Series I: Puck Magazine Prints, 1879 - 1899
Series
Scope and Content:
From the Collection:
The Helen Farr Sloan’s political cartoon collection (1802-1950) contains a variety of prints of political cartoons, illustrations, and caricatures from several different magazines. The collection contains pages from magazines, pages from books, and other prints that were not a part of a publication. The magazines featured include Puck, Judge, Vanity Fair (British, 1868-1914), Vanity Fair (American, 1913-1936), Harper’s Weekly, Gil Blas, Le Charivari, Truth, The New Yorker, The Illustrated London News, The New York Herald, and The Sun. There are other series included like Treagar’s Black Jokes and Le Gens de Paris. There are works from publishers like S.W. Fores, Currier & Ives, and J.Sidebotham. Also included are works by Rowlandson, which are individually published.
The first series contains cartoons from Puck magazine. Its materials are pages and covers from the magazine including the fronts and backs of the pages. The artists that are included are Frederick Burr Opper, Frederich Graetz, Bernhard Gillam, J.S. Pughe, James Albert Wales, and Samuel Ehrhart.
The second series contains cartoons from Judge magazine. The materials are pages and covers from the magazine and include both the fronts and backs of the pages. The artists that are included are Thomas Worth, Bernhard Gillam, Victor Gillam, and Grant E. Hamilton.
The third series contains cartoons, caricatures, and portraits from Vanity Fair (British, 1868-1914) and Vanity Fair (American, 1913-1936) magazines. The materials for the British magazine include the one-sided caricatures and cartoons featured in the publication. The material for the American magazine contains a portrait on the front and a table of contents on the back of the page. The artists that are included are Carlo Pellegrini (Ape/Singe), James Tissot (Coïdé), Thomas Nast, Leslie Ward (Spy), and William Henry Cotton.
The fourth series contains cartoons from Harper’s Weekly magazine. The materials include the front and back side of pages from the magazine. The artists that are included are William L. Sheppard, Charles G. Bush, Thomas Nast, and A.B. Frost.
The fifth series contains cartoons, caricatures, and illustrations from various magazines and publications. The artists and their publications include Théophile Steinlin, from Gil Blas, Sulpice Guillaume Chevalier (Paul Gavarni), from Le Gens de Paris, Thomas Rowlandson, William Summers, from Tregear’s Black Jokes, Charles Williams, William Elmes, George Cruikshank, Isaac Robert Cruikshank, Jules Joseph Georges Renard (Draner), Charles Robinson, from The Illustrated London News, Thomas Worth, Richard F. Outcault, from the New York Herald, Helen E. Hokinson, from The New Yorker, Charles Amédée de Noé (Cham), from Le Charivari, Sydney B. Griffin, from Truth, Oscar Cesare, from The Sun, and William Bruns.
There are a wide variety of themes and events covered in the cartoons and illustrations throughout the collection. There are numerous presidential elections covered including the elections of 1806, 1880, 1884, 1888, 1892, and 1900. The 43rd and 54th Congresses are both represented within cartoons in the series. Other events that are shown in cartoons in the collection are the Chicago World’s Fair/World’s Columbian Exposition, the Spanish-American War, Reconstruction, and the Kansas Exodus. There are also many representations of the Democratic, Republican, Greenback, and Citizens parties as well as Tammany Hall. Other themes included are immigration, Jewish communities, social ambition, weather problems, voting rights, the gold standard vs. free silver debate, diseases, family roles, plantations, white supremacy groups, Communism, financial issues, militaries, pic-nic societies, King George IV’s court, political corruption, and social events and issues. A large number of the cartoons included in the collections are products of their times and therefore many include racist language and depictions. The transcriptions and metadata associated with each cartoon is described as is for the purpose of providing the easiest access to the collection and does in no way reflect the views of Wilkes University or its archive department.
