Thursday, January 24, 2019
Ink-Slinger Profiles by Alex Jay: Bertha L. Corbett
In the 1895 Minnesota State Census, Bertha was the oldest of three siblings. Her mother’s name was the initials C.E. The family lived in Minneapolis.
The American Art Annual (1915) said Bertha studied with Douglas Volk at the Minneapolis School of Fine Arts, and Howard Pyle at Drexel Institute.
On July 19, 1896, the Saint Paul Globe (Minnesota) reported the results of an art contest for the cover to the Big Store Fall Fashion catalogue: “The third prize, an English fob seal watch chain, was awarded Miss Bertha L. Corbett. Her design represented autumn and winter by two sweet faces appropriately arrayed.”
According to the 1900 United States Federal Census, the family lived in Minneapolis at 3404 Chicago Avenue. Her mother had died between the state and federal censuses; her father was a sign painter.
The Minneapolis Journal (Minnesota) published an New England Bazaar ad, on February 6, 1901, which featured Sunbonnet Baby Valentines.
The Kansas City Star, March 26, 1902, profiled Bertha and said in part:
The Sunbonnet Babies’ Book was published in 1902.
Bertha’s Chicago studio was mentioned in the Minneapolis Journal on October 22, 1905.
The Evening World (New York) published an ad, on May 31, 1907, touting the success of its Sunday art supplements.
According to Woman’s Who’s Who, Bertha was a member of the Chicago Woman’s Press Club, from 1907 to 1909, and a member of the California Woman’s Press Club beginning in 1909.
The Los Angeles Herald, January 2, 1908, reported Bertha’s visit while on her way to Japan.
Bertha was counted twice in the 1910 census. She was a roomer in Chicago at 4541 Prairie Avenue; her occupation was artist at a studio. And she was counted as a member of her father’s household in Minneapolis at 203 14th Street.
Woman’s Who’s Who said she married artist George Henry Melcher in Los Angeles, California on August 5, 1910.
Out West, November–December 1913, published Bertha’s “A Few Chicken-Feathers”.
The American Art Annuals of 1915 and 1917 said Bertha was a resident of Topanga, California.
Bertha was profiled and photographed in the May 1917 issue of Sunset.
Musical Courier, August 26, 1920, announced Bertha and her husband were members of the Nordskog Studios faculty.
Social Progress, April 1922, published Bertha’s illustration for “How the Rabbit Got His Long Ears”.
In 1920 Bertha, her husband and two daughters lived in Calabasas, California. The husband and wife were artists at a studio. The family remained in Calabasas in the 1930 census; George was an artist and Bertha was an illustrator, both independent.
According to the 1940 census, Bertha was divorced and residing at 365 Norwich Drive in Beverly Hills, California, the home of her daughter, Ruth, who was married to C.J. and had two daughters.
The California Death Index, at Ancestry.com, said Bertha passed away June 8, 1950 in Los Angeles. Woman’s Who’s Who said Bertha’s recreation was horseback riding and she favored woman’s suffrage.
—Alex Jay
On July 19, 1896, the Saint Paul Globe (Minnesota) reported the results of an art contest for the cover to the Big Store Fall Fashion catalogue: “The third prize, an English fob seal watch chain, was awarded Miss Bertha L. Corbett. Her design represented autumn and winter by two sweet faces appropriately arrayed.”
According to the 1900 United States Federal Census, the family lived in Minneapolis at 3404 Chicago Avenue. Her mother had died between the state and federal censuses; her father was a sign painter.
The Minneapolis Journal (Minnesota) published an New England Bazaar ad, on February 6, 1901, which featured Sunbonnet Baby Valentines.
The Kansas City Star, March 26, 1902, profiled Bertha and said in part:
...The Sunbonnet Babies really grew out of a group of children I saw playing in the sand. I drew a picture, the original Sunbonnet Baby, as it afterward proved. My fellow artists examined it critically and professed to like it. I fell quite in love with it myself and at once set to work to draw more….A different account of her Sunbonnet Babies origin was given in the Kalamazoo Gazette-News (Michigan) on June 29, 1902.
