Thursday, January 30, 2025 – REMEMBER KEWPIE DOLLS? THE WOMAN WHO STARTED A CRAZE
Rose O’Neill,
Mother of the Kewpies
Thursday, January 30, 2025
ISSUE #1381
NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
FROM THE STACKS
When Rose O’Neill’s illustrations appeared in True Magazine on September 19, 1896, she made history by becoming the first female cartoonist to publish a comic strip in America. A self-taught artist, O’Neill (1874-1944) had spent her childhood studying artists and submitting her work to various periodicals around the country. She set out for New York City at the age of nineteen with the intention of becoming a writer. Although she would publish numerous works throughout her career, she quickly impressed publishers with her drawings and was able to start a career as an illustrator.
Paul Thompson, photographer. Rose O’Neill, 1914. Rose O’Neill Collection, PR-369, New-York Historical Society.
Her illustrations appeared in a number of notable periodicals including Harper’s, Life, Cosmopolitan, and a number of ladies’ home journals. Her success led to a full-time position with Puck, the humor magazine known for its political satire and anecdotes. While talented in various forms of art and continuing to freelance, it was the creation of one particular cartoon character that launched O’Neill into fame: the Kewpie Baby.
Woman’s Home Companion (May 1913). Object Number: 2018.51.3, New-York Historical Society.
The Kewpies made their first appearance in the December 1909 issue of Ladies’ Home Journal and became an instant sensation amongst readers of all ages. While their style was seen in some of O’Neill’s earlier characters, the creation of “Kewpieville” allowed her to write comics that focused on moral values and kindness. The comics were continuously published in Ladies’ Home Journal, Woman’s Home Companion, and Good Housekeeping well into the 1930s. The Kewpie Doll was soon created in 1913, resulting in a wave of toys, advertisements, and household goods portraying the characters. The Kewpies also became an unofficial mascot for the Woman’s Suffrage Movement, thanks to O’Neill’s involvement. Kewpie posters made an appearance with messages supporting the Women’s Right to Vote while several comics featured feminist-themed plots.
One of several posters created during the Woman’s Suffrage Movement that featured the Kewpie babies. Rose O’Neill Collection, PR-369, New-York Historical Society.
O’Neill made $1.4 million from her Kewpie creations, making her the highest-paid and wealthiest cartoonist of her time. All the while she continued to produce works of art that were much more “serious” in nature. Her success as an artist, writer, and cartoonist allowed her to develop a very lavish lifestyle, placing her in the center of the New York art world, but O’Neill eventually faced financial difficulties during the Great Depression. She died from complications of a stroke in 1944. Production of the Kewpie dolls continued through the 20th century. They remain a familiar part of popular culture all over the world.
“Ramming them back into their desks” (undated). Rose O’Neill Collection, PR-369, New-York Historical Society.
Untitled drawing, 1900. Rose O’Neill Collection, PR-369, New-York Historical Society.
Untitled portrait of a woman (undated). Rose O’Neill Collection, PR-369, New-York Historical Society.
Man gazing at a portrait of a woman (undated). Rose O’Neill Collection, PR-369, New-York Historical Society.
COMING TO THE NYPL BRANCH ON
FEBRUARY 18TH
WHEN MANHATTAN WAS DUTCH—THE 400TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
The Dutch of the early 17th century turned an edge of Manhattan wilderness into New Amsterdam. Although it lasted only 40 years, the colony had a profound and lasting impact on the future city of New York. From the start, people of many ethnicities filled its streets, trade and profit were paramount, and religious tolerance was the norm.
With Joyce Gold- Historian and noted NYC Tour Guide
This program is free and open to the public.
TIme: 6:30 p.m.
PHOTOS OF THE DAY
Six Cornell Tech took on the challenge of assembling Frank Lloyd Wright design jigsaw puzzles today at a seminar on campus.
The winner was Gen Fei (middle student on left side) The group was awarded a box of Lunar New Year sweet treats.
Each year I join the students at this seminar and we discover new things about their experiences and life on Roosevelt Island.
CREDITS
NEW -YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
FROM THE STACKS
This post is by Erin Weinman, Manuscript Reference Librarian.
[For more, see the Guide to the Rose O’Neill Collection, 1900-1953 (PR 369).]
All image are copyrighted (c) Roosevelt Island Historical Society unless otherwise indicated
THIS PUBLICATION FUNDED BY DISCRETIONARY FUNDS FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JULIE MENIN & ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION PUBLIC PURPOSE FUNDS.
Copyright © 2024 Roosevelt Island Historical Society, All rights reserved.Our mailing address is:
rooseveltislandhistory@gmail.com
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