University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
PH0553
Norling, Ernest R. (Ernest Ralph), 1892-
Ernest Ralph Norling
drawings
1927-1954
75 illustrations (5 boxes and 1 folder) ; sizes vary
Collection materials are in
English.
Original
drawings, paintings, illustration mock-ups, and printed proofs by the artist
Ernest Ralph Norling. Includes book designs, mural designs, and miscellaneous
illustrations.
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.
View the digitial version of
the collection
Access to original illustrations is restricted. Entire collection
available on digital site. Contact Special Collections for further
information.
Request at UW
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication.
Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for
details.
Processed by Amy Oates, 2014; Gracie Loesser, 2015. Processing
completed 2015.
Material Described Separately:
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
5/10
1
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
Sketch contains notes and corrections.
5/10
2
Dust jacket with illustration of a dog and a boy,
who is sitting on a fence waving to a train
circa 1942-1944
5/10
3
Sketch of text for title page
circa 1942-1944
Sketch contains corrections on illustration and tracing
paper.
4/1
4
Sketch of dog dreaming of a train ride
circa 1942-1944
This was printed on the title page of the published book.
Sketch contains notes and corrections.
2/1
5
Endpage illustrations, depicting a collage of words
and images related to trains
circa 1942-1944
Original Book Illustrations
1
6
Dog and a boy, who is sitting on a fence waving to a
train
circa 1942-1944
Illustration on dust jacket and page 3 in published
book.
1
7
Boy sitting on a fence talking to a man in front of
a train roundhouse
circa 1942-1944
Illustration on page 5 in published book.
1
8
Dog stopping in front of a group of people inside of
a train roundhouse
circa 1942-1944
Illustration on page 7 in published book.
1
9
Boy and dog watching a mechanic working on a
train
circa 1942-1944
Illustration on page 9 in published book.
1
10
Boy, dog, and mechanic watching train arrive in
roundhouse
circa 1942-1944
Illustration on page 11 in published book.
1
11
Boy watching yardman fill oil tank on train car
while dog chases birds
circa 1942-1944
Illustration on page 13 in published book.
1
12
Boy watching man fill train car with ice
blocks
circa 1942-1944
Illustration on page 15 in published book.
1
13
Boy looking at detached train car
circa 1942-1944
Illustration on page 17 in published book.
1
14
Boy and dog looking through train window at a man
walking on top of the train
circa 1942-1944
Illustration on page 19 in published book.
1
15
Boy looking at the rails of the track
circa 1942-1944
Illustration on page 21 in published book.
1
16
Boy and dog watching cattle unload from a train
car
circa 1942-1944
Illustration on page 23 in published book. Written on front:
page 25.
1
17
Boy looking at the axle box next to a yardman and
dog
circa 1942-1944
Illustration on page 25 in published book. Written on front:
page 23.
1
18
Boy talking with the engineer in the train
cab
circa 1942-1944
Illustration on page 29 in published book.
1
19
Boy leaning out the window of the cab as the train
approaches a tunnel
circa 1942-1944
Illustration on page 31 in published book.
1
20
Two deer watching a dog walk along train
tracks
circa 1942-1944
Illustration on page 33 in published book.
1
21
Boy sitting on train car steps, looking
sad
circa 1942-1944
Illustration on page 35 in published book.
1
22
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
Illustration on page 37 in published book.
1
23
Boy, dog, and three men getting ready to eat inside
the train
circa 1942-1944
Illustration on page 39 in published book.
1
24
Boy getting ready for bed in the sleeper car of the
train
circa 1942-1944
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
4/2
25
Dust jacket mock-up of a boy and dog
hunting
circa 1945-1947
Mock-up contains notes and corrections on tracing paper and
illustration board.
3/1
26
Title page sketch of a dog sitting at a food
bowl
circa 1945-1947
Written on front: This one only. Spot.
Original Book Illustrations
4/3
27
Boy, dog, and cow encountering a bear at
night
circa 1945-1947
Illustration on page 56 in published book. Written on verso:
p 43-44.
4/4
28
Boy hunting a bird in a field
circa 1945-1947
Illustration on page 77 in published book. Notes written on
front and back.
4/5
29
Dog being pulled back on a leash by a man and a
boy
circa 1945-1947
Illustration on page 92 in published book. Notes written on
front and back. Written on verso: p. 71.
4/6
30
Bird flying away from a boy and a dog
circa 1945-1947
Illustration on page 102 in published book.
4/7
31
Boy and a dog encounter a cougar
circa 1945-1947
Illustration on page 137 in published book. Written on
verso: p. 104.
4/8
32
Two dogs standing in pointer position in a
field
circa 1945-1947
Illustration on page 189 in published book. Written on
verso: p. 146.
3/2
33
Dog biting its hind leg
circa 1945-1947
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
4/9
34a-b
Dust jacket mock-up of boat and log in the
water
circa 1951-1953
Illustrations contain notes and corrections. Painting was
originally glued to paper, but has been separated and placed in archival
sleeve.
