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McLoughlin Brothers, Inc. woodblocks

Call Number

PC 001

Date

circa 1840-1920, inclusive

Creator

McLoughlin Bros.
McLoughlin, John, 1827-1905

Extent

30 Linear feet in 30 record cartons.

Language of Materials

The materials in the collection are woodblocks.

Abstract

The collection consists of approximately 1,200 nineteenth century woodblocks once part of the New York City children's publishing house, McLoughlin Brothers, Inc. (active 1858-1920). A portion of the woodblocks pre-date McLoughlin Brothers, Inc. and were inherited from the New York City children's printing firm, Elton & Co. (active 1840-1851). Woodblocks by the New York engraver Edward Dunigan (active 1842-1849) were acquired by McLoughlin Brothers, Inc. after 1850 and also appear. Other prominent artists such as engraver Edward P. Cogger and illustrator Justin Howard are represented in this collection.

Biographical / Historical

The New York City children's publishing house McLoughlin Brothers, Inc. enjoyed incredible popularity in the nineteenth century by printing books, toy books, paper dolls, games, and other related materials marketed for youth. Their experimentation with color printing processes and their subsequent success with chromolithography (a process that uses a chemical reaction to transfer engraved images) is one of the most significant contributions to color printing in children's picture books.

McLoughlin Brothers, Inc. emerged from the New York City firm Elton & Co. (active 1840-1851) where engraver Robert H. Elton and John McLoughlin, Sr. published toy books, comic almanacs, and valentines. In a stark departure from the morality tales of the previous century, such products (marketed towards children) were becoming increasingly popular. John McLoughlin, Jr. (1827-1905), John Sr.'s son, learned under this tutelage; Elton trained John Jr. in the art. In 1850 or 1851, they passed the business to John McLoughlin, Jr. His younger brother Edmund (1833?-1889) became a partner soon after in 1855.

The public continued to embrace the captivating nature of nursery rhymes, fairy tales, and other entertaining fiction made for children throughout the nineteenth century. McLoughlin Brothers, Inc. hinged their continued success on the understanding of this change. They expanded their products to include games, blocks, and paper dolls. As a result of their increased and varied production, their footprint expanded from the original headquarters of 24 Beekman Street to 30 Beekman Street. In 1871, McLoughlin Brothers, Inc. also opened a color printing factory at South 11th Street and Berry Street, Brooklyn. The factory employed approximately 75 artists who experimented with a variety of color printing techniques. Such colorful illustrations perfectly complemented the children's picture book. Of these, chromolithography became the most prevalent. Most McLoughlin Brothers, Inc. imprints after 1880 were printed using the chromolithography process.

McLoughlin Brothers, Inc. cultivated a great many artists and engravers. At times this was through the purchasing of woodblocks, especially in the early years of the company. In addition to the woodblocks of Elton's, of which the company inherited, McLoughlin Brothers, Inc. also bought the woodblocks of the early nineteenth century New York-based engraver Edward Dunigan (active 1842-1849) soon after his retirement. Other notable illustrators included well-known names such as Thomas Nast, Justin H. Howard, and Edward P. Cogger. Before the late nineteenth century, many engravers went uncredited for their work, though some would initial or sign their woodblocks. The increased use of illustrations further popularized the art and the artists.

Edmund McLoughlin retired from the business in 1885. Soon after, John Jr.'s sons, James G. and Charles, joined the company. After John Jr. died in 1905, McLoughlin Brothers, Inc. suffered from the loss of his leadership and creative direction. Milton Bradley bought the company in 1920. The McLoughlin Brothers, Inc. imprint appeared on their reprints, under Milton Bradley, into the 1940s.

Toy manufacturer Julius Kushner bought the toy and game trademark in 1951. The children's book trademark eventually sold to Grosset & Dunlap in 1954. The book imprint fell into disuse by the 1970s.

The executive officers of McLoughlin Brothers, Inc. divided amongst themselves the archival collection of the publishing house in 1950 or 1951. It was likely spurred by the imminent sales of the McLoughlin Brothers, Inc. trademarks which would occur later in 1951 and again in 1954. The Milton Bradley treasurer George Marshall Fox received the collection of woodblocks. The woodblocks remained in the Milton Bradley factory in Springfield, Massachusetts until the New England Hurricane of 1938 flooded its basement. Fox saw the boxes of the woodblocks floating down the Connecticut River, hired a truck, and rescued what could be salvaged.
The remaining woodblocks were moved to his family's Seldon Farm in East Charlemont, Massachusetts. In 1977, he contacted the bookseller Justin G. Schiller of Schiller, Ltd. to sell the woodblocks. Schiller, Ltd. purchased the collection and published the Catalogue 35 in 1978, selling a select 125 woodblocks from the collection. An additional 1,200 were sold to Dawson's Book Shop in Los Angeles, California.

