Strouse, Charlotte

Norman H. Strouse was born in Olympia, Washington in 1906. Strouse worked for forty years at the J. Walter Thompson Advertising Agency, then the world's largest. In 1955 he was promoted to president, and was made chief executive in 1960. He served as chairman from 1964 until he retired in 1968. He was also chairman of the American Association of Advertising Agencies and the recipient of the Gold Medal Award in advertising. After retiring in 1968, Strouse focused on collecting rare books, fine printing, and bindings. He specialized in books by Thomas Carlyle, works bound by Thomas Bird Moser, and 12th-16th-century illuminated manuscripts. He and his wife, Charlotte, founded the Silverado Museum in St. Helena, dedicated to Robert Louis Stevenson, with more than 6,000 books and other items. Strouse also wrote four books, including How to Build a Poor Man’s Morgan Library .

From the guide to the Norman H. and Charlotte Strouse collection of letters of the presidents, 1780-1990, (Free Library of Philadelphia: Rare Book Department)