including Pogo's Train Ride which is part of this collection. He also created commissioned works for the University of Washington, which included a mural for the student union building, now known as the HUB, in 1949. The mural depicted individuals and events from the University of Washington's history from 1861 to 1925. Ernest Norling died in Seattle, Washington in March 1974 at the age of 81.
Original drawings, paintings, illustration mock-ups, and printed proofs by the artist Ernest Ralph Norling. Includes book designs, mural designs, and miscellaneous illustrations.
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Processed by Amy Oates, 2014; Gracie Loesser, 2015. Processing completed 2015.
Ernest R. Norling Papers (Manuscript Collection 5962)
Norling, Ernest R. (Ernest Ralph), 1892- --Drawings
University of Washington--In Art
Book cover art--Specimens
Mural painting and decoration--Design
Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)
Fine Arts
Book Illustrations
Pogo's Train Ride
1944
John and his dog Pogo go on a train ride and learn about the mechanics of trains.
Original Cover Illustrations
Color sketch of dust jacket illustration featuring outline of a dog and a boy, who is sitting on a fence waving to a train
circa 1942-1944
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10
1
Sketch contains notes and corrections.
Dust jacket with illustration of a dog and a boy, who is sitting on a fence waving to a train
circa 1942-1944
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2
Sketch of text for title page
circa 1942-1944
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10
3
Sketch contains corrections on illustration and tracing paper.
Sketch of dog dreaming of a train ride
circa 1942-1944
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1
4
This was printed on the title page of the published book. Sketch contains notes and corrections.
Endpage illustrations, depicting a collage of words and images related to trains
circa 1942-1944
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1
5
Original Book Illustrations
Dog and a boy, who is sitting on a fence waving to a train
circa 1942-1944
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6
Illustration on dust jacket and page 3 in published book.
Boy sitting on a fence talking to a man in front of a train roundhouse
circa 1942-1944
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7
Illustration on page 5 in published book.
Dog stopping in front of a group of people inside of a train roundhouse
circa 1942-1944
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8
Illustration on page 7 in published book.
Boy and dog watching a mechanic working on a train
circa 1942-1944
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9
Illustration on page 9 in published book.
Boy, dog, and mechanic watching train arrive in roundhouse
circa 1942-1944
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10
Illustration on page 11 in published book.
Boy watching yardman fill oil tank on train car while dog chases birds
circa 1942-1944
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11
Illustration on page 13 in published book.
Boy watching man fill train car with ice blocks
circa 1942-1944
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12
Illustration on page 15 in published book.
Boy looking at detached train car
circa 1942-1944
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13
Illustration on page 17 in published book.
Boy and dog looking through train window at a man walking on top of the train
circa 1942-1944
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14
Illustration on page 19 in published book.
Boy looking at the rails of the track
circa 1942-1944
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15
Illustration on page 21 in published book.
Boy and dog watching cattle unload from a train car
circa 1942-1944
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16
Illustration on page 23 in published book. Written on front: page 25.
Boy looking at the axle box next to a yardman and dog
circa 1942-1944
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17
Illustration on page 25 in published book. Written on front: page 23.
Boy talking with the engineer in the train cab
circa 1942-1944
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18
Illustration on page 29 in published book.
Boy leaning out the window of the cab as the train approaches a tunnel
circa 1942-1944
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19
Illustration on page 31 in published book.
Two deer watching a dog walk along train tracks
circa 1942-1944
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20
Illustration on page 33 in published book.
Boy sitting on train car steps, looking sad
circa 1942-1944
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21
Illustration on page 35 in published book.
Boy and man looking from the top of a train car at a dog running on the train tracks in the background
circa 1942-1944
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22
Illustration on page 37 in published book.
Boy, dog, and three men getting ready to eat inside the train
circa 1942-1944
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23
Illustration on page 39 in published book.
Boy getting ready for bed in the sleeper car of the train
circa 1942-1944
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24
Illustration on page 41 in published book.
Bird Dog Bargain
1947
A young boy named Joey and his friend Bill turn a gun-shy puppy into a trained hunting dog.
Original Cover Illustrations
Dust jacket mock-up of a boy and dog hunting
circa 1945-1947
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2
25
Mock-up contains notes and corrections on tracing paper and illustration board.
