John Albert Cavanagh was born on March 8, 1885 in Boston, Massachusetts according to his Massachusetts birth record (at Ancestry.com), World War I and II draft cards and Social Security application (at Ancestry.com). Many sources had the incorrect birth year 1888 which appeared on a 1946 copyright entry. Cavanagh’s parents were Sylvester G. Cavanagh, a shoemaker, and Rose G. Kelley, who married on November 25, 1880 in Needham, Massachusetts.
The Cavanagh family has not yet been found in the 1900 United States Census. A 1909 Boston directory listed Cavanagh, an artist, and his father at 1 Parkman Place. The residence column, as of May 1, 1908, said Cavanagh resided in New York, New York. Information about his art training is not available.
Cavanagh has not yet been found in the 1910 census. The 1915 New York state census counted Cavanagh (line 38), his wife, Katherine, and nine-year-old daughter, Estelle, in Manhattan at 140 West 105th Street. Cavanagh was an artist.
On September 12, 1918, Cavanagh signed his draft card. His address was 44 West 37th Street in Manhattan. The self-employed artist was described as medium height and build, with blue-gray eyes and dark brown hair.
According to the 1920 census, Cavanagh (line 30) was an artist in advertising. He and his wife resided in the Bronx at 2264 Creston Avenue.
Printers’ Ink, July 24, 1924, said
Form New Advertising Art BusinessCavanagh advertised in Printers’ Ink, September 4, 1924.
J. A. Bensinger and J. Albert Cavanagh, for the last five years members of the firm of, Cavanagh & Bensinger, Inc., advertising art, New York, have formed separate businesses at that city. Mr. Bensinger will continue under the name of Bensinger Studios. After August 1, Mr. Cavanagh will conduct a studio under his own name.
Printers’ Ink, October 23, 1924, said
G. P. Haynes with J. Albert CavanaghCavanagh advertised in Advertising and Selling Fortnightly, November 5, 1924.
G. P. Haynes, recently with Rusling Wood, New York, has joined J. Albert Cavanagh, advertising art, New York. Mr. Haynes was at one time art director with Calkins & Holden, Inc., advertising agency, New York.
Printers’ Ink, February 5, 1925, printed Cavanagh’s hand-lettered advertisement.
In the 1925 New York state census, Cavanagh and his wife were Pelham, New York residents at 153 Fifth Avenue.
Cavanagh and his wife vacationed in the Bahamas and returned home on January 19, 1926.
Printers’ Ink, January 28, 1926, said Cavanagh and Ben Nash gave a lecture about “The Principles of Hand-Lettering” at the Art Directors Club.
Cavanagh had an office in the Graybar Building.
Cavanagh has not yet been found in the 1930 census. For recreation Cavanagh played golf.
In the mid-1930s, Cavanagh had a school. In 1939 and 1947 he joined the faculty of Pratt Institute, in Brooklyn, New York, where he taught lettering. Cavanagh was a teacher at the Jean Morgan School of Art.
In 1939, Cavanagh published Lettering. The 1946 updated edition was published by Halcyon House. The 1955 Lettering and Alphabets was reprinted by Dover Publications.
The 1940 census said Cavanagh (line 32) and his wife lived in Mount Vernon, New York at 660 Locust Street. He was an art teacher.
The same address was on Cavanagh’s draft draft card which he signed on April 26, 1942.
Cavanagh passed away on July 20, 1947 in Boston. On July 22, 1947, the Boston Globe was first to publish an obituary.
Cavanagh—In Dorchester, July 20. John Albert, well-known artist. Residence, 232 East 40th st., New York city, New York. Beloved husband of Katherine (Wilson) Cavanagh and brother of Mrs. Eleanor Ryan of 62 Rockne av., Dorchester. Funeral from the chapel of James W. Dolan. Inc., 198 Adams st., Wednesday morning with a Requiem High Mass in St. Brendan’s Church at 10 a. m. Relatives and friends invited. Visiting hours 2 to 5 and 7 to 10. Vermont and New York papers please copy.The Brooklyn Eagle, July 25, 1947, said
J. Albert Cavanagh, Instructor at PrattThe New York Times, July 25, 1947, noted his death.
J. Albert Cavanagh, who for many years had been the director of the Cavanagh School of Art, 19 W. 44th St., Manhattan, and was an instructor in lettering at Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, died Sunday in Boston at the home of his sister Mrs. Eleanor G. Ryan. He had recently returned from a vacation in Maine.
Mr. Cavanagh was a member of the Art Directors Club and the Advertising Club of New York. His home was at 232 E. 40th St., Manhattan.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Katherine Cavanagh; a daughter, Mrs. W. H. Williams, and his sister.
The funeral was held Wednesday in Boston.
J. Albert Cavanagh of this city, advertising lettering artist who had a studio at 19 East [sic] Forty-fourth Street, died on Sunday Boston while visiting a sister. He was 61 years old.Cavanagh’s name and signature were in the Alphabet Thesaurus Nine Thousand (1960). His typefaces appeared on pages 195, 214, 220, 263, 325, 364, 368, 509, 511, 513, 521, 555, 577, 579, 587, 598, 610, 613, 642, 653, 662, 667, 693, 694, 703, 707, 709, 715 and 719.
Further Reading
Fonts in Use, John Albert Cavanagh
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(Next post on Monday: Victor Moscoso in Art Direction)
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