Crimilda Pontes (March 13, 1926 – January 25, 2000) was an American

graphic designer A graphic designer is a practitioner who follows the discipline of graphic design, either within companies or organizations or independently. They are professionals in design and visual communication, with their primary focus on transforming ...

and

calligrapher Calligraphy () is a visual art related to writing. It is the design and execution of lettering with a pen, ink brush, or other writing instruments. Contemporary calligraphic practice can be defined as "the art of giving form to signs in an exp ...

. She designed many book covers and dust jackets, and was responsible for the

Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums, Education center, education and Research institute, research centers, created by the Federal government of the United States, U.S. government "for the increase a ...

's "sunburst" logo.

Early life

Pontes was born in

Somerset, Massachusetts Somerset is a New England town, town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 18,303 at the 2020 census. It is the birthplace and hometown of Clifford Milburn Holland (1883–1924), the chief engineer and namesake of t ...

, the daughter of Albert Pontes and Irene Reis Cabral Pontes, of

Bristol, Rhode Island Bristol is a town in Bristol County, Rhode Island, United States, as well as the county seat. The population of Bristol was 22,493 at the 2020 census. It is a deep water seaport named after Bristol, England. Major industries include boat buil ...

. Her father was head custodian for Bristol schools. She was

valedictorian Valedictorian is an academic title for the class rank, highest-performing student of a graduation, graduating class of an academic institution in the United States. The valedictorian is generally determined by an academic institution's grade poin ...

of the Bristol Senior High School class of 1944. She recalled of her early education in 1968, "I would like it stressed that my interest in books and lettering was enkindled and encouraged in its development under the guidance of Miss Jessie Molaskey, librarian at Guiteras Junior High School." Pontes studied with calligrapher John Howard Benson, and earned a

Bachelor of Fine Arts A Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) is a standard undergraduate degree for students pursuing a professional education in the visual arts, Fine art, or performing arts. In some instances, it is also called a Bachelor of Visual Arts (BVA). Background ...

degree at the

Rhode Island School of Design The Rhode Island School of Design (RISD , pronounced "Riz-D") is a private art and design school in Providence, Rhode Island. The school was founded as a coeducational institution in 1877 by Helen Adelia Rowe Metcalf, who sought to increase th ...

in 1948. She completed her

Master of Fine Arts A Master of Fine Arts (MFA or M.F.A.) is a terminal degree in fine arts, including visual arts, creative writing, graphic design, photography, filmmaking, dance, theatre, other performing arts and in some cases, theatre management or arts admi ...

degree in graphic design at

Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Stat ...

in 1959.

Career

Pontes was an apprentice to John Howard Benson in Rhode Island after she graduated from college. She held the title Illustrator General at the

Naval War College The Naval War College (NWC or NAVWARCOL) is the staff college and "Home of Thought" for the United States Navy at Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island. The NWC educates and develops leaders, supports defining the future Navy and associa ...

from 1951 to 1954, and taught art at Rosary Hill College from 1954 to 1957. In 1959, she inscribed the dedication in the book that American president

Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (born David Dwight Eisenhower; October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) was the 34th president of the United States, serving from 1953 to 1961. During World War II, he was Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionar ...

gave to French president

Charles de Gaulle Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle (22 November 18909 November 1970) was a French general and statesman who led the Free France, Free French Forces against Nazi Germany in World War II and chaired the Provisional Government of the French Re ...

at a summit in Paris. Pontes designed book covers and dust jackets, working at

Yale University Press Yale University Press is the university press of Yale University. It was founded in 1908 by George Parmly Day and Clarence Day, grandsons of Benjamin Day, and became a department of Yale University in 1961, but it remains financially and ope ...

from 1959 to 1964. She was a designer at the Smithsonian Institution for 23 years, beginning in 1965, and was responsible for creating the Smithsonian's "sunburst" logo. She retired in 1988. She also did lettering for

postage stamp A postage stamp is a small piece of paper issued by a post office, postal administration, or other authorized vendors to customers who pay postage (the cost involved in moving, insuring, or registering mail). Then the stamp is affixed to the f ...

s, banners, and posters. The 1971 redesign of the ''

American Historical Review ''The American Historical Review'' is a quarterly academic history journal published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Historical Association, for which it is an official publication. It targets readers interested in all periods ...

'' was "chiefly owing" to the work of Pontes, "who brought to her task an unusual combination of sensitivity, taste, experience, and a remarkable grasp of scholarly needs and constraints; moreover, she has been great fun to work with", according to the journal's managing editor, Robert K. Webb. In 1984, she helped design the medal for members of the Order of James Smithson.

Personal life

Pontes died in 2000, aged 73 years. Her gravesite is with her parents', in Bristol. Her papers are in the Crimilda Pontes Graphic Arts Archive at

Western Michigan University Western Michigan University (Western Michigan, Western or WMU) is a Public university, public research university in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. It was initially established as Western State Normal School in 1903 by Governor Aaron T. B ...

, and the Crimilda Pontes Papers at the Smithsonian.

References

External links

A signed first-day cover from 1968
featuring Crimilda Pontes' autograph. * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Pontes, Crimilda 1926 births 2000 deaths American graphic designers American women graphic designers Rhode Island School of Design alumni Daemen University Smithsonian Institution people Yale University alumni People from Bristol, Rhode Island American calligraphers Women calligraphers Artists from Massachusetts Artists from Rhode Island 20th-century American artists 20th-century American women artists