| Title |
Knirsch, Otto |
| Date |
b. ca. 1831 |
| Description |
Otto Knirsch, born ca. 1831 in Prussia, possibly Dresden, Germany operated a lithographic establishment (311 Chestnut Street,
later 311 and 429 Walnut Street) in Philadelphia 1858-ca. 1861. A practical lithographer, Knirsch worked for Currier & Ives
designing genre scenes, landscapes, and political cartoons during the 1850s before he relocated to Philadelphia. Knirsch's
known work issued in Philadelphia includes portraiture, genre views, and a sheet music cover. In 1865, Knirsch relocated to
Chicago and founded the Chicago Lithographing Company with Otto Jevne, Peter M. Almini, Louis Kurz and Edward Carqueville.
The firm specialized in view prints and was active into the 1870s. Following the fire Knirsch relocated to New Jersey and
remained in the trade until at least 1893.
|
|
Knirsch was married to Mary (b. ca. 1842) with whom he had two sons. In 1860, the family resided at 742 South Eighth Street
(Ward 3) in Philadelphia. While a Philadelphia resident, Knirsch was active in the Maennerchor Musical Society and served
on their Eleventh Annual Grand Fancy Dress Ball committee in 1858. Following the Chicago fire of 1871, Knirsch and his family
relocated to Hoboken, New Jersey where he was a member of the Hoboken Rifles Club. By 1880, the household included a servant.
Knirsh remained in Hoboken residing and working as a lithographer in Jersey City with his son Otto, Jr. (b. ca. 1854) as of
1893.
|
| Is part of |
Philadelphia on Stone Biographical Dictionary of Lithographers |
| Call number |
Philadelphia on Stone Biographical Dictionary of Lithographers |
| Bibliographic citation |
Census 1860, 1880 |
|
Groce & Wallace, 374 |
|
Library Company of Philadelphia research file |
|
Peters, 253 |
|
Reps, Views and Viewmakers of North America, 180, note 3 |
|
WWAAA, 1874 |
