Father Knickerbocker shows his appreciation of his best all-around citizen
Subject(s): Awards, Hewitt, Abram S. (Abram Stevens), 1822-1903, Medals, New York (State)
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Father Knickerbocker, a symbolic figure for New York City, places a medal on Abram S. Hewitt in honor of his “Good Citizenship.”
Comments and Context
The specific occasion of this cartoon was to join the New York City Chamber of Commerce in its honoring of Abram S. Hewitt with a gold medal on his 78th birthday. The theme of their praise was Hewitt’s pioneering work in designing and building New York’s first underground rail system. However his accomplishments were many: industrialist, railroad builder, philanthropist, member of Congress, mayor of New York City, and benefactor of Cooper Union, the Cooper-Hewitt Museum, and the American Museum of Natural History. He was the son-in-law of industrialist and civic reformer Peter Cooper, a friend of Theodore Roosevelt’s father. The paths of Hewitt and the future President Roosevelt crossed in other ways: when young Theodore ran for New York City mayor in 1886, Hewitt was the Democratic (and unsuccessful) candidate. A third-party candidate, Socialist Henry George, placed second. Hewitt was also an investor in Badlands cattle businesses when Roosevelt had his ranches there, although the elderly patrician Hewitt never rode the range.
Collection
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Creation Date
1901-10-23
Creator(s)
Period
U.S. President – 1st Term (September 1901-February 1905)
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:
Father Knickerbocker shows his appreciation of his best all-around citizen. [October 23, 1901]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o276159. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956. Father Knickerbocker shows his appreciation of his best all-around citizen. [23 Oct. 1901]. Image.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 12, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o276159.
APA:
Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956., [1901, October 23]. Father Knickerbocker shows his appreciation of his best all-around citizen.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o276159.
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 12, 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.
