Details
Title Childs, John
Date ca. 1819-May 27, 1880
Description John Childs, artist and lithographer, born in England ca. 1819, was a prolific publisher of lithographic cartoons, genre scenes, and social satires in the mid 19th century. Residing in New York by 1830, Childs initially worked as predominately a colorist. By the late 1830s and early 1840s, he operated his own printing establishment and printed several political cartoons drawn by lithographic artist Edward W. Clay.
Following a brief residency in Boston and the exhibition of an oil painting at the American Institute (NYC) in 1845, Childs relocated to Philadelphia and exhibited two oil paintings at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 1847. From 1848 to 1852, he worked from the lithographic establishment of Frederick Kuhl (46 1/2 Walnut Street), and issued the infamous depiction of members of the Philadelphia gang "The Killers." Childs established his own studio at 84 (i.e., 154) South Third Street before 1855 and as in New York, issued predominately cartoons as well as genre and disaster scenes. In 1855, he also partnered with George R. Curtis in the short-lived firm (less than a year) of John Childs & Co., picture frame makers. By 1860, Childs began to publish prints from 63 North Second Street, including a variant of his amusing 1857 caricature of Philadelphia drunkards, "Three in the Morning," originally titled "3 o'clock in the Morning" in English and German. By the mid 1860s, Childs was predominately listed as an artist in directories although an 1864 print "The Generals" (Harry T. Peters Collection, Smithsonian) bears his imprint as a lithographer. In the 1870s, he devoted most of his time "to touching up, maps, charts, etc."
Childs was married to Mary (b. ca. 1830) with whom he had two children Louisa (b. ca. 1854) and William (b. ca. 1864). During much of his career in Philadelphia, he resided in Center City and South Philadelphia (Bella Vista) and by 1870 at 764 South Fourth Street.
Childs died on May 27, 1880; his body discovered by concerned friends from his "usual haunts" who broke down his door at his room and studio at 727 Sansom Street. He was survived by his two children who resided in North Wales, Pa.
Is part of Philadelphia on Stone Biographical Dictionary of Lithographers
References See Clay, Edward W. and Kuhl, Frederick.
Call number Philadelphia on Stone Biographical Dictionary of Lithographers
Bibliographic citation Census 1870
Groce & Wallace, 125
Library Company of Philadelphia research file
Pennsylvania, Vol. 132, p. 315, R.G. Dun & Co. Collection, microfilm, Hagley Museum & Library
Peters, 139-140
Philadelphia Business and City Directories 1849-1888 (intermittently)
Philadelphia Inquirer, May 28, 1880
Sunday Dispatch, May 30, 1880
WWWAA, 636