Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
American Political Cartoons
priAPC
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: American political cartoons
Identifier/Call Number: priAPC
Physical Description:
15.25 Linear Feet
(7 boxes and 1 oversize folder)
Date (inclusive): approximately 1767-1950,
bulk 1840-1870
Abstract: The American political cartoons
collection contains approximately 530 prints relating to politics in the United States from
1767 to the 1950s, with the bulk of the items dating from 1840 to 1870. Most are engravings,
but some lithographs are also included. The images provide a visual resource for studying
political corruption, social misfortunes, the history of American governance, and the
editorial opinions expressed by illustrators and publishers, as well as perspectives on
caricature and cartooning in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Language of Material: Materials are in
English.
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at
the Huntington Library for more information.
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.
[Identification of item]. American political cartoons, The Huntington Library, San Marino,
California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection began in 1936 with a gift from Isabel Simeral Johnson of approximately 175
prints. Additional prints were donated by Mrs. Alice Hazlett, Mr. Baughman, Homer D. Crotty,
and Mary W. T. Dickinson (who donated
The Wasp cartoons). The
provenance of the remaining items is unknown, though early library records indicate that
Mrs. Johnson encouraged fellow collectors and contemporary cartoonists to donate to the
library.
The American political cartoons collection contains approximately 530 prints relating to
politics in the United States from 1767 to the 1950s, with the bulk of the items dating from
1840 to 1870. Most are engravings, but some lithographs are also included.
The collection highlights both well-known and less recognized American public figures.
Subjects include American governance, presidents and politicians, political corruption,
social misfortunes, and the American Civil War, as well as caricature and cartooning in the
19th and early 20th centuries. Notable printers represented in the collection are Henry R.
Robinson, Currier & Ives, and E. W. Kemble. There is also a set of 58 cartoons from San
Francisco based satirical magazine
The Wasp; all are from 1881 and most are
illustrated by George Frederick Keller.
- British satirical print collection, priBSP.
Cartoons were added to and organized chronologically over the decades of acquisition by
various library staff. Box lists were checked and the prints organized and rehoused as
needed by Krystle Satrum in January 2020. Finding aid was prepared and encoded by Charla
DelaCuadra in March 2020.
Materials are arranged chronologically. Most prints are housed in individual folders,
except cartoons clipped from newspapers. These are grouped together by decade and date, and
are primarily from the 20th century.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
American wit and humor,
Pictorial
Caricatures and cartoons -- Political aspects -- United
States
Intaglio prints
Lithographs.
Printed ephemera
Printed materials (object genre)
Prints.
United States -- Politics and Government
-- Caricatures and cartoons
Currier & Ives
Robinson, Henry R.,
-1850
Kemble, E. W. (Edward Windsor),
1861-1933
Wasp (San Francisco,
Calif.)