The 1930s were a golden age of graphic design. From Paris to Peking, artists and advertisers turned out images unlike anything the world had ever seen. At LSU, the campus humor publication Pell-Mell caught readers' eyes with innovative and at times racy covers that captured the glamorous feel of the 1930s.
Originally published as The Purple Pel (a reference to Louisiana's state symbol, the pelican), Pell-Mell (sometimes spelled Pel-Mell) provides a window into campus life and attitudes during the Great Depression, including student views on sex, race, politics, and the slide towards war in Europe.
Featured here is a selection of covers from Pell-Mell. Want to see more? Visit Special Collections in Hill Memorial Library and request Pell-Mell in our Reading Room (click here for the catalog record).
The LSU Libraries includes the LSU Library and the adjacent Hill Memorial Library. Together, the libraries contain more than 4 million volumes and provide additional resources such as expert staff, technology, services, electronic resources, and facilities that advance research, teaching, and learning across every discipline.