Albert Newsam

Albert Newsam (May 20, 1809 – November 20, 1864) was an American lithographer and painter. He was born deaf in Steubenville, Ohio, and orphaned as a small child. He displayed artistic talent at an early age, was brought to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and studied at the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf. He was an early practitioner of lithography in the United States and contributed numerous images to medical and sheet music books. His portrait work of prominent politicians, doctors, lawyers and businessmen raised the prominence of lithography in the United States.

Early life and education Newsam was born in Steubenville, Ohio, on May 20, 1809, to William Newsam and an unknown mother. He was born deaf and orphaned when his father drowned when Newsam was a small child. He was taken in by a local hotel owner, Thomas Hamilton. Newsam displayed artistic talent at an early age through chalk and pencil sketches.

When Newsam was ten years old, a William P. Davis stayed at Harrison's hotel while passing through town and took note of Newsam's artistic talent. Davis portrayed himself as a fellow deaf mute and convinced Harrison that he would take Newsam and provide for him. Davis took Newsam to Philadelphia. He presented Newsam as his brother and capitalized on his artistic ability to collect charitable donations.

In Philadelphia, Newsam captured the attention of Bishop William White through a chalk drawing on a police box outside of the boarding house where he was staying. Bishop White was the president of the newly founded Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, and obtained a spot for Newsam at the school. Newsam attended from 1820 to 1826 as a ward of the state and trained under George Catlin. They began to implement lithography into the business and hired P.S. Duval from Europe to implement the technique. Newsam learned the technique of drawing upon stone from Duval and became renowned for his portraiture. Newsam's work was first published by Childs starting in 1829.

He created images for Thomas McKenney and James Hall for their book History of the Indian Tribes of North American. In 1859, Newsam suffered a stroke and one side of his body was paralyzed. This affected his ability to work, and ended his career. He had limited savings and he was hospitalized at the Blockley Almshouse until 1862. Friends were able to raise funds and move him to the Living Home for the Sick and Well near Wilmington, Delaware. He died on November 20, 1864, and was interred at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia. A collection of his prints is held by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.