About 1,200 woodblocks remained and were stored by Schiller, Ltd. in Manhattan. During an electrical fire in 1980, the woodblocks were further damaged by fire and the water used to extinguish the flames. In 1989, Schiller, Ltd. donated the surviving McLoughlin, Brothers, Inc. woodblocks to the Patricia D. Klingenstein Library at the New-York Historical Society.

McLoughlin Brothers, Inc. moved and expanded frequently. Please see below for the full chronology of their locations:
• 1858: 24 Beekman Street
• 1863: Expanded to 30 Beekman Street
• May 1870: 52 Greene Street
• February 1871: 71 Duane Street
• 1871: Factory opened at South 11th Street and Berry Street, Brooklyn
• 1886: 623 Broadway
• 1892: 874 Broadway
• 1899: 890 Broadway
• 1920: Sold to Milton Bradley and moves to Springfield, Massachusetts

Hewes, Lauren B., Kayla Haveles Hopper, Justin G. Schiller, Laura Wasowicz, Ellen S. Dunlap, Nikki Grdinich, and Jaclyn Penny. Radiant with Color & Art: McLoughlin Brothers and the Business of Picture Books, 1858-1920. Worchester, Massachusetts: American Antiquarian Society, 2017.

Wasowicz, Laura. "McLoughlin Bros.. Collection." McLoughlin Bros | American Antiquarian Society. Accessed January 11, 2022. https://www.americanantiquarian.org/mcloughlin-bros.

Arrangement

This collection has been organized into the following series:

Series I. Assorted Series
Series II. Mother Goose titles
Series III. Edward P. Cogger, engraver
Series IV. Dame Wonder series
Series V. Young America series
Series VI. Robert H. Elton, engraver
Series VII. Title pages, multiple woodblocks, and miscellaneous woodblocks
Series VIII. Vignettes
Series IX. Alphabet books
Series X. Conserved woodblocks
Series XI. Damaged woodblocks

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of approximately 1,200 woodblocks from the children's publishing house McLoughlin Brothers, Inc. (active 1858-1920). The woodblocks include popular series and titles issued by McLoughlin Brothers, Inc. including the morality tales inspired by the German Slovenly Peter by Henrich Hoffmann, Dame Wonder series, Young America series, paper dolls, card games, alphabet picture books, and popular nursery rhymes such as Mother Goose. Many by popular engravers and illustrators are also prominent, such as Robert H. Elton, Edward P. Cogger, Edward Dunigan, and Justin Howard.

The woodblocks have been arranged primarily by series and/or title, except where an engraver has been indentified. If the series, title, or engraver cannot be identified, the woodblocks are arranged by form (i.e. title page, border, etc.) or subject (i.e. children, animals, etc.) Series X and XI are arranged primarily by condition.

Prior to the donation of this collection to the New-York Historical Society in 1989, the McLoughlin Brothers, Inc. woodblocks survived a flood in the early 20th century and a fire in the late 20th century. The condition of the woodblocks range from excellent to poor; many are charred, fragmented, and/or broken. Where known, the condition of woodblocks are noted in the finding aid. The woodblocks range in size but do not exceed folio size.

Access Restrictions

Materials are stored offsite and advance notice is required for use. Please contact Library Appts@nyhistory.org prior to your research visit to coordinate access.

Use Restrictions

Taking images of documents from the library collections for reference purposes by using hand-held cameras and in accordance with the library's photography guidelines is encouraged. As an alternative, patrons may request up to 20 images per day from staff. Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.

Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: https://www.nyhistory.org/about/rights-reproductions

Preferred Citation

The collection should be cited as: McLoughlin Brothers, Inc. woodblocks, PC 001, New-York Historical Society.

Location of Materials

Materials are stored offsite and advance notice is required for use. Please contact LibraryAppts@nyhistory.org prior to your research visit to coordinate access.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Justin Schiller and Raymond Wapner, 1989

Related Materials

Many of the woodblocks in this collection correspond to imprints in the Patricia D. Klingenstein's Historical American Children's Book Collection.

