Grace Drayton

If you’ve ever been to an antique shop and seen posters, postcards, or old ads of little, cherubic-faced children standing around Campbell Soup cans, then you’ve seen the work of Grace Drayton. Ms. Drayton actually created the Campbell Soup Kids in 1904, which kicked off a highly successful and visible commercial campaign.

During this time, her efforts weren’t only focused on the Campbell Company’s needs. She also worked on syndicated comic strips for Hearst Publishing (the very first female cartoonist to do so.). Memorable strips include the much praised Dolly Dimples as well as Naughty Toodles and The Turr’ble Tales of Kaptin Kiddo (how’s that for a mouthful?).

Her sister Margaret Hayes (1874-1925) was a writer and collaborated on Drayton’s work. Grace, in turn, illustrated some of her sister’s books.

Talent, it seems, ran in the family.

Grace Drayton (Oct. 14, 1878 – Jan. 31, 1936)