Cruikshank (George) Collection, 1821-1878

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Summary

Title:
George Cruikshank collection
Dates:
1821-1878
Creators:
Cruikshank, George, 1792-1878
Abstract:
A collection of material related to the 19th century British illustrator and author George Cruikshank.
Extent:
1.2 Linear Feet (1 box)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. George Cruikshank collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

A collection of letters and ephemera related to George Cruikshank. The correspondence includes letters to and from Cruikshank and deal with his work as an illustrator and author, as well as his social life and friendships. Correspondents in the collection include William Harrison Ainsworth, William Cox Bennett, Richard Bentley, Laman Blanchard, John Forster, Catherine Grace Frances Gore, and Crawford J. Pocock. Many of the letters contain sketches and drawings by Cruikshank, either as doodles or examples of proposed illustrations. The ephemera includes two clipped signatures, a signed printed portrait of Cruikshank, and printed illustrations by Cruikshank from various publications.

Biographical / historical:

George Cruikshank (1792-1878) was an English artist, caricaturist, illustrator, and author. In 1811, Cruikshank gained fame with a series of political caricatures he created for the periodical The Scourge, a monthly expositor of imposture and folly. Cruikshank published political cartoons until 1825 and began illustrating books in 1820. He is thought to have illustrated over 850 books for adults and children, including works by Charles Dickens, William Harrison Ainsworth, William Makepeace Thackeray, and the Grimm brothers. He also published books on his own, most notably The Comic Almanack (from 1835 to 1853). In 1847, he became interested in the temperance movement, an interest that is apparent in much of his later artistic work. On October 16, 1827, he married Mary Ann Walker (1807–1849). Two years after her death, on March 7, 1851, he married Eliza Widdison (1807-1890). He did not have any children from his two marriages, but Cruikshank fathered 11 children with a mistress named Adelaide Attree, his former servant, who lived close to where he lived with his wives. He died on February 1, 1878, and is buried in St. Paul's Cathedral, London, England.

Acquisition information:
Acquired by purchase and gift from various sources, specific acquisition information noted on individual folders, 1918-1973.
Processing information:

Processed by Huntington Library staff from 1920 to 1975; in August 2026, Gayle M. Richardson created the finding aid. This collection includes multiple acquisitions acquired and assembled by Huntington Library staff over many years.

Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Gayle M. Richardson
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-09-17 11:41:54 -0700 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Terms of access:

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. George Cruikshank collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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