Repository: Heinz History Center
Title: Leland Hartman Papers and Photographs
Creator: Hartman, Leland
Collection Number: MSS 896
Extent: .75 linear feet (2 boxes)
Date: 1953-2003
Abstract: Local animator Leland "Lee" Hartman produced hundreds of commercials and industrial films from the 1960s through the 1990s. While spending much of his career working as a freelance artist, Hartman also worked for the Walt Disney Company in the late 1950s, local firm The Artists in the 1960s, and Warner Brothers in the 1990s. The Leland Hartman Papers and Photographs contain animation cells, correspondence, photographs, and other artwork documenting Hartman's career as an animator.
Language: The material in this collection is in English.
Author: The guide to this collection was written by Stephanie Johnson.
Sponsor: This collection has been made accessible as part of an NHPRC-funded Basic Processing grant.
Publisher: Heinz History Center
Address: 1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org

History

Leland "Lee" Hartman was born February 27, 1930. A Navy veteran and Art Institute of Pittsburgh graduate, Hartman was a prolific animator. In 1955, Hartman and his wife Elizabeth moved to California, were Lee worked as a cartoonist for the Walt Disney Company. While there, Hartman contributed to many projects including the feature film Sleeping Beauty, the short film Paul Bunyan, and the Disneyland television series. In 1960, Hartman returned to Pittsburgh to work as the chief animator and Director of Animation at The Animators firm. In 1970, Hartman opened his own studio and pursued freelance commercial and industrial films. During this period, Hartman animated hundreds of commercials, often in collaboration with Pittsburgh filmmaker William Beal. Through their work the pair became good friends and would remain close until Beal's death in 2003. While working from his own studio Hartman wrote, directed, and animated a film called Story of the Christmas Toys. In the early 1990s, Hartman began working with Warner Brothers Animation as a character layout artist for the Tiny Toon Adventures series.

Hartman had many other artistic hobbies. He is perhaps, best known for his acting role as a reporter and ghoul in the 1968 cult classic Night of the Living Dead. Hartman also taught at the Ivy School of Professional Art, built and sailed boats, and in 1997 self-published a collection of short horror stories titled The Darkendown Tales. Lee Hartman died December 24, 2012.

Scope and Content Notes

The Leland Hartman Papers and Photographs contain animation cells, correspondence, photographs, and other artwork documenting Hartman's career as an animator. The animation cells in the collection represent many commercials and industrial films regarding local businesses and industries. Included are cells and related materials for the Bureau of Mines, U.S. Steel Mining, Country Ford and Mercury Dealership, Eastland and Allegheny Malls, Sir Loin restaurant, and 84 Lumber. Also present are cells from two commercials featuring the Pittsburgh Pirates' mascot the Pirate Parrot. The correspondence in the collection is primarily between Hartman and local filmmaker William Beal. The majority deals with various artistic pursuits, including short stories and ideas and sketches for films.

The collection also contains several photographs, documenting both Hartman's personal life and professional career. The loose photographs include images of both Lee and Elizabeth Hartman, Hartman in his production studio, and stills from the Night of the Living Dead film. Also included is a photo book featuring stills from the animated film Story of the Christmas Toys and storyboard art for The Human Fly…a Mid-America Legend. Among the other materials in the collection are various sketches and concept art for commercials and other films, scripts for commercials and other local projects, and a collection of photographs, maps, and pamphlets regarding trips to small towns in Pennsylvania and Maryland with an accompanying story entitled "Jambling" by William Beal.

Conditions Governing Access

None.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift from Kerra Penn in 2012.

Archives accession # 2012.0206

Preferred Citation

Leland Hartman Papers and Photographs, 1953-2003, MSS 896 , Thomas and Katherine Detre Library and Archives, Senator John Heinz History Center

Processing Information

Preliminary processing by Stephanie Johnson on 01/04/2013.

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights reside with the Senator John Heinz History Center. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the Thomas and Katherine Detre Library and Archives of the Senator John Heinz History Center.

Subjects

Corporate Names

U.S. Steel Mining Co.
Bureau of Mines
Country Ford Mercury
Eastland Mall
84 Lumber
Allegheny Mall
Sir Loin Restaurant
Pittsburgh Pirates (Baseball team)

Guide to the Leland Hartman Papers and Photographs 1953-2003