Details
Title McGuigan, James
Alternate title Wagner & McGuigan
Pinkerton, Wagner & McGuigan
Date 1818/1819-November 10, 1874
Description James McGuigan, a Philadelphia lithographer of probable Scotch heritage, born in Pennsylvania ca. 1818-1819, was partner in the premier mid-19th-century lithographic firm Wagner & McGuigan.
Beginning his lithographic career ca. 1842, he partnered with lithographers Edward Pinkerton and Thomas S. Wagner, both formerly of P. S. Duval, in Pinkerton, Wagner & McGuigan in 1844. Following the departure of Pinkerton in 1845, McGuigan and Wagner formed Wagner & McGuigan and remained in partnership until ca. 1859 at 4 Franklin Place. The prolific firm produced all genres of lithographs, particularly advertisements, and was an innovator in chromolithography and steamed powered lithographic printing.
In 1857 a fire destroyed 4 Franklin Place (the second time in less than ten years) and the partnership of Wagner & McGuigan dissolved by 1859. Within the year, McGuigan established his own firm at South Third & Dock streets as well as relocated from his residence of 20 Swanwick Street (ca. 1851-1859) to 1205 South Fourth Street, his address for the rest of his life. As the sole proprietor of his lithographic establishment, McGuigan became known for his map works, but he also produced material in all the branches of the field. Religious-themed prints, church imagery, and scenic views after the designs of artist Thomas Moran comprised subject matter printed by the "long and favorably known excellent artist." During the Civil War, cards, labels, and circulars also provided a steady business for McGuigan and his business and personal income were taxed by the IRS 1864-1866.
He provided "donations" of another sort as well during the war, when he gave near $40 worth of lithographs to the Great Central Sanitary Fair (June 1864). The 1860s also saw McGuigan pursue large projects. In 1867 he was one of three founding publishers of the Catholic children's periodical The Guardian Angel and in 1869 undertook the ill-fated deluxe portfolio series Studies and Pictures of Thomas Moran, in which only a few proof prints were ever produced. Despite such set backs, in 1870 McGuigan retained an estate worth near $10,000, i.e., $167,000 in modern value.
Not much is known of McGuigan's personal life other than what can be gleamed from censuses. McGuigan appears to have married Margaret (b. ca. 1818 in France) before 1850. The couple had two children William (b. ca. 1848), a lithographer, and James (b. ca. 1849). By 1860 Margaret and son James appeared absent from McGuigan's life, possibly deceased, and an elder woman, Ann, possibly his mother resided with the "Master Lithographer" and his son William.
McGuigan died November 10, 1874 with his funeral at his home in South Philadelphia. He was buried at Ronaldson Cemetery ("Sacred to the Memory of Scottish Strangers"), also known as Philadelphia Cemetery, at Ninth and Bainbridge Streets. The cemetery later removed to Forrest Hills at 101 Byberry Road.
Is part of Philadelphia on Stone Biographical Dictionary of Lithographers
References See Moran,Thomas; Pinkerton, Edward; Pinkerton, Wagner & McGuigan; and Wagner, Thomas;
Call number Philadelphia on Stone Biographical Dictionary of Lithographers
Bibliographic citation Census 1850, 1860, 1870
Groce & Wallace, 414
Last, 156
Library Company of Philadelphia research file
Peters, 393-395
"Obituary," Public Ledger, November 13, 1874
"Obituary," Sunday Dispatch, November 15, 1874
U. S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1864-1866
WWWAA, 2127