…They came out in a book bearing their names in June 189[illegible] accompanied by little verses of explanation. Then the dainty maidens began to appear on blotters, valentines, Christmas cards and calendars, and now they are coming out in a primer, which Rand & McNally will publish soon.
…[Bertha] told of a visit to the theatre with a friend who, after watching her sketch this and that actor's face, remarked: “It is all in the face, isn’t it? There would be no expression or meaning in a picture if you left out the face?” Miss Corbett after a moment's thought sketched for her a little child tugging his wagon loaded with autumn leaves in which no face appeared and yet the picture told its story.The Inland Printer, March 1901, printed several Sunbonnet Baby drawings and Bertha’s letter.
From that time the idea grew and the little sunbonnet people have grown and developed as healthy children will, until the oldest are 4 years of age.
Miss Corbett has collected a number of her earlier children late a little volume which has been published. She is now working on a Sunbonnet Baby Primer for Rand & McNally of Chicago, the text for which is being written by Miss Eulalie Grover….
A book which won the heart of all was the Sunbonnet Children with four leaved cloves over their shoulders, which Miss Corbett got out about Christmas time, four years ago….
The Sunbonnet Babies’ Book was published in 1902.
Bertha’s Chicago studio was mentioned in the Minneapolis Journal on October 22, 1905.
Miss Corbett has an attractive studio in the Fine Arts building with some other young women in art crafts, but she uses the place now rather as business headquarters than as a workshop, for her work has taken an entirely new turn and now the babies and boys are being exhibited in chalk talks by their creator.On September 20, 1906 the Minneapolis Journal reported her venture into advertising, “At present she is associated with R.F. Outcault of ‘Buster Brown’ fame, and together they evolve ideas which are to be set afloat in the advertising field.”
The Evening World (New York) published an ad, on May 31, 1907, touting the success of its Sunday art supplements.
The Sunbonnet Babies made a great hit when the Sunday World gave them as illustrations of a series of art lessons to New York City readers. It has now been decided to give the set to out-of-town readers.Perhaps the Evening World’s sunbonnet series prompted Corbett to develop her comic strip, The Sunbonnet Babies, which debuted in the Boston Globe on December 8, 1907. The series ended June 28, 1908.
Each picture in colors. Just the thing for framing or passepartouting. Get the set. Order from newsdealer in advance. The Lovers Next Sunday. [illustration of sunbonnet baby and overall boy kissing]
According to Woman’s Who’s Who, Bertha was a member of the Chicago Woman’s Press Club, from 1907 to 1909, and a member of the California Woman’s Press Club beginning in 1909.
The Los Angeles Herald, January 2, 1908, reported Bertha’s visit while on her way to Japan.
Bertha was counted twice in the 1910 census. She was a roomer in Chicago at 4541 Prairie Avenue; her occupation was artist at a studio. And she was counted as a member of her father’s household in Minneapolis at 203 14th Street.
Woman’s Who’s Who said she married artist George Henry Melcher in Los Angeles, California on August 5, 1910.
Out West, November–December 1913, published Bertha’s “A Few Chicken-Feathers”.
The American Art Annuals of 1915 and 1917 said Bertha was a resident of Topanga, California.
Bertha was profiled and photographed in the May 1917 issue of Sunset.
Social Progress, April 1922, published Bertha’s illustration for “How the Rabbit Got His Long Ears”.
In 1920 Bertha, her husband and two daughters lived in Calabasas, California. The husband and wife were artists at a studio. The family remained in Calabasas in the 1930 census; George was an artist and Bertha was an illustrator, both independent.
According to the 1940 census, Bertha was divorced and residing at 365 Norwich Drive in Beverly Hills, California, the home of her daughter, Ruth, who was married to C.J. and had two daughters.
The California Death Index, at Ancestry.com, said Bertha passed away June 8, 1950 in Los Angeles. Woman’s Who’s Who said Bertha’s recreation was horseback riding and she favored woman’s suffrage.
—Alex Jay
Labels: Ink-Slinger Profiles
