Edgar Wentworth cartoons and correspondence

Access and use

Location of collection:
University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400110
160 McCormick Rd
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Brenda Gunn
Phone: (434) 924-1037
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Restrictions:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred citation:

MSS 16703, Edgar Wentworth cartoons and correspondence, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia Library.

Summary

Extent:
1 Cubic Feet 1 letter size document box, 1 half-width legal size box, 2 oversize S folders
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

MSS 16703, Edgar Wentworth cartoons and correspondence, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia Library.

Background

Scope and content:

Edgar Wentwork archive of primary material documenting the career of a little-known American cartoon illustrator from 1886 to 1912. There are original cartoons and related correspondence containing approximately 295 pen and ink drawings and sketches, 125 illustrations,170 loose drawings, including his personal album, "Original Pen & Pencil Sketches, A Book of the Etiquette of the Day, by Ed. Wentworth, 1886."

General warning: Twenty three of his cartoons portray racial and ethnic stereotypes, exaggerating the faces and language of marginalized groups of people including African American, Indigenous, Irish, and Jewish people.These materials are preserved for their historical significance even though they are offensive. Some cartoons are clearly offensive with Black face, lynching, and false representations of people. Others are satirical and the line is hard to draw between offensive versus making fun of racial injustice. Some illustrations stimulate important discussions.

His drawings also include rural farmers, portraits, criminals, animals, food, prohibition of alcohol and the temperance movement, and politicians, including presidents of the United States.

The correspondence includes seven letters from publishers about acceptance, rejection, and/or payment for Wentworth's cartoons. There is one letter from Howard, Ainslee & Co., publisher's of The Yellow Kid and six letters from Arkell Publishing Co., publisher of Judge. Twenty two envelopes without contents dated the same time each month suggest subscriptions with the Boston newspapers, The Herald and The Boston Globe. Also included is an issue of The Yellow Kid.

Biographical / historical:

Edgar "Ed" Wentworth, a resident of South Berwick, Maine, was a comic and political illustrator from 1886 to 1912. His cartoons were published in The Yellow Kid and Judge magazines.Twenty three of his cartoons are racist, where he exaggerates the faces and language of marginalized groups of people.

His drawings also include rural farmers, portraits, criminals, animals, food, prohibition of alcohol and the temperance movement, and politicians, including presidents of the United States.

While little is known about Ed Wentworth, letters in the collection suggest that he may have had some formal art training from the "Correspondence School of Illustrating in New York" and "The School of Art Criticism." Empty envelopes dated monthly suggest that he might have been a regular contributor to The Herald and The Boston Globe

Acquisition information:
This collection was purchased from ian Brabner, Rare Americana by the Small Special Collections Library at the University of Virginia Library on 2 June, 2019.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:
cartoons (humorous images)