| Dates: | 1916-1992, undated; bulk dates: 1916-1927 |
| Size: | 2 linear feet in 2 boxes, includes 2 photographs |
| Repository: | Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections, 400 S. State Street, Chicago, IL 60605 |
| Collection Number: | spe-c00201 |
| Immediate Source of Acquisition: | Donated by Katharine Sturges’s son, Hilary Knight in 1992 |
| Conditions Governing Access: | Materials are open without restrictions. |
| Conditions Governing Use: | Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection. |
| Preferred Citation: | When quoting material from this collection the preferred citation is, Katharine Sturges Dodge Collection, [Box #, Folder #], Special Collections, Chicago Public Library. |
| Finding Aid Author: | Michelle McCoy, 2024 |
Abstract
Katharine Sturges (1890-1979) was an American artist, illustrator, author, and designer. Her drawings appeared in fashion magazines, children’s books and advertisements. The collection contains a selection of her Japan sketchbooks along with P.F. Volland card design proofs and books.
Biographical/Historical
Katharine Sturges (1890-1979) was an American artist, illustrator, author, and designer. Her drawings appeared in fashion magazines, children’s books and advertisements.
Sturges was born in Chicago, Illinois. She studied at the School of The Art Institute of Chicago and early in her career she worked for P.F. Volland Company in Chicago illustrating children’s books and greeting cards. In 1916, she traveled to Japan where she studied traditional ink and drawing techniques. Her travel experience can be seen in several publications including How Sing Found the World is Round (1920), Little Pictures of Japan (1925) and Mimi, Momo and Tabby Tibbs (1927).
In addition to her assignments as a commercial artist and designer, Sturges often collaborated with her husband, Clayton Knight, on books about aviation. She had two sons, Clayton Joseph (1924-1963) and Hilary Knight (1926-), who is the illustrator who created the image of the beloved children’s book character, Eloise.
She was also known as Katharine Sturges Dodge and Katharine Sturges Knight. She died in New York City on January 12, 1979.
Scope and Contents
The Katharine Sturges Collection contains a selection of her Japan sketchbooks, P.F. Volland Co. card design proofs and P.F. Volland Co. books that were inspired by her Asian travels and art instruction. The bulk of the materials date from 1916 to 1927.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged alphabetically by topic.
Bibliography
- How Sing Found the World is Round by Sydney Reid, Chicago: P.F. Volland, circa 1920, Call no: PZ8.R44Ho
- Little Pictures of Japan, Chicago: The Book House for Children, circa 1925, Call no: PL884.M5
- Manny & Co.: A Christmas Story by Charles Herbert Sylvester, Chicago: P.F. Volland & Co., 1913, Call no: PZ7.S982Ma 1913
- Mimi, Momo and Miss Tabby Tibbs; Or, Highlife in the Attic by Katharine Sturges, Chicago: Buzza Co., 1927, Call no: PZ7.S939Mim 1927
- My Book House by Olive Beaupré Miller, [Chicago: Book House for Children, circa 1925-1927], Call no: C5M9 1927
- Peeps: The Really Truly Sunshine Fairy by Nancy Cox-McCormack, Chicago: P.F. Volland Co., circa 1918, Call no: PZ7.C688Pe 1918
- Short Stories of Musical Melodies, by Satella Sharps Waterstone, Chicago: P.F. Volland & Co., circa 1915, Call no: ML64.W37 1915
- Tales of Little Cats by Carrie Jacob-Bonds, Chicago: P.F. Volland Co., circa 1918, Call no: PZ8.3.B6Tlc
- Tales of Little Dogs by Carrie Jacob-Bonds, Chicago: P.F. Volland Co., circa 1921, Call no: PZ8.3.B6Tal
- Winkle, Twinkle and Lollypop by Nina Wilcox Putnam, Joliet, Ill.: P.F. Volland, circa 1918, Call no: PZ7.P87Wi 1918
Related Collections
- Jessie Willcox Smith Collection
- P.F. Volland Collection
Subject Headings
- Art, American -- Asian influences
- Children in art
- Children’s literature -- Illustrations
- Illustrators -- Books and Reading -- United States
- Magazine illustration
- P.F. Volland Co.
- Sturges, Katharine, 1890-1979
Collection Inventory
| Box 1 | Folder 1 | Biographical materials, news clippings, color copies of family photographs, remembrance, 1927-1992 |
| Box 2 | Folder 1 | Canton, China, watercolor sketch on board, signed Katharine Sturges, 1917 |
| Box 1 | Folder 2 | Correspondence, 2 autograph signed letters (ALS) written from Japan, describes sights, references P.F. Volland, 1916 December 2 and 18 |
| Box 1 | Folder 3 | Japan sketchbook, contains pencil and watercolor drawings and written observations [6.5″x4″], 1916-1917 |
| Box 1 | Folder 4 | Japan sketchbook contains pencil and watercolor drawings and some written notes [6″x9″], 1916-1917 |
| Box 2 | Folder 1 | Japan sketch, houses, trees, workers, watercolor on paper, stamped KSD, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 1 | Japan sketch, “O Mine Saw,” pencil and watercolor on board, signed Katharine Sturges and stamped KSD, 1917 |
| Box 2 | Folders 3-4 | Japan sketches, ink drawings mounted on board (30), 1916-1917 |
| Box 2 | Folder 5 | Japan [and China] sketches, ink [and colored ink or watercolor] drawings mounted on board (16), 1916-1917 |
| Box 1 | Folder 5 | Japan sketches, watercolor drawings (2), circa 1917 |
| Box 2 | Folder 6 | Japan sketches (folio with 86 loose sheets of paper), pencil, ink and watercolor drawings, 1916-1917 |
| Box 1 | Folder 6 | P.F. Volland Co., graduation card, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 7 | P.F. Volland Co., greeting card proofs (5 panels with 40 cards), circa 1920s |
| Box 1 | Folder 7 | P.F. Volland Co., How Sing Found the World is Round, design mock-up for covers and end pages, 1920 |
| Box 1 | Folder 8 | P.F. Volland Co., Little Peachling, bookmark, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 9 | P.F. Volland Co., Mimi, Momo and Tabby Tibbs, 1st ed., signed 1927 |
| Box 2 | Folder 2 | P.F. Volland Co., Mimi, Momo and Tabby Tibbs, illustration for copyright page, pencil and watercolor on board, 1927 |
| Box 1 | Folder 10 | Sturges, Katharine, photograph, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 11 | Sturges, Katharine and Clayton Knight, photograph, circa 1960s |
| Box 2 | Folder 1 | Wisteria, pencil and watercolor sketch on board, undated |