Title page sketch of a dog sitting at a food bowl
circa 1945-1947
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1
26
Written on front: This one only. Spot.
Original Book Illustrations
Boy, dog, and cow encountering a bear at night
circa 1945-1947
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3
27
Illustration on page 56 in published book. Written on verso: p 43-44.
Boy hunting a bird in a field
circa 1945-1947
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28
Illustration on page 77 in published book. Notes written on front and back.
Dog being pulled back on a leash by a man and a boy
circa 1945-1947
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5
29
Illustration on page 92 in published book. Notes written on front and back. Written on verso: p. 71.
Bird flying away from a boy and a dog
circa 1945-1947
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30
Illustration on page 102 in published book.
Boy and a dog encounter a cougar
circa 1945-1947
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31
Illustration on page 137 in published book. Written on verso: p. 104.
Two dogs standing in pointer position in a field
circa 1945-1947
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32
Illustration on page 189 in published book. Written on verso: p. 146.
Dog biting its hind leg
circa 1945-1947
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2
33
Illustration on page 196 in published book. Note on front: Do not make this one.
Triple-Threat Patrol
1953
Teenagers Chuck and Doc learn about logging while investigating a timber theft after they become stranded on an island in the Puget Sound.
Original Cover Illustrations
Dust jacket mock-up of boat and log in the water
circa 1951-1953
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9
34a-b
Illustrations contain notes and corrections. Painting was originally glued to paper, but has been separated and placed in archival sleeve.
Original Book Illustrations
Two boys rowing a boat in rough seas
circa 1951-1953
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3
35
Illustration on page 9 in published book. Written on front: Page 5 manuscript.
Men discover a wolf leaning against a pile of lumber
circa 1951-1953
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4
36
Illustration on page 47 in published book. Written on front: Page 33 manuscript.
Man holding a large saw watching another man use a wedge to cut down a tree
circa 1951-1953
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5
37
Illustration on page 93 in published book. Written on front: Page 64 manuscript.
Four men fighting in rough seas as their boats collide
circa 1951-1953
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38
Illustration on page 157 in published book. Written on front: Page 109 manuscript.
Group of men talking in front of a log chute next to the water
circa 1951-1953
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39
Illustration on page 177 in published book. Written on front: Page 121 manuscript.
Man behind a large log aiming to throw a stone at two approaching boys
circa 1951-1953
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40
Illustration on page 203 in published book. Written on front: Page 140 manuscript.
Cruise of the Dipsy Do
1954
Teenager Chip Norton and his friend Ben try to earn money by sailing a boat called the Dipsy Do along the Washington salmon banks.
Original Cover Illustrations
Dust jacket mock-up of men on a boat in rough seas looking at a fish
circa 1952-1954
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10
41
Mock-up contains edits on acetate sheets and board.
Original Book Illustrations
Working illustration of group of men talking at the docks
circa 1952-1954
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9
42
Illustration on page 43 in published book. Contains corrections. Note written on front: p 33.
Final illustration of group of men talking at the docks
circa 1952-1954
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43
Illustration on page 43 in published book.
Three men watching while a man grabs a fish out of a fish box on a boat
circa 1952-1954
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44
Illustration on page 75 in published book. Note written on front: p. 55.
Man steering a boat in rough seas with a giant fish in the background
circa 1952-1954
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45
Illustration on page 113 in published book.
Man steering a boat while another man tries to pull in a fish from the side of the boat
circa 1952-1954
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46
Illustration on page 137 in published book.
Two men in a rowboat looking at a ship in the background
circa 1952-1954
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47
Illustration on page 165 in published book.
Mural Designs
World Travels, Possible Mural Designs
Collage of objects and people from around the world, including train, wagons, and a church
circa 1920s-1970s
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11
48
Collage of people and objects from around the world, including camels, coal mining, and a large gateway
circa 1920s-1970s
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49
Collage of people and objects from around the world, including banana farming, prop airplane, and a lighthouse
circa 1920s-1970s
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50
Private Residence Mural Designs
Sketch for round ceiling decoration featuring men and women in 19th century clothing walking in a park
circa 1920s-1970s
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2
51
Collage of figures engaging in recreational activities
circa 1920s-1970s
M266
52a-b
Written on board: Sketch for recreation room mural Kenneth Baker residence.
