Main Index Page

Created 4/1/2022. Last updated 24/4/2026

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This page is being used to collect material about the life and paperfolding of Samual Randlett (1930 to 2023) and his first wife Jean Randlett (.... to 1968). It is not intended to be in any sense a complete biography. Please contact me if you know any of this information is incorrect or if you have any other information that should be added. Thank you.

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Introduction

Samual Randlett was a well-known paperfolding designer. He wrote a number of books and other publications, for all of which Jean Randlett provided the illustrations.

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Chronology

1930

Sam Randlett was born in 1930.

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1959

Sam Randlett has said that his 'creative work began in 1959' when he 'encountered Harbin's 'Paper Magic' (see entry for 1964 below).

In his 'The History of Paperfolding in Britain', which was published by the British Origami Society in 1975, David Lister recounts how:

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Volume 1, Issue 5 of 'The Origamian', which was published in March 1959, contained mention of Sam Randlett:

and diagrams for his (heavily cut) 'Mouse'.

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According to the exhibition catalogue, Sam Randlett contributed a number of designs to the 'Plane Geometry and Fancy Figures' exhibition held at the Cooper Union Museum in New York in the Summer of 1959:

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1961

This year saw the publication of the Randlett's first book 'The Art of Origami' by E P Dutton in New York. It was mostly a book of traditional models and his own design work, although there were some contributions from other paperfolding designers.

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1962

Vol 3: Issue 1 of 'The Origamian' for Winter 1962/3 contains a profile of Neal Elias written by Peter Van Note, which credits SaM Randlett with encouraging him to create his own designs.

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1963

Vol 3: Issue 2 of 'The Origamian' for Spring / Summer 1963 contained diagrams for sAM Randlett's 'Shamrock':

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Vol 3: Issue 4 of 'The Origamian' for Winter 1963/4 contains a profile of Sam Randlett written by Lillian Oppenheimer.

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Randlett's second book, 'The Best of Origami: New Models by Contemporary Folders' was published by E P Dutton in New York in 1963 and by Faber and Faber Ltd in London in 1964. Randlett said of himself:

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It was mostly a book of designs by other paperfolding designers, but also included some of sAM Randlett's own designs. These were:

Eagle

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Songbird

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Parrot

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The Owl and the Pussycat (Cut)

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Apartheid

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Two Purses

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Hog

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1964

'Secrets of Origami', by Robert Harbin, which was published by Oldbourne Book Company in London in 1964, contained diagrams for two of sAM Randlett's designs:

Husky Dog (developed from the Lover's Knot) (with Alan Cohen)

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Gargoyle

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1968

Jean Randlett died in this year.

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Sam Randlett edited, and Jean Randlett illustrated, 'Folding Money, Volume Two' which was published by Magic Inc of Chicago in 1968.

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In 1968 the Randletts began to produce an origami magazine called 'The Flapping Bird' which was published by Jay Marshall of Magic Inc. Two issues were published in 1968, seven in 1969, four in 1970, four in 1971, one in 1972, none in 1973, six in 1974, none in 1975 and one, the final issue, in 1976.

Sam Randlett's 'Christmas Card', from one square plus a decorative insert, appeared in Issue 2 of 1968.

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In the same year 'Basic Paper Folding' by Samuel Randlett was published by Jay Marshall in Chicago. There are no diagrams for, or pictures of, paperfolding designs in this work. It sets out a system of standard nomenclature and diagramming symbols for common paperfolding procedures and bases (basic folds) plus ways of making a pentagon and a hexagon with a single cut. (which show that starting from these shapes was still considered a standard part of recreational paperfolding at that time).

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'Teach Yourself Origami: The Art of Paperfolding' by Robert Harbin, which was published by The English Universities Press in 1968, contained diagrams for Sam Randlett's 'Fish' design.

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Two of Sam Randlett's designs from the 'Art of Origami', his 'Mouse' (heavily Cut) and 'Angelfish' appear, alongside other designs taken from that book, in 'Your Book of Paperfolding' by Vanessa and Eric de Maré, which was published by Faber and Faber in London in 1968.

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1969

Vol 9: Issue 4 of 'The Origamian' for Winter 1969 contains a letter from Sam Randlett commenting on Adolpho Cerceda's letter in Vol 9, issue 3.

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The article 'Mad Origami Zoo of Cliche Creatures' by Giuseppe Baggi, which appeared in 'Mad Magazine' Issue 129 of September 1969, featured 'Polar Bear Cub' by Samuel Randlett as a Wall St Bear without acknowledgement.

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1970

A photograph of Sam Randlett's 'Decorative Star' appeared in an article by Robert Harbin in Woman's Own magazine of March 1970.

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Sam Randlett's 'Bull Mask' appeared in Issue 11 of 'The Flapping Bird':

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Sam Randlett's 'Purse' appeared in Issue 12 of 'The Flapping Bird':

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1971

Sam Randlett's 'Binary Star' (2-part modular) appeared in Issue 15 of 'The Flapping Bird':

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1974

Sam Randlett's 'Veiltail Goldfish' in Issue 19 of 'The Flapping Bird':

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2023

Randlett died in 2023.

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