Florence K. Upton
(1873 - 1922)

The author of famous Golliwogg series was born to English parents in the United States. She went to England when she was about twenty and lived there for the rest of her life. She cooperated with her mother Bertha Upton and together they created a series of picture books. Bertha wrote the text and Florence was responsible for illustrations. In 1895 their first famous work appeared, The Adventures of two Dutch Dolls and a 'Golliwogg' (a simple story about two wooden dolls shocked by a horrible figure - Golliwogg). Florence's mother went back to the United States before the book was published but she went on writing the verses and sending them to her daughter. The sequel followed, The Golliwogg's Bicycle Club (1896). The series was being published until 1909 and had a great success among children (one of the admirers was the future British art historian Kenneth Clark).

Oddly enough, they did not copyright their idea about 'Golliwogg'. Hard luck they could have made a fortune. 'Golliwogg' became phenomena and the figure was to be found almost everywhere (games, wallpapers, greeting cards etc.). Something comparable with the hysteria about Harry Potter or Pokemon.

When Florence Upton died, she was buried near to her home in Hampstead. On her grave were engraved the words Florence Upton: Creator of the famed Golliwogg.

The Books