Collection processed by

Crystal Toscano

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-21 15:48:06 -0400.
Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language: Finding aid written in English

Processing Information

The original inventory in hard-copy was processed at N-YHS by Michael Joseph. In late 2021-early 2022, Reference Librarian Crystal Toscano adapted that inventory to create this on-line finding aid. Conservator Kataryna Vargas rehoused a portion of the collection in late 2021.

Repository

New-York Historical Society

Series I. Assorted series

Scope and Contents

These assorted series, featuring rhymed cautionary tales, were based upon Heinz Hoffman's popular German children's book, Shock-Headed Peter. All titles of the Father's Series are present. The Aunt Grumbles Series was reprinted, with color added, from the Peter Prim's Series and Little Slovenly Peter's Series. These series were published circa 1850s to 1890s.

Father's Series: Two Brothers & What Echo Said to Them

Offsite-Box: 1, Box: 1A (1) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

9 woodblocks including title lettering and woodblocks no. 2-8.

Father's Series: Valentine & Orson

Offsite-Box: 1, Box: 1A (2) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

8 woodblocks including title lettering and wood blocks no. 1-7.

Father's Series: Jemmy Strong

Offsite-Box: 1, Box: 1A (3) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

8 woodblocks including title lettering and woodblocks no. 1-7. Complete set.

Father's Series: Tom Tearabout

Offsite-Box: 1, Box: 1A (4) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

8 woodblocks including title lettering and woodblocks no. 1-7. Complete set.

Father's Series: Puss 'n' Boots

Offsite-Box: 1, Box: 1A (5) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

8 woodblocks including title lettering and woodblocks no. 1-7.

Father's Series: Henry Brown

Offsite-Box: 2, Box: 1A (6) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

8 woodblocks including title lettering and woodblocks no. 1-7.

Mother's Series: Little Sisters

Offsite-Box: 2, Box: 1B (1) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

9 woodblocks including title lettering and woodblocks no. 1-8. Complete set.

Mother's Series: Passionate Child

Offsite-Box: 2, Box: 1B (2) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

4 woodblocks including woodblocks no. 4-5; 7-8.

Unidentified series: Sad Fate of Poor Robin

Offsite-Box: 2, Box: 1B (3) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

7 woodblocks.

Susie Sunshine's Series: The Three Little Kittens and Mr. Fox

Offsite-Box: 2, Box: 1B (4) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

The Three Little Kittens: 6 woodblocks including title page and title lettering.
Mr. Fox: 4 woodblocks including title page.

Susie Sunshine's Series: Story of Simple Simon

Offsite-Box: 3, Box: 1B (5) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

9 woodblocks including electrotype title page and title lettering.

Peter Prim's Series: Pauline and the Matches

Offsite-Box: 3, Box: 1B (6) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

2 woodblocks.

Peter Prim's Series/Aunt Grumbles Series: Story of Cruel Frederick

Offsite-Box: 3, Box: 1B (7) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

3 woodblocks.

Peter Prim's Series/Aunt Grumbles Series: Lazy Charlotte and Envious Minnie

Offsite-Box: 3, Box: 1B (8) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

Lazy Charlotte: 2 woodblocks including no. 2-3.
Envious Minnie: 6 woodblocks including the title page.

Peter Prim's Series/Aunt Grumbles Series: Heedless Johnny

Offsite-Box: 3, Box: 1B (9) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

5 woodblocks.

Little Slovenly Peter Series/Aunt Grumbles Series: Sammy Tickletooth and Untidy Tom

Offsite-Box: 13, Box: 2A (1) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

6 woodblocks including title page.

Little Slovenly Peter Series: Johnny Sliderlegs and Little Suck-a-thumb

Offsite-Box: 3, Box: 1B (10) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

Johnny Sliderlegs: 4 woodblocks.
Little Suck-a-Thumb: 1 woodblock.

Flying Robert and The Idle Boy

Offsite-Box: 3, Box: 1B (11) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

2 woodblocks.

Biographical / Historical

Unknown series adopted from the original Slovenly Peter.

Aunt Grumbles Series: Sad Fritz and Truant Peter

Offsite-Box: 3, Box: 1B (12) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

6 woodblocks.

Heedless Harry and Other Tales

Offsite-Box: 4, Box: 1B (13) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

4 woodblocks.

Biographical / Historical

Possibly from the Chimney Corner Series.

Series II. Mother Goose titles

Arrangement

McLoughlin Brothers, Inc. often repurposed woodblocks for a variety of titles to maximize output and profits. The organzation of these Mother Goose woodblocks reflect the amalgamation of their repeated use. Where known, groups of woodblocks in this series are identified by publisher's inventory numbers.

Three-tiered Goose (577,1100-)

Offsite-Box: 4, Box: 1C (1) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

5 woodblocks.

Mother Goose, 500-

Offsite-Box: 4, Box: 1C (2) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

7 woodblocks.

Depictions of pigs and knaves

Offsite-Box: 4, Box: 1C (3) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

10 woodblocks including 2 electrotype woodblocks; 1 unmounted.

Mother Goose, 1900-2000

Offsite-Box: 5, Box: 1C (4) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

16 woodblocks.

Mother Goose square woodblocks, 1900-2000

Offsite-Box: 5, Box: 1C (5) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

11 woodblocks including titles Cry Baby Cry, Jack Be Nimble, and Little Tommy Tittlemo.

Mother Goose, 2000-

Offsite-Box: 5, Box: 1C (6) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

5 woodblocks.

Mother Goose title pages

Offsite-Box: 5, Box: 1C (7) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

6 woodblocks.

Mother Goose title page

Offsite-Box: 6, Box: 1C (8) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

1 electrotype woodblock.

Old Mother Goose and Her Son Jack

Offsite-Box: 6, Box: 1C (9) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

1 woodblock.

Jack & Jill

Offsite-Box: 6, Box: 1D (1) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

2 broken multiple woodblocks, originally bolted, now separate.

Stool-wielding man

Offsite-Box: 6, Box: 1D (2) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

1 broken multiple woodblock, originally bolted, now loose.

Mother Goose (multiple bolted) (1 of 2)

Offsite-Box: 6, Box: 1D (3) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

9 woodblocks.

Mother Goose (multiple bolted) (2 of 2)

Offsite-Box: 7, Box: 1D (4), 1D (5) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

9 woodblocks.

Grandma's Stories engraved by Robert H. Elton

Offsite-Box: 7, Box: 1D (6) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

6 woodblocks.

Five Piggies

Offsite-Box: 6, Box: 1D (7) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

4 multiple woodblocks, originally bolted, now loose; 2 broken.

Biographical / Historical

Title also known as This Little Piggy.

Mother Goose, 1100-

Offsite-Box: 8, Box: 1D (8) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

13 woodblocks.

Miscellaneous

Offsite-Box: 7, Box: 1D (10) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

5 woodblocks; 4 are broken.

Depiction of a teacher with capped "dunce"

Offsite-Box: 22, Box: 3D (5) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

2 woodblocks including 1 broken woodblock.

Depiction of man with a pear tree

Offsite-Box: 22, Box: 3D (6) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

2 broken woodblocks.

Great A, little a

Offsite-Box: 22, Box: 3D (7) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

2 fragments.

Series III. Edward P. Cogger, engraver

Biographical / Historical

Edward P. Cogger was an illustrator and engraver who worked for the McLoughlin Brothers, Inc. in the 1850s and presumably until his death in 1902. He resided at 12 Ann Street until 1859 and spent the remainder of his life in New Jersey. Cogger's engraving work contributed greatly to McLoughlin Brothers, Inc.'s success post-Civil War. Prominent in this series is Cogger's watercolor renditions of Old Mother Hubbard pages on the back of 4 woodblocks and 1 fragment.

King Donkey

Offsite-Box: 8, Box: 1E (1) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

6 woodblocks; 1 is broken.

Queen of Hearts

Offsite-Box: 9, Box: 1E (2) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

8 woodblocks.

Dog's Grand Dinner Party

Offsite-Box: 8, Box: 1E (3) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

8 woodblocks.

Biographical / Historical

Also engraved by John Karst.

Old Dame Trot and Her Comical Cat

Offsite-Box: 10, Box: 1E (4) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

9 woodblocks including title lettering.

Wandering Bunny

Offsite-Box: 8, Box: 1E (5) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

9 woodblocks including title lettering.

Rich Mrs. Duck

Offsite-Box: 11, Box: 1E (6) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

9 woodblocks including title page and title lettering.

Biographical / Historical

Also engraved by George Wevill; designs by Justin H. Howard.

Spoilt Piggy Wiggy

Offsite-Box: 12, Box: 1F (1) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

8 woodblocks including title lettering.

Biographical / Historical

Designs by Justin H. Howard.

Cats' Party

Offsite-Box: 10, Box: 1F (2) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

7 woodblocks including title lettering.

Old Mother Hubbard

Box: 1F (3) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

4 woodblocks.
Artist's watercolor appears on the back: 4 separate designs and 1 fragment.

Series IV. Dame Wonder series

Scope and Contents

Woodlocks for this series, alternately appearing as Dame Wonder's Picture Books and Dame Wonder's Transformations, were commissioned in the pre-McLoughlin Brother, Inc.'s era by the publisher Edward Dunigan (circa 1842-1849). The McLoughlin Brothers, Inc. reprinted these titles from the 1860s through the 1880s.

Miscellaneous woodblocks from Dame Wonder series

Offsite-Box: 7, Box: 1F (4) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

6 mortised woodblocks.

Dame Wonder series title pages

Offsite-Box: 9, Box: 1F (5) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

7 woodblocks (Miss Rose, Animals and Birds, Mary Goodchild, Table Book, The Little Traveler, Master Rose, Untitled (man with book and horse with carriage depicted).

Dame Wonder's Transformations: The Little Drummer

Offsite-Box: 11, Box: 1G (1) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

6 woodblocks including title page.

Dame Wonder's Transformations: The Little Orphan Girl

Offsite-Box: 10, Box: 1G (2) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

3 woodblocks including title page.

Dame Wonder's Transformations: How a Little Boy Became Mayor of London

Offsite-Box: 11, Box: 1G (8) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

5 woodblocks.

Unidentified Dame Wonder series: The Little Traveler

Offsite-Box: 13, Box: 1G (3) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

10 woodblocks.

Multiplication table

Offsite-Box: 10, Box: 1G (4) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

2 woodblocks.

Depictions of boys

Offsite-Box: 12, Box: 1G (5) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

4 woodblocks.

Depictions of girls (1 of 2)

Offsite-Box: 10, Box: 1G (6) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

7 woodblocks.

Depictions of girls (2 of 2)

Offsite-Box: 12, Box: 1G (7) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

4 woodblocks.

Series V. Young America series

Biographical / Historical

The Young America series was published by the McLoughlin Brothers, Inc. as early as 1867. As with many McLoughlin Brothers, Inc. imprints, woodblocks were often reused for different or reworked editions, titles, and series even decades later. The Young America Series would appear again in the 1890s in a different format. The Young America Series books were printed using chromoxylography, a color relief printing process. The McLoughlin Brothers, Inc. were the first North American publishing house to color print with woodblocks.

Miscellaneous

Box: 2A (2) (Material Type: Realia)
Box: 2A (3) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

6 woodblocks printed with chromoxylography. Includes woodblocks of the Good-Natured Boy.

Disorderly Girl

Offsite-Box: 13, Box: 2A (4) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

6 woodblocks printed with chromoxylography.

Noisy Boy

Offsite-Box: 13, Box: 2A (5) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

3 woodblocks printed with chromoxylography.

Series VI. Robert H. Elton, engraver

Biographical / Historical

Prior to the formation of the McLoughlin Brothers, Inc. John McLoughlin Sr.'s business partner and engraver, Robert H. Elton, published children's books, comic almanacs, and valentines under Elton & Co. (active 1840-1851). Elton began his career in 1828 as a Canal Street printer. Elton is well-known for his contributions to periodical humor in the form of comics and cartoons. Printings of his woodblocks were reissued in later editions of McLoughlin Brothers, Inc. publications.

Robinson Crusoe

Box: 2B (1) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

5 woodblocks including title lettering.

Lord Bateman

Offsite-Box: 13, Box: 2B (2) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

4 woodblocks.

Biographical / Historical

Engravings done afte George Cruikshank.
Reprinted in Uncle Frank's series. The Uncle Frank's series reprinted a number of titles published in the pre-McLoughlin Brothers, Inc. era by Robert H. Elton.

Jack Spratt

Offsite-Box: 13, Box: 2B (3) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

2 woodblocks.

Biographical / Historical

Engravings reproduced in Uncle Frank's series.

Miscellaneous romantic folklore

Offsite-Box: 14, Box: 2B (4) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

4 woodblocks; 1 is broken.

The House that Jack Built

Offsite-Box: 14, Box: 2B (5) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

3 woodblocks including 2 electrotypes.

Biographical / Historical

Reprinted in Uncle Frank's series.

Aladdin

Offsite-Box: 14, Box: 2B (6) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

7 woodblocks.

Puss 'n' Boots

Offsite-Box: 14, Box: 2B (7) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

9 woodblocks.

Little Boy's & Girl's Library: Uncle Buncle

Offsite-Box: 14, Box: 2C (1) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

4 woodblocks including title page.

Little Boy's & Girl's Library: Cock Robin

Offsite-Box: 15, Box: 2C (2) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

7 multiple woodblocks including an unfinished engraving.

Little Boy's & Girl's Library: Sarah J. Hale series

Offsite-Box: 15, Box: 2C (3) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

13 woodblocks including 2 frames.

Biographical / Historical

As with Dame Wonder's series, woodblocks for this series were created in the pre-McLoughlin Brothers, Inc. era (circa 1842-1850?) for the publisher Edward Dunigan.

Little Boy's and Girl's Library: Gift of Pretty Stories

Offsite-Box: 14, Box: 2C (4) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

4 woodblocks.

Little Boy's & Girl's Library: Three Baskets

Offsite-Box: 14, Box: 2C (5) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

4 woodblocks.

Little Boy's & Girl's Library: Good Little Girl's Book

Offsite-Box: 14, Box: 2C (6) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

4 woodblocks.

Little Boy's & Girl's Library: Short Tales in Short Words

Offsite-Box: 16, Box: 2C (7) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

1 woodblock.

Little Boy's & Girl's Library: Wise Boys

Offsite-Box: 16, Box: 2C (8) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

3 woodblocks including 1 frame.

Little Boy's & Girl's Library: Good Little Boy's Book

Offsite-Box: 15, Box: 2C (9) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

6 woodblocks including title page and 1 broken woodblock.

Little Boy's & Girl's Library: Gift to Young Friends

Offsite-Box: 15, Box: 2C (10) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

3 woodblocks.

Jackey Jingle

Offsite-Box: 18, Box: 3B (1) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

6 woodblocks.

Biographical / Historical

>Reproduced in Uncle Frank's series.

Christmas Box

Offsite-Box: 18, Box: 3B (2) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

2 woodblocks.

My Mother

Offsite-Box: 20, Box: 3B (3) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

11 woodblocks.

Old Mother Hubbard and Her Dog

Offsite-Box: 18, Box: 3B (5) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

4 woodblocks.

Biographical / Historical

Reproduced in Uncle Frank's series.

Old Dame Trot and Her Comical Cat

Box: 3B (6) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

6 woodblocks.

Biographical / Historical

Reproduced in Uncle Frank's series.

Cock Robin: Life and Death...

Offsite-Box: 19, Box: 3B (7) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

2 woodblocks.

Biographical / Historical

Reproduced in Uncle Frank's series.

Darling's Delight

Offsite-Box: 19, Box: 3B (8) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

3 woodblocks.

My Father

Offsite-Box: 19, Box: 3B (9) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

9 woodblocks.

Depictions of an old lady with cats

Offsite-Box: 20, Box: 3B (10) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

4 woodblocks.

Series VII. Title pages, multiple woodblocks, & miscellaneous woodblocks

Pleasure books

Offsite-Box: 16, Box: 2D (1) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

2 woodblocks including chromoxylographic title page with key and stencil.

Title pages and title letterings

Offsite-Box: 17, Box: 2D (2), 2D (3) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

18 woodblocks including 6 title pages and 12 title letterings.

Puss 'n' Boots

Offsite-Box: 16, Box: 2D (4), 2D (5) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

8 woodblocks.
Titled Wavy Puss.

Robert H. Elton, miscellaneous

Offsite-Box: 17, Box: 2D (6) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

5 stereoplates.

Children in the Wood

Offsite-Box: 17, Box: 2E (1) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

4 multiple woodblocks (8 per 1) including title page fragment.

Little Boy's and Girl's Series: Countries of Europe

Offsite-Box: 18, Box: 2E (2) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

13 woodblocks.

Snip, Snap, Snorum

Offsite-Box: 18, Box: 2E (3) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

3 woodblocks.
Card game.

Stereotypical caricatures of black Americans

Box: 2E (4) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

3 woodblocks.
Unidentified card game.

Baa Baa Black Sheep

Offsite-Box: 18, Box: 2E (5) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

1 woodblock.

Three Good Friends and Three Little Kittens

Box: 2F (1) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

Three Good Friends: 7 multiple woodblocks including title lettering.
Three Little Kittens: 6 multiple woodblocks including title lettering.

Depictions of winter scenes

Offsite-Box: 18, Box: 2F (2) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

2 bolted multiple woodblocks.

Depiction of boys on a wall

Offsite-Box: 18, Box: 2F (3) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

2 bolted multiple woodblocks.

Depictions of "Uncle John's" house and apple pickers

Offsite-Box: 18, Box: 2F (4) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

2 multiple bolted woodblocks.

Depictions of furniture

Offsite-Box: 19, Box: 2G (1) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

13 woodblocks depicting furniture for the popular toy game, Paper Furniture.

Depictions of children

Offsite-Box: 19, Box: 2G (2) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

5 bolted multiple woodblocks.

Miscellaneous

Offsite-Box: 20, Box: 2G (3) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

5 bolted multiple woodblocks.

Frog, He Would A'Courtin' Go

Offsite-Box: 21, Box: 3C (1) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

9 woodblocks including "The End".

Ten Little Indians

Box: 3C (2) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

9 woodblocks.

Biographical / Historical

Designed by Justin Howard.

Blocks stamped "104" of various designs (1 of 2)

Offsite-Box: 20, Box: 3C (3) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

10 woodblocks.

Blocks stamped "104" of various designs (2 of 2)

Offsite-Box: 21, Box: 3C (4) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

9 woodblocks.

Unidentified card game

Offsite-Box: 21, Box: 3C (5), 3C (6) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

17 woodblocks including 1 fragment.

Cat and the Bellows

Offsite-Box: 21, Box: 3C (7) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

9 woodblocks including 1 broken woodblock.

Borders with depictions of animals

Offsite-Box: 21, Box: 3C (8) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

5 woodblocks.

What D'ye Bye? card game

Offsite-Box: 21, Box: 3C (9) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

8 woodblocks.

Series VIII. Vignettes

People

Offsite-Box: 21, Box: 3D (1) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

6 woodblocks.

Animals

Offsite-Box: 22, Box: 3D (2) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

4 woodblocks.

Miscellaneous

Offsite-Box: 22, Box: 3D (4) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

20 woodblocks.

Series IX. Alphabet books

Picture Alphabet

Box: 3F (1) (Material Type: Realia)
Box: 3F (2) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

7 woodblocks.
Illustrated by Herrick and engraved by Cogger.

Funny Alphabet

Offsite-Box: 22, Box: 3F (3) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

17 woodblocks.

Biographical / Historical

Reproduced in Uncle Frank's series.

Dame Wonder's Picture Series: Amusing Alphabet

Offsite-Box: 30, Box: 3F (4) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

5 woodblocks.

Little ABCs

Offsite-Box: 22, Box: 3F (5) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

5 woodblocks.

A Apple Pie

Offsite-Box: 25, Box: 3F (6) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

8 multiple woodblocks.

Young America series: A Apple Pie

Offsite-Box: 22, Box: 3F (7) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

12 woodblocks printed using chromoxylography including title page.

Depictions of Victorian initials

Offsite-Box: 25, Box: 3F (8) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

14 woodblocks.
Incomplete uppercase alphabet in which letters are illustrated with characters from nursery rhymes and fairytales.

Characters in alphabet rhyme

Offsite-Box: 23, Box: 3F (9) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

11 woodblocks.
Blocks depict original characters used in an alphabet rhyme; no letters are represented.

Series X. Conserved woodblocks

Conserved woodblocks

Offsite-Box: 31, Box: 5E (1) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

14 woodblocks including 1 frame and a woodblock from Dog's Grand Dinner Party engraved by Edward P. Cogger. The title is found in the Library's rare children's book collection under the call number YC1869 .Dog.

Biographical / Historical

These woodblocks were conserved and rehoused in 2018 in consideration of a treatment and rehousing plan.

Mother Goose in New York exhibition box

Offsite-Box: 32, Box: 5F (1) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

Picture Alphabet, title page (YC1865 .Pic); Lord Bateman, 1 woodblock (YC1838 .Fairy); The Death and Burial of Pretty Cock Robin, 1 woodblock (YC1838 .Fairy); Miss Vanity's Holiday: The Passionate Child, 4 woodblocks (YC-f 18-- .Mis); Little ABC Book, 2 woodblocks (YC1884 .Little ABC); Happy Changes, 1 woodblock (YC1844 .P); Funny Alphabet, 4 woodblocks (YC1838 .Fairy); Grandma Stories, 2 woodblocks (YC1838 .Fairy); Lazy Charlotte, title page (YC1870.Laz); Jemmy String, 1 woodblock (YC1870 .Jem); Sammy Tickletooth, 1 woodblock (YC1870 .Sam); Little Goody Two Shoes – Spelling Game, multiple-bolted title page (24 woodblocks); [Alphabet], multiple bolted (21 woodblocks); Cruel Frederick, Story of, title page; Little Suck-a-Thumb, title page; 33 woodblocks; Truant Peter, title page; Johnny Sliderlegs, title page; Passionate Child, title lettering; 17 woodblocks; 2 multiple-bolted woodblocks (8 each).

Biographical / Historical

These woodblocks were conserved and rehoused for the 1992 New-York Historical Society exhibition, Mother Goose in New York: McLoughlin Books and the Art of Woodcut Illustration.

Series XI. Damaged woodblocks

Biographical / Historical

The woodblocks in this collection have suffered through a fire and a flood before being donated to the Patricia D. Klingenstein Library in 1989. While many of the woodblocks are slightly damaged, the woodblocks in this series are damaged beyond recognition and/or research use.

Charred woodblocks

Offsite-Box: 23, Box: 3E (1) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

80+ charred woodblocks.

Work box

Offsite-Box: 24, Box: 3E (2) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

7 woodblocks.

Children in the Wood

Offsite-Box: 25, Box: 4A (1) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

6 woodblocks including fragments with doweled joints.

Early woodblocks by Robert H. Elton

Offsite-Box: 24, Box: 4A (2) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

2 woodblocks; burnt fragments.

Sarah J. Hale series

Offsite-Box: 24, Box: 4A (3) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

13 burnt fragments including title pages for The Good-Natured Little Girl and The Dilatory Little Boy.

Chromoxylographic woodblocks

Offsite-Box: 24, Box: 4A (4) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

8 fire-damaged woodblocks.

Apple Pie title page

Offsite-Box: 24, Box: 4A (5) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

1 fire-damaged chromoxylographic woodblock.

Miscellaneous doweled joint fragments

Offsite-Box: 26, Box: 4B (1) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

8 woodblocks in fragments.

Miscellaneous bolted fragments

Offsite-Box: 27, Box: 4B (2) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

11 charred woodblocks in fragments.

Mother Goose woodblocks

Offsite-Box: 26, Box: 4B (3) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

8 charred woodblocks.

Idle Boy

Offsite-Box: 26, Box: 4B (4) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

4 damaged woodblocks.

Fragments of furniture depictions

Offsite-Box: 29, Box: 4C (1) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

8 woodblocks including McLoughlin piano.

Depictions of children with books

Offsite-Box: 27, Box: 4C (2) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

2 charred woodblocks.

Mother Goose's Rhymes title page

Offsite-Box: 25, Box: 4C (3) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

1 broken multiple woodblock.

Sploit Piggy Wiggy engraved by Edward P. Cogger

Offsite-Box: 29, Box: 4C (4) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

1 fragmented multiple block.

Dame Wonder series

Offsite-Box: 27, Box: 4C (5) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

2 fragmented woodblocks.

Miscellaneous fragments (1 of 2)

Offsite-Box: 27, Box: 4C (6), 4C (9), 4C (10) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

20+ fragments of woodblocks.

Miscellaneous fragments (2 of 2)

Offsite-Box: 29, Box: 4C (7), 4C (8) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

9 woodblocks.

Miscellaneous charred woodblocks

Offsite-Box: 27, Box: 4C (11) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

3 charred woodblocks.

Fragments title pages

Offsite-Box: 30, Box: 4C (12) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

9 woodblocks including an unknown Sarah J. Hale series title; The Practical Letter Writer; Who Would A'Wooing Go?; Aladdin or the Wonderful Lamp; Paper Furniture; and The Child's Cotton Plant.

Goody Two Shoes Story Book title page

Offsite-Box: 28, Box: 4D (1) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

4 broken woodblocks.

Dame Wonder series

Offsite-Box: 29, Box: 4D (2) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

11 charred woodblocks and fragments.

Fat Boy

Offsite-Box: 28, Box: 4D (3) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

8 charred woodblocks.

Miscellaneous multiple doweled fragments engraved by Edward P. Cogger

Offsite-Box: 29, Box: 4D (4) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

10 fragments of woodblocks.

Animal scales

Offsite-Box: 30, Box: 4E (1) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

2 charred woodblocks.

King Donkey engraved by Edward P. Cogger

Offsite-Box: 30, Box: 4E (2) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

1 fragmented woodblock.

More miscellaneous charred woodblocks (1 of 2)

Offsite-Box: 30, Box: 4E (3) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

20+ woodblocks.

More miscellaneous charred woodblocks (2 of 2)

Offsite-Box: 28, Box: 4E (4) (Material Type: Realia)

Scope and Contents

20+ woodblocks.

New-York Historical Society
170 Central Park West
New York, NY 10024