The first series contains cartoons from Puck magazine. Its materials are pages and covers from the magazine including the fronts and backs of the pages. The artists that are included are Frederick Burr Opper, Frederich Graetz, Bernhard Gillam, J.S. Pughe, James Albert Wales, and Samuel Ehrhart.
The second series contains cartoons from Judge magazine. The materials are pages and covers from the magazine and include both the fronts and backs of the pages. The artists that are included are Thomas Worth, Bernhard Gillam, Victor Gillam, and Grant E. Hamilton.
The third series contains cartoons, caricatures, and portraits from Vanity Fair (British, 1868-1914) and Vanity Fair (American, 1913-1936) magazines. The materials for the British magazine include the one-sided caricatures and cartoons featured in the publication. The material for the American magazine contains a portrait on the front and a table of contents on the back of the page. The artists that are included are Carlo Pellegrini (Ape/Singe), James Tissot (Coïdé), Thomas Nast, Leslie Ward (Spy), and William Henry Cotton.
The fourth series contains cartoons from Harper’s Weekly magazine. The materials include the front and back side of pages from the magazine. The artists that are included are William L. Sheppard, Charles G. Bush, Thomas Nast, and A.B. Frost.
The fifth series contains cartoons, caricatures, and illustrations from various magazines and publications. The artists and their publications include Théophile Steinlin, from Gil Blas, Sulpice Guillaume Chevalier (Paul Gavarni), from Le Gens de Paris, Thomas Rowlandson, William Summers, from Tregear’s Black Jokes, Charles Williams, William Elmes, George Cruikshank, Isaac Robert Cruikshank, Jules Joseph Georges Renard (Draner), Charles Robinson, from The Illustrated London News, Thomas Worth, Richard F. Outcault, from the New York Herald, Helen E. Hokinson, from The New Yorker, Charles Amédée de Noé (Cham), from Le Charivari, Sydney B. Griffin, from Truth, Oscar Cesare, from The Sun, and William Bruns.
There are a wide variety of themes and events covered in the cartoons and illustrations throughout the collection. There are numerous presidential elections covered including the elections of 1806, 1880, 1884, 1888, 1892, and 1900. The 43rd and 54th Congresses are both represented within cartoons in the series. Other events that are shown in cartoons in the collection are the Chicago World’s Fair/World’s Columbian Exposition, the Spanish-American War, Reconstruction, and the Kansas Exodus. There are also many representations of the Democratic, Republican, Greenback, and Citizens parties as well as Tammany Hall. Other themes included are immigration, Jewish communities, social ambition, weather problems, voting rights, the gold standard vs. free silver debate, diseases, family roles, plantations, white supremacy groups, Communism, financial issues, militaries, pic-nic societies, King George IV’s court, political corruption, and social events and issues. A large number of the cartoons included in the collections are products of their times and therefore many include racist language and depictions. The transcriptions and metadata associated with each cartoon is described as is for the purpose of providing the easiest access to the collection and does in no way reflect the views of Wilkes University or its archive department.
Dates
- 1879 - 1899
Access:
Anyone may access these political cartoons.
Extent
From the Collection: 1 boxes
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Series I: Puck Magazine Prints, 1879-1899
Series I: Puck Magazine Prints, 1879-1899, is arranged chronologically by date and contains political cartoons and prints from Puck Magazine from 1879-1899. Puck Magazine was founded by Joseph Keppler(1838-1894) and ran 1876-1918. The magazine focused on political and social themes and events during the 19th and 20th centuries. These themes and events were reflected through cartoons, caricatures, and satirical articles. It provided a mostly Democratic aligned perspective on issues. The magazine was the first to include illustrated advertisements in its publication and is credited with being the first successful weekly magazine in full-color lithography. Earlier editions of the magazine were also printed in German until 1891 when all publications were printed exclusively in English. This collection includes both English and German editions of the magazine. It is important to note that this series contains harmful and racist depictions and language in both the illustrations and captions, and many people were drawn in racist stereotypes. The themes that appear throughout this series include political parties such as the Republican Party, Democratic Party, Greenback Party, Citizens Party, and the Tammany Hall organization. The series also includes the presidential elections of 1880 and 1896 as well as presidential elections and campaigns in general. There are mentions of the 43rd and 54th Congresses as well as congressional elections. Other themes mentioned are immigration, Jewish communities, social ambition, weather issues, voting rights, the gold standard and free silver debate, and other social issues. The back sides of the cartoons are included, although most are just advertisements, there are some containing cartoons and articles, mostly unrelated to the main cartoon. Some of the cartoons do not have dates when they were published and are included at the end of the series. There are seven different artists in this series and most have a few cartoons included.
