ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION    

Title
Joseph Ferdinand Keppler and Pauline Keppler Collection

Collection Number
SC 331

OCLC Number
1230244837

Creator 
Joseph Ferdinand Keppler (1838-1894)
Pauline Keppler (1852-1927)

Provenance 
Donated by Leighton Coleman III in 1999.

Extent, Scope, and Content Note 
The collection is comprised of 8 cubic ft. of photographs (99 items), ephemera,  and a scrapbook documenting the Keppler family: political cartoonist Joseph Ferdinand Keppler (1838-1894) and Pauline Keppler (1852-1927), their children (Udo, Irma, and Olga), and extended family. The collection includes photographs of the interior and exterior of the Keppler family residence at East 79th Street, New York, New York. This home was renowned at its time for housing a multitude of antiques and artwork. Also included is a scrapbook that belonged to Pauline Keppler which contains correspondence between herself and an unknown artist. In addition to these letters, the scrapbook also has photographs, newspaper clippings, menus, and playbills. 

Arrangement and Processing Note
The photographs are organized by subject and size.
Finding aid updated and revised by Kristen J. Nyitray in July 2019. Last updated in April 2024.

Language
English, German

Restrictions on Access
The collection is open to researchers without restriction.

Rights and Permissions 
Stony Brook University Libraries' consent to access as the physical owner of the collection does not address copyright issues that may affect publication rights. It is the sole responsibility of the user of Special Collections and University Archives materials to investigate the copyright status of any given work and to seek and obtain permission where needed prior to publication.  

Citation 
[Item], [Box], Joseph Ferdinand Keppler and Pauline Keppler Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Stony Brook University Libraries.

Historical Note
Joseph Ferdinand Keppler (1838-1894) was an Austrian-born  political cartoonist. As founder of Puck magazine, Keppler's viewpoints and humor were communicated to American society during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Puck magazine was the first successful humorous weekly in the United States. Heavily political in nature, it was popularized by weekly cartoons and caricatures drawn by Keppler and his staff. Keppler's political influence derived from his work, namely with US Presidents Grant and Cleveland. His caricatures had a significant impact on opinions of American government at the time. According to sources, Keppler's illustrations conveyed current events and widely appealed to the public. His work for Puck featured some of the first instances of color implementation in cartoons ever published.

Subjects
Keppler, Joseph Ferdinand, 1838-1894.
Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956.
Keppler, Pauline.
Keppler, Olga.
Kiene, Irma.
Puck (English edition)
Political cartoons. 
Political satire.
Caricatures and cartoons.
New York (N.Y.) -- Social life and customs.
United States -- Politics and government -- 1881-1885 -- Caricatures and cartoons.

INVENTORY

Box 1 
Photographs of the Keppler family including Joseph Ferdinand Keppler,  Pauline Keppler, Irma Joe Keppler, and Olga Keppler

Box 2 
Photographs of the Keppler family; Inwood on the Hudson (possibly the Keppler's residence)

Box 3
Photographs of the Keppler residence, New York City (a few photographs include Pauline Keppler)

Box 4
Oversized photographs on boards of the interior of the Keppler residence, New York City (9 items)
Mallinckrodt Convent Certificate addressed to Irma Keppler Kiene
Newspaper clippings
Scrapbook with loose pages containing pages removed from theater playbills

Box 5
Scrapbook of Mrs. Pauline Keppler, includes:
Newspaper clippings (in English and German)
Letters
Illustrated envelopes of correspondence addressed to Pauline Keppler
Menus
Articles about Keppler residence on East 79th Street, New York, New York 
Playbills
Newspaper clippings (general)

Box 6
Cloth scrapbook covers/binding (flowered print)

Box 7
Cloth scrapbook  covers/binding (floral print with purple ribbon)

Box 8
Cloth scrapbook covers/binding (olive material with rust colored velvet trim)