Collection consists ofapproximately 66,000, high quality engravings collected by Kubler from European and American books and periodicals dating almost exclusively from the 19th century.Portraits and city views document the social history and material culture of the period. Specific topics covered include archery, boxing, funerals, irrigation, milk, peddlers, riots, stenography, volcanos, and wrecks, among others. Among the publications from which illustrations were removed are Harper's weekly, Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, Puck, Illustrated London News, and King's New York City Views. Dates Kubler noted on the individual items are the dates on which the illustrations appeared in the publication from which they were extracted, not the date of the events or subjects being documented. Each print is mounted on tissue. Folders marked by a red circle indicate extremely rare prints.
Arrangement note:
File folders are numbered, but not according to chronology. Cross-references between numbers and subjects are available using the card catalog.
Biographical/Historical note:
Stereographer and collector. George A. Kubler was born in Ohio in 1876. He was the founder and president of the Certified Dry Mat Corporation in New York City. The firm made stereotype matrices and initiated the process of rotary press printing of newspapers. Kubler was particularly interested in illustrations in magazines and newspapers.
This collection is the product of his avid interest in print collecting and cataloging. To create this collection, Kuler gathered European and American books and periodicals dating almost exclusively from the 19th century from which he removed the illustrations, most of which were wood and steel engravings. In addition, Kuler was the author of five books on stereotyping and stereotypes.
Provenance:
This collection was donated to Cooper-Hewitt, then Cooper Union Museum Libray, by Mrs. George A. Kubler in December 1948.
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use onsite by appointment. Permission of staff required to photograph materials.