The artists featured in the series are:
Frederick Burr Opper (1857-1937), an American cartoonist who has been edited as one of the first creators of newspaper comic strips in the United States. He had dropped out of school at a young age to pursue his career as an illustrator. He was hired by Puck in 1880 and worked there for 18 years. Much of his work for the magazine was criticisms of journalists and, more specifically, sensationalism. Many of his cartoons also reflected his negative feelings about trusts. Following his time at Puck Opper illustrated books for authors including Mark Twain as well as publishing his own illustrated books. The themes and events his work contains in this series are voting rights, the election of 1880, the Greenback Party, Tammany Hall, William Evarts’ campaign, immigration, and social issues like pool houses. His cartoons included in the series are, “The Bankrupt Outrage Mill,” “Great Political Excitement in Indiana,” “The Pool Mania,” “Press Rumors About Arthur,” “The Weather Clerk’s Leapfrog,” “The First of May–Tammany Moves Into Its New Quarters,” “The Innocents,” “British Detectives,” “The Great Political Future of the Farmer,” “The Charge of the City Cousins,” “What Has Become of Evarts? –We Suggest a Journalistic Exploring Expedition,” and “The ‘Dry Goods’ Store of the Period.”
Frederich Graetz (1842-1912), an Austrian illustrator who studied art in Germany and worked in Vienna before joining Puck. His work first appeared in the satirical magazine Kikeriki, from 1872 to 1875 in Vienna, which was critical of the Austrian government and supported social change. In 1882 Graetz was hired by Joseph Keppler to create political cartoons for Puck. He left in 1885 since Puck was going to cut his salary. His work for the magazine reflected the Democratic positions on issues that Puck was known for publishing. Graetz illustrated cartoons discussing public health and immigration. He also provided a negative stance towards immigration and Jewish people in his cartoons. The themes and events of his cartoons within this series are the Citizens Party, weather, and children’s issues. His work that is included in this series is “The Citizens Aroused,” “Midsummer Madness,” and “The Children’s Carnival–the Fashionable Slaughter of the Innocents.”
Bernhard Gillam (1856-1896), an English cartoonist who illustrated for many American magazines. He first worked for The New York Graphic, then Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, and Harper’s Weekly. He then became a recurring member of Puck where he illustrated cartoons against James G. Blaine and his corruption during his campaign, ultimately aiding in Grover Cleveland’s victory. He was hired by Judge in 1885 where he had more freedom to draw cartoons reflecting his own Republican ideals, and where he became Director-in-Chief in 1886. He is also the brother of Victor Gillam(1858-1920), another notorious political cartoonist. The themes and events in his cartoons covered in this series are the Republican members of 43rd Congress. Gillam’s work for Puck that is included in the series is “The Great Congressional Tramp Bullying the Old Women of the National Household.”
J.S. Pughe (1870-1909), a Welsh cartoonist who was a regular contributor to Puck magazine. He studied art in New York and began drawing cartoons for the New York Recorder and Brooklyn Life. In 1894 he was hired for Puck and created a large number of cartoons for the magazine until 1908 when he left due to health reasons. The themes and events covered by his cartoons in this series include the 54th Congress, the 1896 presidential election and the gold standard and free silver debate. Pudhe’s cartoons that are featured in the series are “A Few Pleasant Recollections of the Fifty-Fourth Congress,” “ ‘Blowing’ Himself Around the Country,” “The Old Leading Man Retires,” and “Opening of the Democratic Dime Museum for 1900.”
