Albert T. Reid papers
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
- Reid, Albert Turner, 1873-1955 (Person)
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.
Subject
- Reid Family (Family)
- Low Family (Family)
- Wild Family (Family)
- American Artists Professional League (Organization)
- Reid, Albert Turner, 1873-1955 -- Correspondence (Person)
Topical
- 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