Dale King “Duke” Wellington was born on August 9, 1896 in Cherokee County, Kansas according to his World War II draft card. A family tree, at Ancestry.com, said he was born in the town of Hallowell. Wellington’s parents were Arthur Edwin Wellington (1870–1960) and Nellie L. McCoy (1874–1958) who married on November 6, 1890 in Cherokee.
The 1900 United States Census counted Wellington (line 8) and his parents in Lola, Kansas. His father worked in the dairy business.
The Wellington family (lines 24 to 27) were recorded in the 1905 Kansas state census.
In the 1910 census, the Wellingtons (lines 19 to 22) lived in Columbus, Kansas at 309 Florida Avenue.
Wellington attended Cherokee County High School. He was in the class of 1916 and editor of the 1916 yearbook, Checoukan.
1914 Checoukan
The Columbus Daily Advocate (Kansas), June 30, 1916, noted Wellington’s summer job.
Dale Wellington leaves for Kansas City tonight, where he will enter the employ of the Thomas Cusack Sign Co., for the summer.The Thomas Cusack Company, based in Chicago, also operated in Kansas City and Indianapolis.
Who’s Who in American Art 1973 said Wellington attended Kansas State College but that was incorrect. The Columbus Daily Advocate, September 11, 1916, said “Dale Wellington went to Pittsburg [Kansas] today to attend the state normal.” Today the school is known as Pittsburg State University. Eight months later, Wellington quit school. Modern Light (Columbus, Kansas), May 17, 1917 said
The following day, Modern Light said
An Army Transport Service manifest listed Wellington, who departed Marseille, France on February 28, 1919. He arrived at the Port of New York on March 18, 1919. Wellington’s address was 309 West Maple Street, Columbus, Kansas. His veteran’s file said he was discharged on April 11, 1919.
The Columbus Daily Advocate, April 14, 1919, said Wellington was awarded the Croix de Guerre.
Wellington’s marriage was reported in the Modern Light, June 12, 1919.
Dale Wellington has discontinued his work in Pittsburg normal, and will leave in two weeks for a war training school of the Y. M. C. A., where he will study army Y. M. C. A. work and prepare for work in France.The Columbus Daily Advocate, August 16, 1917, said
Dale Wellington Is HomeWellington’s book, Theory and Practice of Poster Art (1934), said
But He Leaves Tonight for Texas to Engage in Y. M. C. A. Work
Dale Wellington arrived home yesterday morning from Estes Park, Colorado and will leave tonight for San Antonio, Texas, from which place he will proceed to camp Travis, where he has been appointed manager and general secretary of the army Y. M. C. A. After leaving school at Pittsburg in the spring Wellington went to Estes Park, where he took special training in Y. M. C. A. work and was recently accepted for service in the army camps.
Before the World War, Wellington was for several years engaged in various branches of sign display work, gaining experience in display-card art, window display art, outdoor advertising art, and carnival and circus promotion. He enlisted in the army in 1918 and served with the tank corps of the American expeditionary forces in France, holding the rank of first sergeant at the time of his discharge.Modern Light, August 15, 1918, published Wellington’s address: “Sergt. Dale K Wellington, Co. A. 303d Battalion, Tank Corps, Camp Colt, Gettyburg, Pa.”
The following day, Modern Light said
Dale K. Wellington is stopping off here today and tomorrow to visit his parents. He has been in training at Estes Park and is now on his way to San Antonio, Texas, where he has been appointed as general secretary of an army Y. M. C. A. building located at Camp Travis, which is one of the three largest national cantonments, being occupied by 75,000 troops.Wellington served overseas. Modern Light, October 3, 1918, published Wellington’s tribute to his mother. Wellington’s letter was printed in Modern Light, December 19, 1918.
An Army Transport Service manifest listed Wellington, who departed Marseille, France on February 28, 1919. He arrived at the Port of New York on March 18, 1919. Wellington’s address was 309 West Maple Street, Columbus, Kansas. His veteran’s file said he was discharged on April 11, 1919.
The Columbus Daily Advocate, April 14, 1919, said Wellington was awarded the Croix de Guerre.
Wellington’s marriage was reported in the Modern Light, June 12, 1919.
Miss Helen Smalley and Mr. Dale Wellington were married Monday, June 9, at 6:00 a. m. in Horton, Kansas, at the home of the bride’s parents, Rev. and Mrs. W. S. Smalley.The same address was in the 1920 census. Wellington was a retail merchant of coal (line 96). Wellington’s son, William, was born two months after the census enumeration.
The ceremony was performed by Rev. Smalley. Only the immediate family and a girl friend of the bride were present.
Immediately after the ceremony; they left for Columbus.
Mr. and Mrs. Wellington were raised in Columbus and attended school here, having graduated from the high school. Mrs. Wellington went to Horton, Kan., with her parents about three years ago, when Rev. Smalley received a call to the Presbyterian church there and has taught in the public school at Horton for two years.
Mr. Wellington is the son of Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Wellington of this city and recently returned from France, where he was in the service several months. He has gone into business with his father at the Wellington Coal and Livery Barn.
Mr. and Mrs. Wellington have gone to housekeeping at 310 East Pine. Their many friends extend congratulations.
The 1921 Kansas City, Missouri city directory (at Ancestry.com) said Wellington was a decorator at Marlborough Studios which filed for bankruptcy later that year. The 1922 directory listed Wellington at 1327 Tracy Avenue. He was a window trimmer for the Schmelzer Company. Wellington’s address in the 1923 directory was 707 West 76th Street. His occupation was signs at 8 West 12th Street. Directories from 1924 to 1926 had the same address. In 1924 he was a manager and, the next two years, an artist. Now Playing: Hand-Painted Poster Art from the 1910s Through the 1950s (2007) said Wellington “began his career as art director for the Texas Theatre in San Antonio, and was active there from 1924 through 1927.”