Original Book Illustrations
3/3
35
Two boys rowing a boat in rough seas
circa 1951-1953
Illustration on page 9 in published book. Written on front:
Page 5 manuscript.
3/4
36
Men discover a wolf leaning against a pile of
lumber
circa 1951-1953
Illustration on page 47 in published book. Written on front:
Page 33 manuscript.
3/5
37
Man holding a large saw watching another man use a
wedge to cut down a tree
circa 1951-1953
Illustration on page 93 in published book. Written on front:
Page 64 manuscript.
3/6
38
Four men fighting in rough seas as their boats
collide
circa 1951-1953
Illustration on page 157 in published book. Written on
front: Page 109 manuscript.
3/7
39
Group of men talking in front of a log chute next to
the water
circa 1951-1953
Illustration on page 177 in published book. Written on
front: Page 121 manuscript.
3/8
40
Man behind a large log aiming to throw a stone at
two approaching boys
circa 1951-1953
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
4/10
41
Dust jacket mock-up of men on a boat in rough seas
looking at a fish
circa 1952-1954
Mock-up contains edits on acetate sheets and board.
Original Book Illustrations
3/9
42
Working illustration of group of men talking at the
docks
circa 1952-1954
Illustration on page 43 in published book. Contains
corrections. Note written on front: p 33.
3/10
43
Final illustration of group of men talking at the
docks
circa 1952-1954
Illustration on page 43 in published book.
3/11
44
Three men watching while a man grabs a fish out of a
fish box on a boat
circa 1952-1954
Illustration on page 75 in published book. Note written on
front: p. 55.
3/12
45
Man steering a boat in rough seas with a giant fish
in the background
circa 1952-1954
Illustration on page 113 in published book.
3/13
46
Man steering a boat while another man tries to pull
in a fish from the side of the boat
circa 1952-1954
Illustration on page 137 in published book.
3/14
47
Two men in a rowboat looking at a ship in the
background
circa 1952-1954
Illustration on page 165 in published book.
Mural Designs
World Travels, Possible Mural Designs
4/11
48
Collage of objects and people from around the world,
including train, wagons, and a church
circa 1920s-1970s
4/12
49
Collage of people and objects from around the world,
including camels, coal mining, and a large gateway
circa 1920s-1970s
4/13
50
Collage of people and objects from around the world,
including banana farming, prop airplane, and a lighthouse
circa 1920s-1970s
Private Residence Mural Designs
2/2
51
Sketch for round ceiling decoration featuring men and
women in 19th century clothing walking in a park
circa 1920s-1970s
M266
52a-b
Collage of figures engaging in recreational
activities
circa 1920s-1970s
Written on board: Sketch for recreation room mural Kenneth
Baker residence.
Possible Civilian Conservation Corps. Mural
Design
3/15
53
Sketch of man dancing while group of men and children
watch
circa 1930s-1940s
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.
University of Washington
5/1
54
Sketch of Dr. Gowen reading a book
1927
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.
5/2
55
Campus building with tree leaves in
foreground
undated
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.
5/3
56
Woman with books walking in front of two men on
penny-farthings
circa 1940s
5/4
57
Two men on bicycles tipping their hats to a woman
carrying books
circa 1940s
Painting contains notes and corrections in pencil.
5/5
58
Two men in a car waving to a woman carrying
books
circa 1940s
Painting contains notes and corrections in pencil.
5/6
59
Two marching band members walk by as boy watches in
background
circa 1940s
5/7
60
Two men holding books watching woman drive by in a
car
circa 1940s
5/8
61
Two men in a horse-drawn carriage tipping their hats
to a woman holding books
circa 1940s
Written on front: sketch as is. Written on verso: Sketches for
murals in HUB.
5/9
62
Woman watching as man walks by pushing a baby
stroller
circa 1940s
Airplane Sketches
These sketches may have been completed for Boeing during Norling's
time working as an art director in their preliminary design unit.
2/3
63
Section of airplane with rudder transported by overhead
crane
1942
2/4
64
Airplanes on the tarmac
1942
2/5
65
View of the tail end of an airplane sitting in a
hanger
August 1942
2/6
66
Body of an airplane being lifted by an overhead
crane
1942
2/7
67
United States military bomber airplane sitting in
hanger
1942
2/8
68
Men working on the cockpit of an airplane
1942
2/9
69
Man working in a construction shop
1942
2/10
70
Man working on the propeller of an airplane
1942
2/11
71
Men working on the wing of an airplane
1942
2/12
72
Men working on the engine of an airplane
1942
Caption: Engine Change.
2/13
73
Men with film equipment recording a man working on the
engine of an airplane
circa 1942
2/14
74
Men working on the tail of an airplane with an American
flag hanging above
1942
2/15
75
Wheel of an airplane on the tarmac with a United States
military bomber airplane in the background
August 1942