Ink-Slinger Profiles by Alex Jay: Herman Hirschauer

Herman Hirschauer was born May 1866, in Boston, Massachusetts. The birth date is from the 1900 U.S. Federal Census and the birthplace from earlier census records.

In the 1870 census, Hirschauer was the youngest of four children born to Anton, a grocer, and Lena, both Prussian emigrants. The family resided in Boston.

Boston city directories show the family had moved, in 1874, to 29–31 Church Street, and, in 1883, to 5 Mahan Place.

Information about Hirschauer’s education and art training has not been found.

The 1889 Boston directory said Hirschauer was a lithographer living at 5 Mahan Place. He had the same occupation in the 1893 directory but a different address, 16 Enfield Street. From 1894 to 1902 directories listed Hirschauer at the same address and as an artist.

According to the 1900 census Hirschauer was a painter, married to Louise and had two children, Madeline and Anton. They lived with Hirschauer’s parents.

The 1903 New York City directory said Hirschauer was at 10 East 14th Street, probably his studio.

The 1905 New York state census counted Hirschauer and his family at 113 Woodycrest Avenue in the Bronx.

Hirschauer’s studio address was 19 Union Square West, room 54, in the 1906 city directory.

Hirschauer’s home was in the Bronx at 1770 Sedgwick Avenue from 1910 to 1931, according to the censuses and city directory.

American Newspaper Comics (2012) said Hirschauer drew the series Dolly Dip which combined elements of a comic strip in a sheet music page. The lyrics were by Sol P. Levy,. The series ran from November 29, 2014 to May 30, 1915 and syndicated by the New York Herald.

The 1916 city directory said Hirschauer’s studio was at 1440 Broadway in Manhattan. In the mid-1920s he moved his studio to 400 West 23rd Street.

The Newspaper Feature Service produced a long-running series of romantic cartoons, by several artists, beginning in 1913. Hirschauer contributed to the series in 1924.

In 1927 the Carolina Theatre opened in Greensboro, North Carolina. According to Saenger Theatres, “One of the most pleasing features in the design is the group of dancing girls on the proscenium arch, these figures have been drawn by Herman Hirschauer, who executed the mural paintings and decorations on the S.S. Leviathan.” The proscenium arch can be viewed here.

The 1930 census said Hirschauer was a freelance artist and designer of ladies wear and dresses.

Hirschauer passed away September 19, 1931 according to the New York, New York, Extracted Death Index at Ancestry.com


—Alex Jay