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The Bogus Faith-Curist and the Dying Jackass, by Grant Hamilton, Judge, 1899 June 3

 Item — Box: 1, Folder: 35

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.

Dates

  • Created: 1899 June 3

Creator

Access:

Anyone may access these political cartoons.

Extent

1 items

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Type of Material:

Political cartoon

Condition Note:

Poor. The material has browning and multiple tears.

Measurements:

10.2 x 13.2 in

Title:

The Bogus Faith-Curist and the Dying Jackass

Description:

This cartoon by Grant Hamilton from Judge magazine has a sick looking donkey lying in a bed with a blanket covering it that is labeled, “Democratic Party.” The cartoon is depicting the debate happening between Democrats and Republicans on whether currency should be silver or gold. The Democratic side, William Jennings Bryan, was pro silver. The “16 to 1” slogan appeared due to a silver coin weighing 16 ounces to the 1 ounce a gold coin did. The policy for silver to become currency was referred to as “Free Silver.” Beside it is a table with a green and purple floral patterned tablecloth. On the table is a paper that says, “I will not allow a doctor of the sound money or the expansion school to be called. I’m very sick but I still have faith in Bryan and Silver. Dem. Jackass.” Behind the bed is a blue draped fabric with different patterns on it. To the left of the donkey is a man dressed in a red jester costume. The bells at the end of the hat say, “Silver’ and the collar of the costume says, “Bryan.” He is leaning down over the bed and holding a large paper that says, “Faith in 16 to 1 (Free Silver) Will Cure You.” The cartoon’s creator, Grant Hamilton, was born in Ohio and became an editor and artist for Judge magazine. He worked there for over 20 years and did a lot of his work during the 1986 presidential election, supporting William McKinley. The back of the cartoon features unrelated cartoons.

Transcription:

The title is printed below the cartoon saying, “The Bogus Faith-Curist and the Dying Jackass.”

Repository Details

Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository

Contact:
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Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
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