Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon
Encyclopedia
Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon (24 July 1826 - 16 February 1874) was a teacher and artist known for her talents during the 1860s in Ontario
, Canada
. In 1966, her most comprehensive work, An Illustrated Comic Alphabet, was published by librarians and artists who admired her work. Five years later, an annual award for illustration of Canadian children's literature published in Canada, the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award
, was named for her.
Born at Littlehampton
, Sussex
, England
, she was the oldest daughter of Edward Howard Howard-Gibbon and Amelia Dendy. She was educated in private schools during the employment of her father at the College of Arms. From her earliest years, Howard-Gibbon enjoyed drawing freehanded sketches, some of which survive today. She is believed to have studied French, German, and Art while in Paris
, France
, and Stuttgart
, Germany
. She was the first of the Howard-Gibbon siblings to emigrate to Ontario, where she began teaching in St. Thomas
. She later moved to Sarnia
and continued to teach children there for many years. Howard-Gibbon moved back to England in 1873 to claim her inheritance from her uncle Matthew Charles Howard-Gibbon
, and became ill. She died in Lambeth
, and was later buried with her father at Saint Nicholas Churchyard in Arundel
.
During Howard-Gibbon's time in Ontario, she created watercolor portraits and sketches of several friends and family members. In 1859, she sketched a children's alphabet book which she later gave to a friend, Martha Poussette. Many years later Poussette's family donated the book to the Toronto Children's Library. Finally published as An Illustrated Comic Alphabet (1966) by Oxford University Press
in Toronto
and Henry Z. Walck in New York
, it is the oldest known children's picture book by a Canadian artist.
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. In 1966, her most comprehensive work, An Illustrated Comic Alphabet, was published by librarians and artists who admired her work. Five years later, an annual award for illustration of Canadian children's literature published in Canada, the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award
Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award
The Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award was created in 1971 to honour an outstanding work of illustration in current children's literature of Canada. The award is presented annually under the auspices of the Canadian Library Association...
, was named for her.
Born at Littlehampton
Littlehampton
Littlehampton is a seaside resort town and civil parish in the Arun District of West Sussex, England, on the east bank at the mouth of the River Arun. It lies south southwest of London, west of Brighton and east of the county town of Chichester....
, Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, she was the oldest daughter of Edward Howard Howard-Gibbon and Amelia Dendy. She was educated in private schools during the employment of her father at the College of Arms. From her earliest years, Howard-Gibbon enjoyed drawing freehanded sketches, some of which survive today. She is believed to have studied French, German, and Art while in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. She was the first of the Howard-Gibbon siblings to emigrate to Ontario, where she began teaching in St. Thomas
St. Thomas, Ontario
St. Thomas is a city in southern , Ontario, Canada. It is the seat for Elgin County and gained its city charter on March 4, 1881.-History:...
. She later moved to Sarnia
Sarnia, Ontario
Sarnia is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada . It is the largest city on Lake Huron and is located where the upper Great Lakes empty into the St. Clair River....
and continued to teach children there for many years. Howard-Gibbon moved back to England in 1873 to claim her inheritance from her uncle Matthew Charles Howard-Gibbon
Matthew Howard-Gibbon
Matthew Charles Howard-Gibbon was a long-serving officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. He was born Matthew Charles Howard Gibbon in London, and was the oldest son of Charles Howard, 11th Duke of Norfolk and Mary Ann Gibbon–his long-time mistress and purportedly his third wife...
, and became ill. She died in Lambeth
Lambeth
Lambeth is a district of south London, England, and part of the London Borough of Lambeth. It is situated southeast of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:...
, and was later buried with her father at Saint Nicholas Churchyard in Arundel
Arundel
Arundel is a market town and civil parish in the South Downs of West Sussex in the south of England. It lies south southwest of London, west of Brighton, and east of the county town of Chichester. Other nearby towns include Worthing east southeast, Littlehampton to the south and Bognor Regis to...
.
During Howard-Gibbon's time in Ontario, she created watercolor portraits and sketches of several friends and family members. In 1859, she sketched a children's alphabet book which she later gave to a friend, Martha Poussette. Many years later Poussette's family donated the book to the Toronto Children's Library. Finally published as An Illustrated Comic Alphabet (1966) by Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and Henry Z. Walck in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, it is the oldest known children's picture book by a Canadian artist.