Page 38 - Journal of Antiques and Collectibles December 2019
P. 38
Holidays, Illustrated
Ellen Clapsaddle and her incredible journey
O nce upon a time there was B ack to Germany Just Before WWI
Following her mother’s passing, Ellen once again returned to
a young woman who was quite gifted Berlin for work, and truly enjoyed living in nearby Belgium.
in the arts. Her parents nurtured this Once again, some references state she was now working for a
gift and encouraged her to use her company called The Wolf Brothers or the Wolf Company and
skills for the enjoyment of others. She that she actually owned stock in the company. This is reflective of
attended an art academy after her a slight re-arranging of time, as Wolf & Company first existed in
primary education, went on to the late 1880s, providing the Celluloid Starch Company with
become quite famous and prolific, and advertising and premiums. Ellen Clapsaddle apparently did some
lived happily ever after – or did she? work for Celluloid as early as 1900. Wolf & Co. then went on to
Ellen Clapsaddle’s story of her life eventually expand its business to include a sales office in New
and talent went forth as so many York City and developed into a new firm called the International
stories do, suffering life’s bumps and bruises and heartache. Art Publishing Company, Ltd., with an office in Munich.
But there is one tale or myth that started up in the 1970s that In 1910, Isaac Wolf was elected as the president of the
still is taken by some as fact. We’ll review the facts and share American Association of Commerce and Trade in Berlin in 1910.
discrepencies. And there are many. Ellen returned to the U.S. with the Wolfs aboard the RMS
C hildhood Lusitania in 1911 and continued to work in
Ellen was born in 1865 in South Columbia, New York, New York.
In 1912, she returned to Europe with the
to Dean L. and Harriet B. Clapsaddle. Or, she was born January 8, 1863 to intention to stay only one year, but extended
Dennis L. and Harriet Clapsaddle. (It was Dean, and the year was 1865.) her stay by more than 15 months, being in
There was no question Ellen was gifted, albeit small and shy. Her artistic skills Belgium when the German army invaded in
brought her all the way to the Cooper Institute for the Advancement of August, 1914. As the ramp-up to World War I
Science and Art in New York City. While for the most part everyone is in gathered speed, the British Fleet declared the
agreement she attended the school, how her family afforded such a cost was North Sea as a War Zone, blocking all German
another question. There are references stating she attended on a scholarship, and Ports. Germany threatened to torpedo enemy
others that she did not stay long due to expenses. ships in the waters around Great Britain and
Once again, moving past the small differences, after Ellen attended the Ireland, including the English Channel. This
Institute in 1884 she returned home where she painted put a stop to imports of German printed goods
portraits of local families out of a studio in Richfield to the U.S., and Isaac was arrested as he was
Springs. At that time she also began doing freelance attempting to cross into the Netherlands to
work for printers and publishers for specialty goods, mail letters. He was eventually released and was
greeting cards, and the burgeoning post card industry. back in New York by January of 1915 – minus
Ellen’s father passed in 1891, after which she and his wife Thea and their good friend Ellen.
her mother moved in with her Aunt. She continued to In June, Isaac was able to arrange for Thea
do portrait work and illustration, and also taught art to and Ellen to be brought to Denmark, a neutral
local children and adults. country, where they boarded the SS Oscar II and arrived safely in New York
C areer in July. News of her arrival appeared in the Richfield Springs Mercury news-
This is where things tend to be a bit muddled. paper. While there are some sources stating the printing factories were
bombed and all Ellen’s original work was
After sifting through several blogs, articles, artist destroyed, that was not the case until many
profiles, and the ever-present Wikipedia, here is what years later during World War II.
are considered the most likely events that led to Ellen
Clapsaddle being recognized as the most prolific P ost-War Life
postcard illustrator of her time. After the war, Ellen continued to
She created over 3000 designs that mainly depicted produce artwork for IAPCo, and the postcards
rosy-cheeked children, animals, and sweet sentiments that reflect the spirit of produced after 1914 had no mention of
the holiday she was illustrating. As Ellen’s popularity continued to climb, her Germany on the reverse. The decrease in the
talent was recognized by International Art Publishing Company (IAPCo). The quality of the printing was noticeable.
company encouraged her to move to New York City for the ease of working Following the war, Ellen stayed in New
closely with the publisher. The question here is whether or not the company York, but in May of 1921, Ellen once again
paid for her apartment and had her under contract – some sources say she had traveled to Europe with the Wolfs. Their stated
a two year contract while others say she moved there and continued as a free- intention was touring “Holland, France, and
lance artist for many other businesses. The bottom line: she moved to New other countries for artistic studies.” However,
York City for her work. her passport indicates their return trip began in
Because Germany was seen as the state-of-the-art producer of engraved Bremen, a Gothic city in northern Germany,
printed materials and there was high demand for Ellen’s so a visit there was not off the table altogether.
creations, she was sent to Berlin to work with engravers and Ellen lived simply and was still producing art
learn from the best. The initial trip in 1899 was for a while living in New York in her later years. Her health
two-year duration and some say her mother traveled with her. began to deteriorate, and since she was never a wealthy
They returned to the U.S., and Ellen possibly returned to woman, she took up residence at the Peabody Home for
Richfield Springs as her mother grew infirm and passed away Aged and Indigent Women in the Bronx as her health
in 1905. Some sources say Ellen was still in Germany when failed. She passed away two years later just one day before
she died, but thanks to newspaper articles it is known she was her 69th birthday.
by her mother’s side.
Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
36
Ellen Clapsaddle and her incredible journey
O nce upon a time there was B ack to Germany Just Before WWI
Following her mother’s passing, Ellen once again returned to
a young woman who was quite gifted Berlin for work, and truly enjoyed living in nearby Belgium.
in the arts. Her parents nurtured this Once again, some references state she was now working for a
gift and encouraged her to use her company called The Wolf Brothers or the Wolf Company and
skills for the enjoyment of others. She that she actually owned stock in the company. This is reflective of
attended an art academy after her a slight re-arranging of time, as Wolf & Company first existed in
primary education, went on to the late 1880s, providing the Celluloid Starch Company with
become quite famous and prolific, and advertising and premiums. Ellen Clapsaddle apparently did some
lived happily ever after – or did she? work for Celluloid as early as 1900. Wolf & Co. then went on to
Ellen Clapsaddle’s story of her life eventually expand its business to include a sales office in New
and talent went forth as so many York City and developed into a new firm called the International
stories do, suffering life’s bumps and bruises and heartache. Art Publishing Company, Ltd., with an office in Munich.
But there is one tale or myth that started up in the 1970s that In 1910, Isaac Wolf was elected as the president of the
still is taken by some as fact. We’ll review the facts and share American Association of Commerce and Trade in Berlin in 1910.
discrepencies. And there are many. Ellen returned to the U.S. with the Wolfs aboard the RMS
C hildhood Lusitania in 1911 and continued to work in
Ellen was born in 1865 in South Columbia, New York, New York.
In 1912, she returned to Europe with the
to Dean L. and Harriet B. Clapsaddle. Or, she was born January 8, 1863 to intention to stay only one year, but extended
Dennis L. and Harriet Clapsaddle. (It was Dean, and the year was 1865.) her stay by more than 15 months, being in
There was no question Ellen was gifted, albeit small and shy. Her artistic skills Belgium when the German army invaded in
brought her all the way to the Cooper Institute for the Advancement of August, 1914. As the ramp-up to World War I
Science and Art in New York City. While for the most part everyone is in gathered speed, the British Fleet declared the
agreement she attended the school, how her family afforded such a cost was North Sea as a War Zone, blocking all German
another question. There are references stating she attended on a scholarship, and Ports. Germany threatened to torpedo enemy
others that she did not stay long due to expenses. ships in the waters around Great Britain and
Once again, moving past the small differences, after Ellen attended the Ireland, including the English Channel. This
Institute in 1884 she returned home where she painted put a stop to imports of German printed goods
portraits of local families out of a studio in Richfield to the U.S., and Isaac was arrested as he was
Springs. At that time she also began doing freelance attempting to cross into the Netherlands to
work for printers and publishers for specialty goods, mail letters. He was eventually released and was
greeting cards, and the burgeoning post card industry. back in New York by January of 1915 – minus
Ellen’s father passed in 1891, after which she and his wife Thea and their good friend Ellen.
her mother moved in with her Aunt. She continued to In June, Isaac was able to arrange for Thea
do portrait work and illustration, and also taught art to and Ellen to be brought to Denmark, a neutral
local children and adults. country, where they boarded the SS Oscar II and arrived safely in New York
C areer in July. News of her arrival appeared in the Richfield Springs Mercury news-
This is where things tend to be a bit muddled. paper. While there are some sources stating the printing factories were
bombed and all Ellen’s original work was
After sifting through several blogs, articles, artist destroyed, that was not the case until many
profiles, and the ever-present Wikipedia, here is what years later during World War II.
are considered the most likely events that led to Ellen
Clapsaddle being recognized as the most prolific P ost-War Life
postcard illustrator of her time. After the war, Ellen continued to
She created over 3000 designs that mainly depicted produce artwork for IAPCo, and the postcards
rosy-cheeked children, animals, and sweet sentiments that reflect the spirit of produced after 1914 had no mention of
the holiday she was illustrating. As Ellen’s popularity continued to climb, her Germany on the reverse. The decrease in the
talent was recognized by International Art Publishing Company (IAPCo). The quality of the printing was noticeable.
company encouraged her to move to New York City for the ease of working Following the war, Ellen stayed in New
closely with the publisher. The question here is whether or not the company York, but in May of 1921, Ellen once again
paid for her apartment and had her under contract – some sources say she had traveled to Europe with the Wolfs. Their stated
a two year contract while others say she moved there and continued as a free- intention was touring “Holland, France, and
lance artist for many other businesses. The bottom line: she moved to New other countries for artistic studies.” However,
York City for her work. her passport indicates their return trip began in
Because Germany was seen as the state-of-the-art producer of engraved Bremen, a Gothic city in northern Germany,
printed materials and there was high demand for Ellen’s so a visit there was not off the table altogether.
creations, she was sent to Berlin to work with engravers and Ellen lived simply and was still producing art
learn from the best. The initial trip in 1899 was for a while living in New York in her later years. Her health
two-year duration and some say her mother traveled with her. began to deteriorate, and since she was never a wealthy
They returned to the U.S., and Ellen possibly returned to woman, she took up residence at the Peabody Home for
Richfield Springs as her mother grew infirm and passed away Aged and Indigent Women in the Bronx as her health
in 1905. Some sources say Ellen was still in Germany when failed. She passed away two years later just one day before
she died, but thanks to newspaper articles it is known she was her 69th birthday.
by her mother’s side.
Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
36
