Santa Claus and His Works

This rollicking rhyming story about Santa Claus was written by George P. Webster and illustrated by the great Thomas Nast. Originally published in 1869 by McLoughlin Brothers of New York, the story tells of Santa's year-round work making toys for all the good little boys and girls around the world. Beloved story details like flying reindeer, Santa's toy sack, and filled stockings, as well as Nast's depiction of Santa as a fat and jolly little elf are all familiar elements for readers of today.

Called the "Father of the American Cartoon," Thomas Nast (1840-1902) was an influential caricaturist and political cartoonist. Remembered for his Civil War illustrations in Harper's Weekly, Nast's political cartoons were also instrumental in the downfall of Boss Tweed and the election of President Ulysses S. Grant. He solidified America's picture of Santa Claus by portraying him as a round, twinkly, elfin figure, which he based on descriptions in Washington Irving's writings and Clement Moore's poem "The Night Before Christmas." Nast also popularized the donkey as a symbol representing the Democratic Party and the elephant as a Republican Party symbol.

Active from 1828 to 1920, the New York publishing firm McLoughlin Brothers pioneered color printing techniques for children's books. They specialized in retellings of classic children's stories and helped popularize illustrators like Thomas Nast, William Momberger, and Justin H. Howard.