Catching the celestial ballot
Subject(s): Irish, Stereotype (Psychology), Stereotypes (Social psychology), Washington, George, 1732-1799
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Illustration showing two Irishmen discussing a portrait of George Washington. Caption: Clancy. — I wonder whoi Washington wore a pigtail? Casey. — Sure, oi dunno! Mebby Chinamin hod votes in thim days!
Comments and Context
The social references of 1900 occasionally require explication. Cartoonists and humorists of that era often depicted Irish immigrants as being unschooled and slow-witted. The greatest numbers of Irish immigrants to America came in the 1840s and between 1900 and 1910. The “pigtail” the characters in this cartoon observe on General Washington is linked in their minds to “Chinamen,” as many Chinese immigrants to the United States still wore pigtails, sandals, and gowns — all iconic to cartoonists. The caption’s reference (“Celestial”) refers to the Celestial Empire, or Tianchao, names for China then common in the West.
Collection
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Creation Date
1900-02-21
Creator(s)
Nankivell, Frank A. (Frank Arthur), 1869-1959
Period
Governor of New York (October 1898-1900)
Repository
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division
Page Count
1
Record Type
Image
Resource Type
Rights
These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
Catching the celestial ballot. [February 21, 1900]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o275412. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Nankivell, Frank A. (Frank Arthur), 1869-1959. Catching the celestial ballot. [21 Feb. 1900]. Image.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 5, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o275412.
APA:
Nankivell, Frank A. (Frank Arthur), 1869-1959., [1900, February 21]. Catching the celestial ballot.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o275412.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 5, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs.
APA:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs.
