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Hays (Ethel) collection
M2142
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Ethel Hays collection
creator:
Hays, Ethel
creator:
Brinkley, Nell, 1886-1944
creator:
Wells, Carolyn, 1862-1942
Identifier/Call Number: M2142
Physical Description:
2 Linear Feet
(1 box, 1 flat box)
Date (inclusive): 1923-1929
Date (bulk): bulk
Abstract: 1920s comics by women artists clipped from local newspapers.
These 1920s comics and illustrations were clipped from local newspapers by an unknown person. The papers include the
Redwood City Tribune,
San Francisco News,
San Francisco Examiner, and
San Francisco Call, and a few from the
Daily Palo Alto Times. Most comics are by Ethel Hays, but there a several illustrations by Nell Brinkley and a few other artists.
Ethel Hays (1892-1989) was a syndicated cartoonist known especially for her flapper-themed characters. She studied art with
the intention of being a painter, but decided to pursue comics through correspondence courses with the Landon School of Illustration
and Cartooning. In late 1923 the school's founder Charles Landon helped her get hired by the Cleveland Press, where she became
a regular contributor with the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA) syndicate. Her first column had been named "Vic and
Ethel" with writer Victoria Benham, but when Benham got married and quit, Hays continued on her own with a cartoon titled
"Ethel," and a little later "Flapper Fanny Says." Her one-panel cartoons with lightly humorous social commentary and crisp,
fashionable line drawings made her extremely popular, and over 500 papers carried her work within the first year of syndication.
Hays later became an illustrator for children's books, especially Raggedy Ann and Andy, as well as coloring books and paper
doll cut-out books.
Nell Brinkley (1886 – 1944) belongs to an older generation of illustrators, with her first published work illustrating a children's
book in 1906. A native of Colorado, Brinkley also was hired to make drawings for The
Denver Post and later the
Rocky Mountain News. In 1907 she began working for Hearst at the
New York Journal-American in New York and quickly rose to fame. Her iconic Brinkley Girl was a likely influence on Hays. Most of the newspaper illustrations
present here are color full page illustrations in the American Weekly magazine section of
San Francisco Examiner, and many are from two running series created with author Carolyn Wells.
Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.
While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not
an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission
or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was given to Stanford University, Special Collections at an unknown date.
[identification of item], Ethel Hays Collection (M2142). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University
Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Comic books, strips, etc.
Women cartoonists -- United States
Hays, Ethel
Brinkley, Nell, 1886-1944
Wells, Carolyn, 1862-1942