Baldridge, Cyrus Leroy, 1889-1977

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Cyrus LeRoy Baldridge worked as a cowboy in Texas before joining the Army Expeditionary Forces and then the staff of "Stars & Stripes" as a cartoonist. After leaving the Army, he spent years traveling around the world, gathering ideas that later appeared in his books. He wrote "Americanism: what is it?" and his autobiography "Time and Chance," and contributed articles to periodicals including "New Republic," "Century," and "Scribners Magazine."

From the description of Cyrus Leroy Baldridge papers, 1935-1953. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 63301744

Cyrus Leroy Baldridge (1889-1977) was an artist, illustrator, author and adventurer. He was born to a wealthy ne¿er-do-well and a spunky, proto-feminist in Alton, Illinois, in 1889. When very young, his mother left his abusive father and began a nomadic life as a drummer, a traveling sales person, selling kitchen equipment from town to town. Devoted to this strong woman, Baldridge¿s personality absorbed her courageous and independent spirit and led him to a life of quite exceptional individualism.

From the description of Baldridge, Cyrus Leroy, 1889-1977 (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration). naId: 10570698

Cyrus Leroy Baldridge was born in 1889 in Alton, New York to William Baldridge and Charity Eliza Burgdorf. Baldridge attended the University of Chicago, where he received his Ph.B in 1911 in English Literature. While attending the University, Baldridge drew cartoons for the Maroon and for Cap and Gown.

Baldridge became a cavalryman for the Illinois National Guard, and eventually left for Europe in 1914 to cover the war on his own. He served in WWI for the French and American armies as a field artist and then an artist for Stars and Stripes.

After the war and brief stints as a commercial artist, Baldridge traveled around the world sketching with his wife, Caroline Singer. They returned to the United States after 1932. Baldridge became president of the National Association of Commercial Arts and commander of the Willard Straight Post of the American Legion. In 1936 Baldridge wrote a pamphlet at the request of the Americanism Committee of the New York County American Legion. Titled “Americanism-What Is It?” the pamphlet sparked debates across the country over the purported communist sentiments behind the piece.

Baldridge’s other publications include I Was There and his autobiography Time and Chance (1947). In addition to illustrating many books, Baldridge co-wrote White Africans and Black (1929) and Half the World is Isfahan (1936) with Singer.

Cyrus Leroy Baldridge died in 1975.

From the guide to the Baldridge, Cyrus Leroy. Papers, 1936-1937, (Special Collections Research Center University of Chicago Library 1100 East 57th Street Chicago, Illinois 60637 U.S.A.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Baldridge, Cyrus Leroy, 1889-1977. Papers, 1936-1937. University of Chicago Library
creatorOf Hill, Edwin Bliss, 1866-1949. Papers of Edwin Bliss Hill, 1737-1954 (bulk 1895-1948). Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn Rosamond B. Loring collection of printed endpapers, 1900-1950 (inclusive), 1920-1941 (bulk). Houghton Library
creatorOf Records of the Office of Government Reports. 1932 - 1947. World War II Posters. 1942 - 1945. quot;Prevent Forest Fires! Crush Out Yur Cigarettequot; National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Records of the U.S. Food Administration. 1917 - 1920. World War I Posters. 1917 - 1919. quot;Pvt. Treptow's Pledge: He had almost reached his goal when a machine gun dropped him. In a pocket of his blouse they found his pledge: quot;I will fight cheerfully and do my utmost as if the whole issue of the struggle depended on me alone.quot; You who are not called upon to die- Subscribe to the Fourth Liberty Loan.quot; National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Alexander Woollcott correspondence, ca. 1856-1943 (inclusive), 1920-1943 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Blanche Matthias papers, 1901-1983 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Records of the U.S. Food Administration. 1917 - 1920. World War I Posters. 1917 - 1919. quot;Straight from the trenches. Originated and produce for the Liberty Loan committee entirely by Members of the American Expeditionary Force. The A.E.F. to the President- quot;If the folks back home fall short on the billions you need, Mr. President, call on us for the balance. we like our pay- but if we have to go without it. Yours for Victory, A.E.F., France Sept. 7, 1918 4th Liberty Loan.quot; National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Baldridge, Cyrus Leroy, 1889-1977. Cyrus Leroy Baldridge papers, 1935-1953. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
referencedIn Baldridge, Cyrus LeRoy : [miscellaneous ephemeral material]. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
referencedIn Holme, John Francis, 1868-1904. John Francis Holme Collection, 1886-1938 (bulk 1889-1903). University of Arizona Libraries
referencedIn Monterey Public Library. California History Room. Artists clippings : "B" [surname] folder 1939-2008 Monterey Public Library
creatorOf Records of the Office of Government Reports. 1932 - 1947. World War II Posters. 1942 - 1945. quot;America will be as strong as her womenquot; National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Eugene O'Neill papers, 1872-1970, 1930-1959 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Rushmore, Arthur W., 1883-1955. Rushmore collection, 1900-1992 (bulk 1927-1955). Free Public Library of the Borough of Madison
creatorOf Baldridge, Cyrus Leroy. Papers, 1936-1937 Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library,
referencedIn Press of the Woolly Whale. Visitors' book, 1928-1941. RIT Library, Wallace Library
creatorOf Johnson, Frances M.,. Frances M. Johnson collection, 1887-1919. US Department of Comm, Noaa Great Lakes
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Dewey, John, 1859-1952. person
associatedWith Hill, Edwin Bliss, 1866-1949. person
associatedWith Holme, John Francis, 1868-1904. person
associatedWith Hutchins, Robert Maynard, 1899-1977. person
associatedWith Johnson, Frances M., person
associatedWith Loring, Rosamund B. (Rosamond Bowditch), 1889-1950 person
associatedWith Matthias, Blanche, 1887-1983. person
associatedWith Monterey Public Library. California History Room. corporateBody
associatedWith O'Neill, Eugene, 1888-1953. person
associatedWith Press of the Woolly Whale. corporateBody
correspondedWith Rushmore, Arthur W., 1883-1955. person
associatedWith Vincent, George E. (George Edgar), 1864-1941. person
correspondedWith Woollcott, Alexander, 1887-1943 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
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Artists
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Birth 1889

Death 1977

English

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