Edward Williams Clay
Edward Williams Clay (April 17, 1799 – December 31, 1857) was an American artist, illustrator and political cartoonist. He created the notoriously racist collection of lithographs titled Life in Philadelphia. He was also a notable comic strip pioneer.
Also recorded as Edward W. Clay
Edward Williams Clay
Edward Williams Clay · Edited from the image http: at the Library of Congress website CALL NUMBER: PGA - Clay, Edward W.-Life in Philadelphia (A size) [P · Public domain
- Name
- Edward Williams Clay
- Born
- 17 April 1799
- Birthplace
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
- Died
- 31 December 1857
- Place of death
- New York City, New York, U.S.
- Known for
- Painting Illustration Printmaking
- Nationality
- United States
- Occupation
- lawyer · painter · illustrator · artist · printmaker
- Fields
- printmaking
- Education
- law school
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Documentary summary
Edward Williams Clay (April 17, 1799 – December 31, 1857) was an American artist, illustrator and political cartoonist. He created the notoriously racist collection of lithographs titled Life in Philadelphia. He was also a notable comic strip pioneer.
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Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q15532610 · wikipedia · Edward Williams Clay
In this article
Biography
Biography
Edward Williams Clay studied at law school. The field of work recorded is printmaking. Residence is recorded at Europe and Philadelphia. Positions recorded include Clerk of the Court of Chancery. Works named in the authority record are Life in Philadelphia. Work by Edward Williams Clay is recorded in the collections of Metropolitan Museum of Art, Print Collection and Het Scheepvaartmuseum.
During the 19th century, abolitionists and slaveholders were at odds over fugitive slave laws, which allowed slave owners to arrest alleged runaway slaves. The laws were sometimes exploited to kidnap falsely accused free blacks. Free states tried to protect escaped slaves by refusing to obey these laws. This print by E. W. Clay, an artist who published many proslavery cartoons, supports the Fugiti
Edward Williams Clay · This image is available from the United States Library of Congress 's Prints and Photographs division under the digital ID cph.3b36093. This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached
* Printmakers include W.J. Bennett, Henry Farrer, George Hayward, Sarony, Major Knapp and Thomas Kelah Wharton. Title from Calendar of Emmet Collection. EM11906 Statement of responsibility: J.A. Rolph
Drawn by Edward Williams Clay
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Edward Williams Clay • Born — 17 April 1799 • Birthplace — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. • Died — 31 December 1857 • Place of death — New York City, New York, U.S. • Resting Place — Christ Church Burial Ground • Known for — Painting Illustration Printmaking • Notable Works — Life in Philadelphia
Early life
Early life
In 1799, Edward Williams Clay was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His parents were Robert Clay and Eliza Williams. Robert Clay was a sea captain. He attended law school and as of 1825 was a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. He started working as an engraver while in law school. He quit his work in law and became a full-time artist.
Career
Career
From around 1825 until 1828 he studied art in Europe. Starting in 1828 until circa 1830 he drew and published Life in Philadelphia, which today, is seen as a "pointedly racist" depiction of early African American life in Philadelphia. Starting in 1831, he focused on political cartoons. That year, he created the work "The Rats Leaving a Falling House," about Andrew Jackson. In 1837, Clay relocated to New York City. He created illustrations and art for books, magazines, and sheet music.
Racial cartoons
Racial cartoons
• Life in Philadelphia (1828-1830) • "Road to Philadelphy," (ca. 1830-31), The Library Company of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Illustration — Life in Philadelphia (1829), plate 9 • Illustration — Life in Philadelphia (1829), plate 12 • Illustration — "Mr. T. Rice as the Original Jim Crow" (c.1832)
Political cartoons
Political cartoons
• Illustration — "The Rats Leaving a Falling House" (1831) • Illustration — "President Jackson Destroying the Second Bank of the United States" (1833) • Illustration — "The Times" (1837) • Illustration — "America" (1841)
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1799
Edward Williams Clay was born in 1799 at Philadelphia.
1857
Edward Williams Clay died in 1857 at New York City.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
- Europe, Philadelphia and New York City
Named but not plotted · 2
Philadelphia.
Birth place
New York City.
Death place
Death and legacy
While still living in New York, his eyesight started to deteriorate, and he stopping working as an artist. He moved to Delaware and served as Clerk of the Court of Chancery. He also worked as Clerk of the Orphan's Court until 1856. He died in New York City in 1857 of tuberculosis. He is buried in Philadelphia at Christ Church Burial Ground.
Primary material
Documents and archives
Institutional database
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q15532610: Edward Williams Clay
Scholarly · Wikimedia Foundation
reference work
- “Edward Williams Clay”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.The Library Company of Philadelphia. Clay, E. W. (Edward W.). Digital Collections.
- 2.University of Michigan. Edward W. Clay and "Life in Philadelphia". William L. Clements Library.
- 3.Edward Williams Clay. lambiek.net.
- 4.AskArt. Biography for Edward Clay. Edward Williams Clay (1799 - 1857).
- 5.World Digital Library. Road to Philadelphy. The Library Company of Philadelphia.
- 6.Library of Congress. America / E.W.C. Prints & Photographs Online Catalog.
- 7.The disappointed abolitionists. Library of Congress.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
Institutional database
Wikidata, structured authority record Q15532610: Edward Williams ClayWikimedia Foundation
Institutional witnessreference work
Secondary witness
Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
Edward Williams Clay worked in printmaking. Recorded position is Clerk of the Court of Chancery. He worked at Europe, Philadelphia and New York City. Recorded as lawyer, painter, illustrator, artist and printmaker.
Career and activity
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Prints
4,138 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Edward SlocombeEngraver
- Edward Tracy TurnerelliEngraver
- Edward WadsworthEngraver
- Edward WellerEngraver
- Edwin Davis FrenchEngraver
- Edwin EdwardsEngraver
- Edwin GrienauerEngraver
- Edwin La DellEngraver
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