The University of Chicago Library > The Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center > Finding Aids > Guide to the Cyrus Le Roy Baldridge Collection 1891-1978
© 2019 University of Chicago Library
| Title: | Baldridge, Cyrus Le Roy. Collection |
|---|---|
| Dates: | 1891-1978 |
| Size: | 6 linear feet (4 boxes) |
| Repository: |
Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center |
| Abstract: | Cyrus LeRoy Baldridge (1889-1977), artist. The Cyrus LeRoy Baldridge papers includes notes, correspondence, telegrams, articles about or by Baldridge and his wife Caroline Singer, as well as original and/or unpublished works of art from Baldridge, ranging from cartoons drawn during childhood to unfinished drafts. |
The collection is open for research.
When quoting material from this collection, the preferred citation is: Baldridge, Cyrus Le Roy. Collection, [Box #, Folder #], Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library
Cyrus LeRoy Baldridge was born in Alton, New York in 1889 to William Baldridge and Eliza Burgdorf Baldridge. Baldridge began his career in art at age 10, when he was accepted into Frank Holme’s Chicago School of Illustration. Baldridge attended the University of Chicago, where he received his Ph.B in 1911 in English Literature. While attending the university, Baldridge drew cartoons for the Maroon and for Cap and Gown newspapers.
Baldridge became a cavalryman for the Illinois National Guard, and eventually left for Europe in 1914 to cover the war. He served in WWI for the French and American armies as a field artist and war correspondent and then as an artist for the Stars and Stripes newspaper.
After the war and brief stints as a commercial artist, Baldridge traveled around the world sketching with his wife, Caroline Singer. They returned to the United States after 1932. Baldridge became president of the National Association of Commercial Arts and commander of the Willard Straight Post of the American Legion. In 1936, Baldridge wrote a pamphlet at the request of the Americanism Committee of the New York County American Legion. Titled “Americanism--What Is It?” the pamphlet sparked debates across the country over the purported communist sentiments behind the piece.
Baldridge’s other publications include I Was There and his autobiography Time and Chance (1947). In addition to illustrating many books, Baldridge co-wrote White Africans and Black (1929) and Half the World is Isfahan (1936) with his wife Singer.
Cyrus LeRoy Baldridge died in 1977.
The Cyrus LeRoy Baldridge Papers are organized into 4 series:
Series I: Biographical is divided into 3 subseries:
Subseries 1, Childhood, contains drawings, sketches, self-printed books, newspaper clippings, and a photograph. Materials date from 1898 to 1908 and are arranged by type of material and then chronologically.
Subseries 2, Later Life, contains artwork for and articles reviewing the autobiography Time and Chance (1947), biographic articles, travel cards, an address book, and an alumni award from the University of Chicago. Materials date from 1914 to 1977 and are arranged by type of material and then chronologically.
Subseries 3, Correspondence, contains correspondence regarding Harry Hansen, Mary Mulberry, and several other associates of Baldridge. Materials date from 1918 to 1978 and are arranged by type of material and then chronologically.
Series II: Travels is divided into two subseries:
Subseries 1, The War and Travels to Europe, includes newspaper clippings, articles, artwork prints, and sketches. Materials date from 1911 to 1924 and are arranged by type and then chronologically.
Subseries 2, Travels to the East, includes newspaper and magazine articles, clippings, book reviews, art work prints, and book illustrations. Materials date from 1918 to 1944 and are arranged by type and then chronologically.
Series III: Caroline Singer Caroline Singer, includes unpublished work and articles written by Caroline Singer, articles regarding Caroline Singer, portraits, and photographs. Materials date from 1920 to 1943 and are arranged by type and then chronologically.
Series IV: Other Works includes articles and correspondence pertaining to the booklet “Americanism: What is It?”, newspaper clippings, artwork prints, magazine volumes, and other miscellaneous illustrations. Materials date from 1920 to 2016 and are arranged by type and then chronologically.
Series IV includes oversize material organized in the same groupings as the rest of the collection.
