As explained in her biography, Dorothy began her commercial art career working at Dunn-Tafts Department Store. When the store closed in 1941, she went to work at Lazarus Department Store. In her lifetime, Dorothy sketched hundreds, perhaps thousands of ads. Some of her Dunn-Tafts illustrations are shown below. Notice how fashion changed and Dorothy's drawing style also changed.
[Note: An attempt was made to put these drawings into chronological order, but this was an impossible task because many drawings were not dated. All photographs of Dorothy's drawings and newspaper advertisements were taken in 2014, 2015, and 2018...43-47 years after Dorothy's death, by her niece, Susan.]
1935
Below: The white-board illustration for a Dunn Taft's newspaper ad in 1935.
1936
Below: This Ohio State Journal Dunn-Taft's newspaper ad, dated February 24, 1936, shows women's "Bond Street Suits": $18.00, hats: $5.00, and shoes: $6.50.
Below: This Ohio State Journal Dunn-Taft's newspaper ad, dated March 7, 1936, shows "Limited Editions, those famous few-of-a- kind Fashions for Particular Women" and a sale on girls "Washable Cotton Dresses" for $1.00.
Below: This Ohio State Journal Dunn-Taft's newspaper ad, dated December 16, 1936, shows ""Little Gifts for a Large CHRISTMAS." There were two different versions of the printed paper. One had the red superimposed symbol for tuberculosis.
1937
Below: Image 1: Dorothy's original white-board illustration for "Laird-Schober Fine Shoes." Image 2: Dispatch Dunn-Taft's newspaper ad, dated March 2, 1937.
1938
Below: This Ohio State Journal Dunn-Taft's newspaper ad, dated December 4. 1938, shows "Van Raalte" hosiery and a chemise, panties and bra, slip, and pajamas.
Below: In the Ohio State Journal Dunn-Taft's newspaper, dated December 11, 1938, there were two ads by Dorothy. The first is titled, "DOLLAR GIFT DAY". The second is "McCallum Silk Hosiery. " Below these newspaper pages is a scanned copy of the original drawing of the Santa Claus used on the firist page.
Below: In the Ohio State Journal Dunn-Taft's newspaper ad, dated December 18, 1938, there were two ads by Dorothy. One was titled "Underwear and Night Wear by Carters;" the other was titled "LINGERIE and ROBE'S."
1939
Below: This Ohio State Journal Dunn-Taft's newspaper ad, dated January 22, 1939 is titled "DANCE THAT SOME CHILD MAY WALK ... Attend the Presidents Ball." The ad was for formals. The ad stated, "On our chief executive's birthday ... comes this grand occasion when we gather everywhere to support a great humanitarian cause. But our sympathy for this cause need not dim our enjoyment of the ball ... so let's dress up Monday night and dance". The center of the ad shows an illustration of a boy and girl who are crippled. The girl is wearing a brace on her leg. The boy is using crutches. Both are dreaming of riding bicycles. [Note: At the time, polio was a very serious and feared disease. Dorothy's own sister had suffered from the disease from an early age. President Roosevelt, who would be celebrating his birthday on January 30th had polio.]
Image 1: Dorothy's original drawing on white board. Image 2: The Ohio State Journal Dunn-Taft's newspaper ad, dated January 29, 1939, titled "New Spring Suits... Man-Tailored" : $9.90. "Exclusive At Dunn Taft's ... The original Rugby Shoe": $6.75.
Below: Image 1: Dorothy's original drawing on white board. Image 2: The Ohio State Journal Dunn-Taft's newspaper ad, dated February 5, 1939 is titled "Spring Coats." Prices for the coats ranged from $16.95 to $19.95.
Below: This ad was drawn on white board by Dorothy to be printed in the February 12, 1939 Ohio State Journal newspaper. It was an ad for "Spring coats" @ $16.95 each.
Below: The next two images appeared in Ohio State Journal Dunn-Taft's newspaper ads, dated February 19, 1939, The first ad shows gloves, purses, shoes, hats, and hosiery. The second shows a hat, gloves, blouse, purse, scarf, shoes, and women suits (ranging from $10.95 - $29.95.
Below: There were two ads drawn by Dorothy in the Ohio State Journal Dunn-Taft's newspaper, dated February 26,1939. The first is titled "Sparkling New Spring Dresses." The second is "A PARADE OF SHADES IN Spring Hosiery" and "THE ROMANCE OF Spring Shoes." Below these newspapers is a scan of one of the original drawings used in the first newspaper ad.
Below: This Ohio State Journal Dunn-Taft's newspaper ad, dated March 5, 1939 is titled "Spring Dresses." Other items on the page include "Spring Accessories" and "Spring Shoes."
Below: This Ohio State Journal Dunn-Taft's newspaper ad, dated March 12, 1939 is titled "Flower Freshness in These New Spring Dresses." Another item highlighted on the page were "Spring Skirts." Blouses ranged in price from $2.98 to $5.98, skirts from $2.98 to $3.98 and jackets $5.95 to $10.95. The 1st image is the proof copy and the second is an actual newspaper page.
Below is one of Dorothy's completed illustrations, ready for the paper. Next, is the actual ad as it appeared in the Ohio State Journal Newspaper on Easter Sunday, April 2, 1939. It was titled "Easter Parade IS FOR THE FINEST PEOPLE ON EARTH...OUR CUSTOMERS."
Below: This Ohio State Journal Dunn-Taft's newspaper ad, dated May 7,1939 is titled "Prettiest and Loveliest 'NEXT TO YOU 'Carter's UNDERTHINGS."
Below: This Ohio State Journal Dunn-Taft's newspaper ad, dated May 14, 1939 is titled "ONLY 2 MORE DAYS OF Carter's Sale OF LOVELY UNDERTHINGS", with a 10% savings. The first image is the proof copy and the second is an actual newspaper page.
Below: This Ohio State Journal Dunn-Taft's newspaper ad, dated June 25, 1939 is titled "White Shirt Sale." Men's shirts are $1.99 each or 3 for $5.85.
Below: This Ohio State Journal Dunn-Taft's newspaper ad, dated August 13, 1939 is titled "Reputation Coats,"and advertized fur and cloth coats, gloves, and shoes.
Below: There were two ads drawn by Dorothy in the Ohio State Journal Dunn-Taft's newspaper, dated August 27,1939. The first is titled "Autumn winds blow Fashion News." Dorothy's original drawing on white board is the first image below. The second image is the first of the two ads in the newspaper. Below these images is the second ad, featuring "Fall Shoes" and "Fall Hats."
Below: This Ohio State Journal Dunn-Taft's newspaper ad, dated September 5, 1939 is titled "New Fall Coats." Additional items in the advertizement include a dress, hats, shoes, and radios.
1935-1941
Below: The following white-board drawings by Dorothy are not dated, but all are thought to be for Dunn-Taft's Dispatch and Ohio Journal Newspaper advertising.
This Dispatch ad is dated February 1st (year unknown).
The drawing below for the Dispatch is dated "Sunday" and is titled "these $39.95 Roxpuns are news!"
There is no label indicating the newspaper that would have published this ad for lady's suits below.
The pink label below is torn, but it appears to say Journal. The ad is for $1.00 house dresses.
Below: This ad for boy's clothing shows a hat for $1.59, sweaters at $1.49, slacks at 1.69, topcoats at $4.95, and raincoats at $ 2.95. The newspaper in which this was to appear and the date of the printing is unknown.
Below: This ad is scheduled to appear in the Dispatch SS Thurs. Instructions are to "Cut out all white".
The white-board drawing below advertises coats. There was no label to indicate the newspaper that would have published the ad.
Below, another coat ad has no label to indicate the publication date or newspaper.
The white-board drawing below shows a young woman dressed in a sporty plaid skirt, raincoat, and knee socks. It is unknown what was being advertized. The white-board is labeled "SS. FRIDAY JOURN. Dunn Tafts."
This white-board illustration below describes the date of publication for this coat advertizement as Monday in the Journal.
In this ad illustration by Dorothy, purses are $2. The newspaper that would have printed the ad and the date of publication are unknown.
The white-board illustration below appears to be for bedspreads. The newspaper that would have printed the ad and the date of publication are unknown.
Below: Two white-board illustration were created for curtain ads. The first is to be printed in a newspaper on Sunday (the date and newspaper are unknown). The second is to be printed in the Dispatch (the date is unknown), and the white-board has notes: "Reduce 1/3" and" Halftone Cut out where blue X".
Labels on this white-board illustration indicate that the ad is to be halftone, cut out where there are X's, and reduced in size by 1/2. It is a "Dunn's" ad to be printed on Friday. The item on the left is a manicure kit. The item on the right is a perfume bottle.
Below, handbags are being advertized. This Dunn-Taft's ad is to appear in the paper on Monday (unknown date). The name of the paper is also unknown.
Below: This white-board illustration is for an ad for jewelry. It is scheduled to be printed in a paper on Monday (unknown date). The newspaper is also unknown.
Below: The white-board illustration for handbags is scheduled to be printed in the Journal on Thursday (unknown date).
The white-board illustration below is for an ad for "Van Raalte ... 'Because you love nice things' IN A MIRROR-TOP BOX." The newspaper and date of publication for this hosiery ad are unknown.
This white-board illustration for an ad for a radio was scheduled to be printed in the Dispatch on Wednesday (unknown date).
Dorothy's white-board illustration of this Monarch Pioneer typewriter was used for an ad for the Journal on Monday (unknown year).
Below: Dorothy's white-board silverware illustration was used for a Dunn-Taft's newspaper ad, but the date of publication and the newspaper name are unknown.
As with the above white-board illustration of silverware, the one below was used in a Dunn-Taft's ad. The date of publication and newspaper name are unknown.
Below: In the margin of this illustration, is written "Mo." This appears to be "Monday." There is nothing else written to document the date when this bridal gown would have appeared in an ad or the name of the newspaper that would have published the ad.
The white-board illustration below appears to be for dresses and hats. Directions on the drawing stipulate "Please hold all whites." There are no details about the date when the ad would be published or the name of the newspaper that would publish it.
The white-board below advertized a semi-annual 10% sale on Carter's Women's and Children's Underwear. The sale began on Monday, October 21st (Unknown year.)
As with the white-board illustrations above, the newspaper clippings below are undated. In addition, the names of the newspaper publishers are unknown.
Below: This newspaper clipping is for Bond-Street Suits for $18.00, hats $2.95 up, shoes for $8.75, and hair permanents at $3.85.
Below: This ad is for Carter's New Cotton Union Suits for Spring, Lovely Satin Lingerie, and The "Nemo Sensation" Foundation and Girdle.
Below is an ad for hats, shoes, and coats, suits, and dresses.
Below: An ad for dresses, panties, chemises, dansettes, handbags, and suits.
Below: An ad titled "Ready for Thanksgiving!" Items in the ad included: table clothes, napkins, Holloware, roasters, drapery, pillows, dinnerware, crystal tumblers, and a mirror.
Link to Part II... Lazarus Department Store
Return to Dorothy Leach's biography
Contact person for this website is Susan Snyder: susanleachsnyder@gmail.com
