Madeline Corderman
Rose O’Neill was an artist born in Wilkes-Barr, Pennsylvania on June 25, 1874. As a child, O’Neill was interested in painting and drawing. Her career as an artist began at thirteen after winning first prize in a drawing contest. Two judges from the contest asked O’Neill to make art for their newspapers. This job allowed O’Neill to support her family and improve her skills.
When she was nineteen, O’Neill relocated to New York City with the aspiration of selling her artwork and pursuing a career as a writer. She brought sixty pieces to sell while traveling. She gained both money and the attention of local publishers looking for artists. In 1896 her first comic strip was published in an issue of Truth magazine. This made her the first American woman to publish a comic strip. One year later she earned a job with a popular humor magazine called Puck. O’Neill was the only female employee working for Puck at that time.
O’Neill’s most popular creations were fairy characters named Kewpies. They are well known for their baby-like appearance: large eyes, pink cheeks, and round bodies. Their first appearance was in a comic strip released in Ladies’ Home Journal in 1909. Four years later, Kewpie dolls were released. Demand for the dolls quickly rose, and O’Neill earned a small fortune. She purchased many properties, including her father’s land in the Ozark region. The homestead was named Bonniebrook. Her money was also used to build a home for her nephew in Springfield, Missouri, which still stands today.
O’Neill also applied her creativity to social movements. Kewpies were shown in illustrations promoting women’s right to vote in elections. Women involved in this movement were known as suffragettes. O’Neill joined the suffragette movement in 1915 with her sister, Callista. After many years of protests, the 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920. The addition of the 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote.
In her later years, O’Neill delved into sculpture and painting, in addition to penning numerous novels and children’s books. However, during the Great Depression, Kewpies experienced a decline in their fame. O’Neill ultimately passed away in 1944 at her nephew’s residence in Springfield, Missouri.
Rose O’Neill’s contributions to women’s rights and art are still celebrated today. In 2019 she was added to the National Women’s Hall of Fame. Businessman Toichiro Nakashima was inspired by the Kewpie image. The Kewpie Corporation, founded by Nakashima, makes the best-selling mayonnaise in Japan.