While Wellington was in San Antonio, his family remained in Kansas City. He was not in Kansas City in 1927 and 1928. Now Playing said Wellington, in 1928, was art director of the Paramount-Publix Theatre Corporation in New York.
Wellington’s hometown of Columbus had an art exhibit. The Kansas City Times, October 30, 1928, said
Dale K. Wellington of New York has work on display. Dale worked as a salesman in Columbus and Kansas City and studied art in Chicago. His work attracted attention and Publix Corporation sent him to San Antonio. He originated a new method of lobby display work there that attracted national attention and is now head of the art department of the Publix Corporation. He is the son of Ed Wellington, long a police officer in this city and county.According to the 1930 census, Wellington (line 1) and his family lived in Manhattan at 540 West 158th Street. He was a Paramount Corporation artist.
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, December 27, 1932, reported the death of Wellington’s wife, Helen.
Wellington left Publix to form his own company. Variety, March 7, 1933, said
Wellington Steps outSigns of the Times, October 1933, featured illustrations by Wellington and his studio here and here.
After serving Publix exclusively for 10 years in building of house fronts and lobby displays, Duke Wellington has incorporated to do a general business with all companies.
Set up as Duke Wellington, Inc., he already has the RKO account and is handling display work on ‘42nd Street’ for Warner Bros.
At a meeting today (Tuesday) it will be decided whether Wellington will handle fronts for the two Radio City houses. As Publix’s exclusive builder of house and lobby displays, Wellington did business under firm name of Display Craft.
In 1934, Wellington’s book, Theory and Practice of Poster Art, was published. (It was reprinted in 1986.)
The book included lettering samples.
Wellington married Gerda Becker in Elkton, Maryland on May 26, 1935. The place and date were on her Petition for Naturalization. Gerda was German and naturalized on November 9, 1943.
Motion Picture Herald, May 9, 1936, said
The same address was recorded in the 1940 census. Wellington (line 12) was 44 years old and Gertrude 28. He was an art director in the motion picture industry.
Motion Picture Herald, May 9, 1936, said
Casanave Appoints WellingtonWellington registered to vote in Manhattan on October 10, 1936. His address was 325 West 45th Street. The Democrat worked for National Screen.
Charles L. Casanave has appointed Duke Wellington, formerly Art Director of Publix Theatres and author of “The Theory and Practice of Poster Art,” as Art Director for National Screen Accessories, Inc. He will make his headquarters at the home office in New York.
The same address was recorded in the 1940 census. Wellington (line 12) was 44 years old and Gertrude 28. He was an art director in the motion picture industry.
Six months later, Wellington registered to vote as a Republican. His address was unchanged.
On April 25, 1942, Wellington signed his draft card. He had the same address and worked at the American Display Company, 525 West 43rd Street. Wellington’s description was five feet eight inches, 170 pounds, with blue eyes and brown hair.
Wellington’s veteran’s file said he served from August 15, 1942 to January 8, 1946. Details are not known.
After the war, Wellington moved to Phoenix, Arizona. The 1947 city directory listed his address as 65 West Thomas. He was a displayman at Calapco (Central Arizona Light and Power Company).
The 1950 census counted Wellington (line 30) and his wife in Centinela, California at 1658 110th Place. He was the proprietor of an advertising company.
The State of Kansas conducted a census of its cities and counties. In 1951, Wellington was at 119 East Elm in Columbus. The 1953 census listed him and his wife at the same address. The censuses for 1959 and 1960 recorded Wellington, his wife, son and father in Columbus at 309 Maple. Wellington, his wife and son were counted, in 1961, at the same address (lines 21 to 23).
Wellington’s first visit to Taos, New Mexico may have been in 1960. The Taos News, July 14, 1960, mentioned Wellington twice.
Guests of the Doel Reeds last week were the Duke Wellingtons of Columbus, Kan. Mr. Wellington formerly with Paramount Studios art department, Hollywood, studied with Mr. Reed during his two week teaching sessions at the Spiva Art Center, Joplin, Mo., this summer and last. While here he made the attractive posters for the pre-fiesta fashion show. The visitors were entertained at parties hosted by the Reeds and others.The Taos News, June 15, 1961, said
Gibberds Host Board Party
Members of the Taos Artists Association board, their wives and husbands, were entertained at cocktails by the Eric Gibberds, at their, home, Wednesday afternoon of last week. They were the Doel Reeds and their houseguests, the Duke Wellingtons of Columbus, Kan., the Mario Larrinagas, Ford Goods, Dick Graingers and their guest, Bill Turbot of Albuquerque, the Lozier Funks and Emil Bisttram.
Duke Wellington of Columbus, Kans., arrived recently to work on his Talpa house. He will be joined later by Mrs. Wellington.Wellington and his wife spent the winters in Columbus and summers in Taos.
The Taos News, March 16, 1967, mentioned Wellington’s TV shows.
Duke Wellington who spends much of each year at his Talpa home, from Columbus, Kan., has a new program on KOAM-TV Channel 7, entitled “Duke in Art.” He has done two live shows and will have 13 taped shows. Wellington, who made his home in New York for 30 years, was chief art director for Paramount theatres. He now spends several months in Columbus each winter from his art studio in Ranchos de Taos. Wellington hopes, through his TV program, to help young and old alike to enjoy art alive in the four-state area.Who’s Who in American Art 1976 said his mailing address was Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico 87557. He was represented by the Reynolds Gallery in Taos.
Wellington passed away on August 14, 1987. The Social Security Death Index said his last residence was Columbus, Kansas. He was laid to rest at Park Cemetery.
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