Series I: Biographical |
Subseries 1: Childhood |
| Box 1 Folder 1 | Newspaper clippings and sketches, 1898-1908 |
| Box 1 Folder 2 | Some of the Adventures of Robin Hood, 1901 |
| Box 1 Folder 3 | Jack Harper, 1902 |
| Box 1 Folder 4 | The Fall of a Traitor, 1903 |
| Box 1 Folder 5 | Detective Dan, 1903 |
| Box 1 Folder 6 | Pirate Series, Days, Vol. 1, 1904 |
| Box 1 Folder 7 | Photograph, 1898 |
Subseries 2: Later Life |
| Box 1 Folder 8 | Autobiography Time and Chance, 1947-1948 |
| Box 1 Folder 9 | Articles re: Baldridge’s Life, 1919-1977 |
| Box 1 Folder 10 | Miscellaneous Personal Affects, 1914-1944 |
Subseries 3: Correspondence |
| Box 1 Folder 11 | Re: Harry Hansen, 1918-1976 |
| Box 1 Folder 12 | Re: Mary Mulberry, 1964-1978 |
| Box 1 Folder 13 | Miscellaneous, 1977 |
Series II: Travels |
Subseries 1: The War and Travels to Europe |
| Box 2 Folder 1 | Illinois Calvary, 1916-1918 |
| Box 2 Folder 2 | Miscellaneous works, 1911-1924 |
Subseries 2: Travels to the East |
| Box 2 Folder 3 | Turn to the East, 1926-1927 |
| Box 2 Folder 4 | White Africans and Black, 1929 |
| Box 2 Folder 5 | Bomba Lives in Africa, 1935 |
| Box 2 Folder 6 | Half the World is Isfahan, 1936 |
| Box 2 Folder 7 | Miscellaneous Newspaper Clippings, 1919-1925 |
| Box 2 Folder 8 | Miscellaneous Sketches, 1918-1932 |
Series III: Caroline Singer |
| Box 2 Folder 9 | “None of it Makes Sense”, undated |
| Box 2 Folder 10 | Portraits and Photographs |
| Box 2 Folder 11 | Articles, 1920-1943 |
Series IV: Other Works |
| Box 2 Folder 12 | Americanism: What is It? Correspondence, 1936-1937 |
| Box 2 Folder 13 | Americanism: What is It? Articles, 1933-1937 |
| Box 2 Folder 14 | Hall Trial Sketches, 1926 |
| Box 2 Folder 15 | Scribner’s Magazine, 1920-1937 |
| Box 2 Folder 16 | Articles, 1924-1970 |
| Box 2 Folder 17 | Newspaper Clippings, 1924-1926 |
| Box 2 Folder 18 | Miscellaneous Book Illustrations, 1937-1950 |
| Box 2 Folder 19 | Miscellaneous Art, 1927-2016 |
Series V: Oversize |
| Box 3 Folder 1 | Newspaper Clippings and Sketches, 1898-1908 |
| Box 3 Folder 2 | Rats!, Vol 1-3, 1900-1901 |
| Box 3 Folder 3 | Autobiography Time and Chance, 1947-1948 |
| Box 3 Folder 4 | Miscellaneous Personal Affects, 1914-1944 |
| Box 3 Folder 5 | Illinois Cavalryman, 1916-1918 |
| Box 3 Folder 6 | Stars and Stripes and The Home Sector, 1919-1920 |
| Box 3 Folder 7 | Miscellaneous Works, 1911-1923 |
| Box 3 Folder 8 | Turn to the East, 1926 |
| Box 3 Folder 9 | White Africans and Black, 1929 |
| Box 3 Folder 10 | Bomba Lives in Africa, 1935 |
| Box 3 Folder 11 | Half the World is Isfahan, 1936 |
| Box 3 Folder 12 | Articles re: Travels, 1930-1944 |
| Box 3 Folder 13 | Miscellaneous Newspaper Clippings, 1919-1925 |
| Box 3 Folder 14 | Miscellaneous Sketches, 1918-1932 |
| Box 3 Folder 15 | Articles re: Caroline Singer, 1920-1943 |
| Box 3 Folder 16 | Drawing of Robert Maynard Hutchins, circa 1930s |
| Box 4 Folder 1 | Hall Trial Sketches, 1926 |
| Box 4 Folder 2 | Articles, 1924-1970 |
| Box 4 Folder 3 | The Adventures of Marco Polo, 1948 |
| Box 4 Folder 4 | Illustrations for A. T. W. Simeons, 1941-1952 |
| Box 4 Folder 5 | Nobody’s Child, undated |
| Box 4 Folder 6 | Miscellaneous Illustrations, 1927-2016 |
| Box 4 Folder 7 | “Americanism: What is it?” Articles, 1936 |
| Box 4 Folder 8 | The Strange Land, 1950 |