In this era of nationally produced Sunday circulars, artistry in advertising is a rare luxury. But until the 1980s, clothing retailers regularly hired skilled illustrators to draw their merchandise for local papers. Without the benefit of color, these artists conveyed the most striking "buy me" details of an outfit with no more than a pencil and sheer talent. Their true contribution, however, goes beyond merchandising. It is an important part of fashion history.
Mary Mitchell was the foremost illustrator in Omaha in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, counting the city's most revered temples of...