James Albert Wales (1852-1886), an American cartoonist and caricature artist who was a huge part of political cartooning in the United States. He began as a wood engraver then started drawing cartoons for magazines in Chicago and Cleveland. After moving to New York in 1873, he started working for Puck in 1875 where he drew cartoons and caricatures for six years. He left Puck to move abroad and once he returned to New York, he co founded his own magazine, Judge. He returned to Puck in 1885. He was known for his frequent anti-semetic cartoons he drew for both Judge and Puck. Other themes of his that appear in this series are immigration and Jewish communities. Wales’ cartoons included in this series are titled, “Extremes Meet” and “Tut mir leid- hier gibt's keine reservierten sibe (Sorry there are no reserved rooms here).”
Samuel Ehrhart (1862-1937), a lesser known American political cartoonist who worked at numerous magazines. He moved to Munich as a young adult to study art and later returned to New York. He did a large number of works for magazines including Puck, Judge, and Harper’s Monthly. The themes and events covered by his work in this series are social ambition and missionaries. His cartoons included in this series are “The Decay of Home-Life Among the ‘Smart Set’” and “A Cannibalistic Missionary.”
Joseph Keppler(1838-1894), an Austrian cartoonist and illustrator who was also the founder of Puck magazine. He studied art in Vienna and worked painting sets before moving to the United States. He started a German cartoon magazine De Vehme in 1869 and then a year later started another magazine called Frank und Frei. In 1871 he attempted to publish a magazine called Puck which only lasted a year. Some of his work was published in Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper once he moved to New York. In 1876, along with another employee of the newspaper, Adolph Schwarzmann, Keppler brought back Puck. He worked at Puck for the remainder of his life contributing many cartoons. The themes and events that appear in his cartoons in this series are immigration, presidential and congressional elections, political parties, and social issues. The titles of his cartoons in this series are “Rushing the Season,” “Siegfried the Fearless in an Eerie Political Swamp,” and “The ‘Dry Goods’ Store of the Period.”
The artists featured in the series are:
Frederick Burr Opper (1857-1937), an American cartoonist who has been edited as one of the first creators of newspaper comic strips in the United States. He had dropped out of school at a young age to pursue his career as an illustrator. He was hired by Puck in 1880 and worked there for 18 years. Much of his work for the magazine was criticisms of journalists and, more specifically, sensationalism. Many of his cartoons also reflected his negative feelings about trusts. Following his time at Puck Opper illustrated books for authors including Mark Twain as well as publishing his own illustrated books. The themes and events his work contains in this series are voting rights, the election of 1880, the Greenback Party, Tammany Hall, William Evarts’ campaign, immigration, and social issues like pool houses. His cartoons included in the series are, “The Bankrupt Outrage Mill,” “Great Political Excitement in Indiana,” “The Pool Mania,” “Press Rumors About Arthur,” “The Weather Clerk’s Leapfrog,” “The First of May–Tammany Moves Into Its New Quarters,” “The Innocents,” “British Detectives,” “The Great Political Future of the Farmer,” “The Charge of the City Cousins,” “What Has Become of Evarts? –We Suggest a Journalistic Exploring Expedition,” and “The ‘Dry Goods’ Store of the Period.”
