A vivid and densely illustrated pictorial map of Memphis, Tennessee, drawn by Swaena Lavelle and published by Archar Inc. in 1974 as part of its short-lived “City Character Print” series. Bursting with color and graphic energy, the map presents a panoramic, bird’s-eye view of the city filled with hundreds of individually drawn buildings, landmarks, institutions, and bits of civic folklore. The entire scene is bordered by a garland of tropical hibiscus, with the title “Memphis” rendered in expressive, almost Art Nouveau-style lettering across the upper left.
Downtown Memphis dominates the lower portion of the map, with the Mississippi River and its riverboats and barges in the foreground. Notable buildings such as the National Bank of Commerce, the 100 North Main tower, the Cotton Exchange, and Goldsmith’s department store are prominently featured. Beale Street is marked with an image of its famous arch, while Tom Lee Park and the Frisco Bridge anchor the riverfront. A steamboat labeled Delta Queen sails past a barge.
Moving inland, the composition unfolds into Midtown and East Memphis, incorporating Overton Park, the Memphis Zoo, the Brooks Museum of Art, Memphis State University, and the Pink Palace Museum. Loeb’s Market, Christian Brothers College, Temple Israel, and the Mid-South Coliseum all receive individualized depiction. The streets are populated with marching bands, cyclists, buses, and cars, many accompanied by humorous annotations (“I love dog races,” “Look at all the soybeans!”). At least two cartoon-style Rivertown Tours buses weave through the scene.
Swaena Lavelle’s illustration style is exuberant and playful, combining elements of commercial cartooning with elements of 1970s psychedelic poster art. The level of detail reflects extensive reference gathering from Memphis promotional materials, likely supplied by the Chamber of Commerce or local tourism bodies.
Relatively few examples of Archar’s large-format city prints survive in good condition, having been issued as ephemeral wall posters.