Possible Civilian Conservation Corps. Mural Design
Sketch of man dancing while group of men and children watch
circa 1930s-1940s
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15
53
Sketch contains notes with names for each figure. This sketch may have been for a mural, perhaps depicting recreational activities in the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Civilian Conservation Corps pencil sketches
Pointing Drills - The Blacksmith Shop [Man preparing machine in smithy]
March 20, 1934
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CCC Camp F20, Lake Cushman, Washington.
Army Headquarters [Wooden building and walkway on lakeside]
March 21, 1934
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CCC Camp F20, Company 947, Lake Cushman, Washington.
Kitchen [Cooks working in camp kitchen]
March 21, 1934
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CCC camp F20.
Supply Truck (U.S. Forestry) at Kitchen
March 21, 1934
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CCC camp F20, Lake Cushman, Washington.
Supply Truck Returning from Subcamp
April 2, 1934
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CCC Camp F20, 947 Company, Lake Cushman, Washington.
Barracks - Subcamp - "Staircase"
April 3, 1934
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CCC F20 camp, 947 Company, Lake Cushman, Washington.
Checking Out [Men returning supplies to Army Supply Room]
April 5, 1934
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CCC Camp F20, 947 Company, Lake Cushman, Washington.
Payday [Men congregated around headquarters building]
April 5, 1934
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CCC Camp F20, 947 Company, Lake Cushman.
Recreation Hall - "Vodvil Nite" "Dance of Spring"[Men watching performers dancing on stage]
probably March or April 1934
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84
CCC Camp F20, 947 Company, Lake Cushman, Washington.
Horseshoes - Doctor vs Teacher
April 17, 1934
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CCC 1233 Company, Orcas Island, Washington.
Butch and the Deer [Man lying next to deer in field]
April 19, 1934
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CCC 1233 Company, Orcas Island, Washington.
Road Construction - Falling Timber to Widen Road
April 21, 1934
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CCC 1233 Company, Orcas Island, Washington.
University of Washington
Sketch of Dr. Gowen reading a book
1927
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1
54
Caption: Dr. Gowen U. of W. Sketched from life 1927.
This is probably a sketch of Dr. Herbert H. Gowen, who was a professor of Oriental Languages and Literature at the University of Washington from 1909 to 1945. Dr. Gowen established the "Department of Oriental Studies," which was a precusor to the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies.
Campus building with tree leaves in foreground
undated
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55
Written on verso: University of Washington campus.
Husky Union Building Mural Designs
The designs included in this collection were not incorporated into the final Husky Union Building mural.
Woman with books walking in front of two men on penny-farthings
circa 1940s
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56
Two men on bicycles tipping their hats to a woman carrying books
circa 1940s
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4
57
Painting contains notes and corrections in pencil.
Two men in a car waving to a woman carrying books
circa 1940s
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5
58
Painting contains notes and corrections in pencil.
Two marching band members walk by as boy watches in background
circa 1940s
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59
Two men holding books watching woman drive by in a car
circa 1940s
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60
Two men in a horse-drawn carriage tipping their hats to a woman holding books
circa 1940s
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8
61
Written on front: sketch as is. Written on verso: Sketches for murals in HUB.
Woman watching as man walks by pushing a baby stroller
circa 1940s
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9
62
Airplane Sketches
These sketches may have been completed for Boeing during Norling's time working as an art director in their preliminary design unit.
Section of airplane with rudder transported by overhead crane
1942
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3
63
Airplanes on the tarmac
1942
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64
View of the tail end of an airplane sitting in a hanger
August 1942
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65
Body of an airplane being lifted by an overhead crane
1942
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66
United States military bomber airplane sitting in hanger
1942
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7
67
Men working on the cockpit of an airplane
1942
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68
Man working in a construction shop
1942
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69
Man working on the propeller of an airplane
1942
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70
Men working on the wing of an airplane
1942
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71
Men working on the engine of an airplane
1942
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72
Caption: Engine Change.
Men with film equipment recording a man working on the engine of an airplane
circa 1942
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13
73
Men working on the tail of an airplane with an American flag hanging above
1942
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14
74
Wheel of an airplane on the tarmac with a United States military bomber airplane in the background
August 1942
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15
75