Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon
|
|
|---|---|
| Born | 24 July 1826 Littlehampton, Sussex, England |
| Died | 16 February 1874 Lambeth, London, England |
| Occupation | Artist, educator |
| Genre | Children's Literature |
Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon (born July 24, 1826 – died February 6, 1874) was a talented teacher and artist. She was well-known for her skills in the 1860s, especially in Ontario, Canada.
Her most famous work is An Illustrated Comic Alphabet. This book was published in 1966 by librarians and artists who admired her art. Just five years later, the Canadian Library Association created a special award in her name. This award, called the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award, celebrates the best illustrations in a Canadian children's book each year.
Contents
Who Was Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon?
Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon was born in Littlehampton, Sussex, England. She was the oldest daughter of Amelia Dendy and Edward Howard-Gibbon. Her father worked at the College of Arms. Amelia went to private schools and loved to draw from a young age. Some of her early sketches are still around today!
Her Education and Travels
It is believed that Amelia studied French, German, and Art. She likely learned these subjects while in Paris, France, and Stuttgart, Germany. She was the first of her family to move to Ontario, Canada. There, she started her career as a teacher in St. Thomas.
Teaching in Canada and Beyond
Later, Amelia moved to Sarnia and continued teaching children for many years. A family letter suggests she also taught at an art school in New York. In 1873, she moved back to England. She went there to receive an inheritance from her uncle. Sadly, she became ill and passed away in Lambeth. She was buried with her father in Saint Nicholas Churchyard in Arundel.
Her Famous Children's Book
While Amelia lived in Ontario, she created many watercolor portraits and sketches. She drew pictures of her friends and family. In 1859, she sketched a special alphabet book for children. She later gave this book to her friend, Martha Poussette.
The Alphabet Book's Journey
Many years later, Martha Poussette's family gave the book to the Toronto Children's Library. The original book is now kept in the Osborne Collection of Early Children's Books. In 1966, this special book was finally published. It was released as An Illustrated Comic Alphabet by Oxford University Press in Toronto. This book is important because it is the earliest known children's picture book by a Canadian artist.