Frederich Graetz (1842-1912), an Austrian illustrator who studied art in Germany and worked in Vienna before joining Puck. His work first appeared in the satirical magazine Kikeriki, from 1872 to 1875 in Vienna, which was critical of the Austrian government and supported social change. In 1882 Graetz was hired by Joseph Keppler to create political cartoons for Puck. He left in 1885 since Puck was going to cut his salary. His work for the magazine reflected the Democratic positions on issues that Puck was known for publishing. Graetz illustrated cartoons discussing public health and immigration. He also provided a negative stance towards immigration and Jewish people in his cartoons. The themes and events of his cartoons within this series are the Citizens Party, weather, and children’s issues. His work that is included in this series is “The Citizens Aroused,” “Midsummer Madness,” and “The Children’s Carnival–the Fashionable Slaughter of the Innocents.”
Bernhard Gillam (1856-1896), an English cartoonist who illustrated for many American magazines. He first worked for The New York Graphic, then Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, and Harper’s Weekly. He then became a recurring member of Puck where he illustrated cartoons against James G. Blaine and his corruption during his campaign, ultimately aiding in Grover Cleveland’s victory. He was hired by Judge in 1885 where he had more freedom to draw cartoons reflecting his own Republican ideals, and where he became Director-in-Chief in 1886. He is also the brother of Victor Gillam(1858-1920), another notorious political cartoonist. The themes and events in his cartoons covered in this series are the Republican members of 43rd Congress. Gillam’s work for Puck that is included in the series is “The Great Congressional Tramp Bullying the Old Women of the National Household.”
J.S. Pughe (1870-1909), a Welsh cartoonist who was a regular contributor to Puck magazine. He studied art in New York and began drawing cartoons for the New York Recorder and Brooklyn Life. In 1894 he was hired for Puck and created a large number of cartoons for the magazine until 1908 when he left due to health reasons. The themes and events covered by his cartoons in this series include the 54th Congress, the 1896 presidential election and the gold standard and free silver debate. Pudhe’s cartoons that are featured in the series are “A Few Pleasant Recollections of the Fifty-Fourth Congress,” “ ‘Blowing’ Himself Around the Country,” “The Old Leading Man Retires,” and “Opening of the Democratic Dime Museum for 1900.”
James Albert Wales (1852-1886), an American cartoonist and caricature artist who was a huge part of political cartooning in the United States. He began as a wood engraver then started drawing cartoons for magazines in Chicago and Cleveland. After moving to New York in 1873, he started working for Puck in 1875 where he drew cartoons and caricatures for six years. He left Puck to move abroad and once he returned to New York, he co founded his own magazine, Judge. He returned to Puck in 1885. He was known for his frequent anti-semetic cartoons he drew for both Judge and Puck. Other themes of his that appear in this series are immigration and Jewish communities. Wales’ cartoons included in this series are titled, “Extremes Meet” and “Tut mir leid- hier gibt's keine reservierten sibe (Sorry there are no reserved rooms here).”
Samuel Ehrhart (1862-1937), a lesser known American political cartoonist who worked at numerous magazines. He moved to Munich as a young adult to study art and later returned to New York. He did a large number of works for magazines including Puck, Judge, and Harper’s Monthly. The themes and events covered by his work in this series are social ambition and missionaries. His cartoons included in this series are “The Decay of Home-Life Among the ‘Smart Set’” and “A Cannibalistic Missionary.”
Joseph Keppler(1838-1894), an Austrian cartoonist and illustrator who was also the founder of Puck magazine. He studied art in Vienna and worked painting sets before moving to the United States. He started a German cartoon magazine De Vehme in 1869 and then a year later started another magazine called Frank und Frei. In 1871 he attempted to publish a magazine called Puck which only lasted a year. Some of his work was published in Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper once he moved to New York. In 1876, along with another employee of the newspaper, Adolph Schwarzmann, Keppler brought back Puck. He worked at Puck for the remainder of his life contributing many cartoons. The themes and events that appear in his cartoons in this series are immigration, presidential and congressional elections, political parties, and social issues. The titles of his cartoons in this series are “Rushing the Season,” “Siegfried the Fearless in an Eerie Political Swamp,” and “The ‘Dry Goods’ Store of the Period.”
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu