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Albert T. Reid papers

 Collection
Call Number: RH MS 1162

Overview

This collection contains a large amount of correspondence spanning Albert T. Reid's career as cartoonist and artist. There is also a substantial amount of original sketches and drawings--including both cartoons and later work--along with print versions of his art. The remainder of the collection includes various clippings and pamphlets, reference materials for his art, and examples of art from friends and other artists.

Dates

  • Creation: 1872 - 1996

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

No access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Spencer Library staff may determine use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials.

Biography of Albert T. Reid (1873-1955)

Albert T. Reid was a native Kansas artist, though he spent most of his life living in New York City. He is perhaps best known for his editorial cartoons, which he began producing around the turn of the 20th century and continued for several decades. Later in his life, he found renown as a painter and muralist with subject matter often including horses. He painted several large canvasses that would be displayed in well-known hotels and government buildings, including two Kansas post offices.

Albert Turner Reid was born August 12, 1873 in Concordia, Cloud County, Kansas to William E. Reid (circa 1842-1887) and Jean Turner. After William Reid's death in 1887, the family relocated to Clyde, Kansas. After graduating from the University of Kansas, Reid studied at the New York School of Art and the Art Student League in New York City.

Reid began his career as an artist on the Kansas City Star in Kansas City, Missouri. In 1905, he founded the Leavenworth Post, a daily newspaper of which he was publisher until 1923. During that period, he was also president and publisher of The Kansas Farmer in Topeka and president of the Standard Farm Papers Association.

Reid established his own political cartoon syndicate, the Albert T. Reid Syndicate of New York City. During his career as an artist, Reid worked for the Chicago Record, New York Herald, Judge, McClure's, and the Saturday Evening Post. He illustrated numerous books, advertisements, and political cartoons, and he was commissioned to paint murals for the post offices at Olathe and Sabetha, Kansas and Sulphur, Oklahoma.

Reid was a member of the Freelance Artists; Society of Illustrators; Artists Guild of Authors League of America; Cartoonist Club; Authors', Artists', & Dramatists' League; and served as vice president of the American Artists Professional League. At the time of his death in 1955, Reid had earned numerous awards, prizes, and medals in recognition of his cartoons and paintings.

Albert T. Reid married Vera Low in October 1902, daughter of Marcus Aurelius or M.A. Low (1842-1921) and Diantha Lorinda (Hovey) Low (1842-1924). She served as a model for many of his pen and ink drawings. The marriage did not last, but they had one daughter, Marianne (1903-1991), who later married Robert Scott Wild (1897-1974). Marianne Reid Wild had one son, Leonard Low Wild (1928-1949).

Extent

4.5 Linear Feet (5 boxes + 7 oversize boxes, 8 oversize folders)

Language of Materials

English

Scope and Contents

The Albert T. Reid papers date from 1872 to 1996 and are arranged in six series: Correspondence, Reference and other materials, Biographical information, Artwork by Reid, Other Artists, and Photographs.

The correspondence series ranges from the personal to the professional, with greeting cards, notes from friends, and business letters. Biographical information chronicles Albert T. Reid's professional career as an artist. Reference and other materials consists of photographs and drawings, clippings, sketches, articles, political literature, images of animals and people, and related materials presumably used by Reid in his work. The other artists series mostly contains prints of work by other artists. Artwork by Reid includes sketches, finalized drawings, etc. The photographs series includes family pictures and images that chronicle Reid's career as an artist.

Oversize materials have been separately described in this finding aid and are available at RH MS Q304, RH MS R260, and RH MS R261.

Series List

The Albert T. Reid papers date from approximately 1872 to 1996 and are arranged in six series:

Correspondence, 1904-1960
Comprised of intermixed personal and professional correspondence, including greeting cards, notes from friends, and reference letters.
Reference and other material
Comprised of clippings, sketches, articles, political literature, photographs, print images, and other materials probably used as reference and inspiration by Reid.
Biographical information
Comprised of biographical clippings and pictorial biographies of Reid.
Artwork by Reid
Sketches, finalized drawings, etc.
Other artists
Comprised of articles and pictures of other artists' work.
Photographs, 18-? - 1955
Comprised of family photographs dating back to the mid- to late 1800s as well as publicity and studio photos of Reid throughout his life and career. This series also includes photographs of Reid's work.

Physical Location

RH MS 1162

Physical Location

RH MS Q304

Physical Location

RH MS R260

Physical Location

RH MS R261

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchase, Tom Anderson, 2004.

Related Materials

Albert Reid miscellanea, RH MS P717, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas.

Albert Reid papers, RH MS 1029, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas.

Illustrated Detective Magazine "50 Famous Crimes" series, Kansas Collection, RH MS 1009, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas.

Albert T. Reid - Illustrated Letters to Grandgoy Leonard, RH MS 1358, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas.

Albert T. Reid Cartoon Collection, Kansas Collection, RH MS D171, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas

Selections of the current cartoons drawn by Albert T. Reid bearing upon issues of the day, 1919, RH D8737, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas.

Albert T. Reid's sketchbook; fads, foibles & politics: 1896-1908. Compiled by John W. Ripley and Robert W. Richmond, NC1429.R433 R5 1971, Art & Architecture Library, University of Kansas.

Reid, Albert Turner. Cartoons. Shelved at RH E217, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas.

Miscellaneous cartoons and greeting cards drawn by Albert T. Reid, RH P1700, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas.

Distinguished American artist Albert T. Reid (1873-1955) and his frontier-era 'stage coach art': in-and not uncommonly of - his native Kansas: a preliminary resource guide/researched and compiled by Marna Hart Hawkins, RH C8933, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas.

Albert T. Reid, cartoonist; news items, including his article "Boston Corbett; the man of mystery of the Lincoln drama," RH E363, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas.

Title
Guide to the Albert T. Reid Collection
Subtitle
Albert T. Reid papers
Author
Finding aid prepared by skt, 2009. Finding aid encoded by skt, 2009. Finding aid revised by wb and mwh, 2021.
Date
2009
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Finding aid written in English.
Finding aid permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/10407/2593856686
Preferred citation
Albert T. Reid papers, RH MS 1162, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas

Repository Details

Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository

Contact:
1450 Poplar Lane
Lawrence KS 66045-7616 United States
785-864-4334