The Hawley Society was organized in 1923 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, by descendants of Joseph Hawley (1603-1690), believed to be one of the first Hawleys to settle in the new world. We exist to preserve the memory, records and history of the Hawley Family, and to promote friendly acquaintance and sociability among our members.

 

We were incorporated in Connecticut in 1927 and are a corporation managed by an Executive Committee who serve as volunteers. There are no employees on payroll. Membership dues help fund the ongoing operations. Two of our primary missions are continuing the search to find our English antecedents and to update and republish THE HAWLEY RECORD, 1890.

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MONTHLY ARCHIVES

PETE HAWLEY

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Pete Hawley was an illustrator with a familiar and iconic style.   Perhaps best known for the ads he produced for Jantzen swinmwear, he also produced ads for The Bell Telephone System and American Greeting Cards.    The letter below was sent by Pete to the Society in 1956.

LETTER TO HAWLEY SOCIETY

 

We discovered a fascinating blog by Leif Peng about Pete Hawley, the illustrator with the familiar and iconic style.   Peng has done such an outstanding job of reviewing Pete Hawley’s career, we wanted to share it with you here.

“Pete Hawley’s artwork has always been a big hit with the readers of this blog. It’s fair to say that Hawley has legions of fans all over the world who admire his distinctive, immediately appealing style. But information about the artist has always been vague and sketchy. Earlier this year I began corresponding with Hawley’s granddaughter, Shelley, who has helped fill in many gaps and correct many factual errors about the legendary artist.

Pete Hawley was born in Oakland, California on July 13th, 1916. He became interested in drawing early in his childhood. He graduated at age 17 from University High School with a one year scholarship to the California School of Fine Arts in San Francisco. Hawley won his scholarship in a State-wide competition of high school artists. He was chosen as “the first artist in all the high senior grades in California”.

It was not his first competition win. During his high school days he had created “prize-winning posters, designed maps, candy box covers and greeting cards” (the latter perhaps portending what would one day become a significant aspect of his long career). Also during high school, Hawley painted a mural, the “Spirit of Achievement,” depicting University High, its students and activities, which was recognized for its excellence and later displayed in an Oakland department store.

Clearly, young Pete Hawley was destined to become a big hit.


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