Collection

  •  Archiwum Firmy Reklama, Reklama Archive, 1956

The archive comprises approximately 300 linear meters of files including documentation, which was left by an enterprise named PUR “REKLAMA” founded in February 1956. The archive includes documentation of advertising, which was created in 1956-1993. Within this period, the company was also named: Stołeczne Przedsiębiorstwo Instalacji Reklam Świetlnych.

This archive was transferred to the Museum, under the deed of gift, by Jacek Wyczółkowski, of long standing and the last director of this company, who wrote the following about his enterprise: „We inherited and continued operations of the company, which was the first company after the war involved in illuminated advertising and broadly defined visual information. (…) Principal Artist of Warsaw expressed his opinion on graphic design of the advertising, and then district divisions of architecture issued building permit based on complete documentation. This mode of action ensured compliance of appearance and location of the advertising with urban planning of the city. Graphic design of advertising was created by artists and architects, and for this reason, the advertising was much more attractive than it is now, and despite the fact that this advertising played different role at that time, it did not surely look ugly at the facilities, where they were installed." The archive mainly contains documentation of illuminated advertising, which usually comprises graphic concepts of neon signs, photographs of places, where they were to be placed, technical documentation (architectural drawings of façades – frequently complete designs of buildings, execution drawing of neon signs). The archive is priceless source of information about modernist architecture, typography and visuality of Polish street in the second half of 20th century.

Year: 1956
Medium: paper
Format: various

Acquisition: gift
Ownership form: collection
Source: Przedsiębiorstwo Produkcyjno-Usługowe "Reklama" Sp. z o.o.
Index: MSN: 4300-2/2010
Acquisition date: