By Kelly Coates, Tom Desilets Memorial Intern 2015
I am Kelly Coates a senior at Framingham State University majoring in the Art History with a minor in Museum Studies, and this summer it has been my great pleasure to work as an intern for the Framingham History Center. When I started this internship I had no idea what was in store for me working in the Dennison Mfg. Co. archives. Such a massive collection of documents and items was a bit daunting to say the least, however as I worked alongside staff and volunteers the task seemed shrink and become more manageable. At first the thought of working on a major company’s archive didn’t seem particularly glamorous to an Art History Major but I was completely wrong.
Not only has the history of this wonderful and influential company been interesting to explore but the art of Dennison has astounded me. From the company’s birth in 1844 through the 1970s there is art of all kinds and its graphic development has proven to be a particularly interesting subject for me. Everyday I find joy in discovering new designs that reflected the decade in which it was made and art movements that were especially influential. Although Dennison had a reputation of being only a manufacturing company it was far more than that, and the artwork that the company produced is just a small example of its many facets.