‘Millions of Cats,’ oldest American picture book still in print, and its famous NYC author being honored at the Whitney

Angela Barbuti
composite image of nyc artist wanda gag with an inset of the cover of millions of cast
composite image of nyc artist wanda gag with an inset of the cover of millions of cast

It’s the cat’s meow.

“Millions of Cats,” the oldest American picture book still in print, and its author, the late Wanda Gág, are getting their day in the sun at the Whitney Museum of American Art.

Nearly a century later, the history-making 1928 title will be read by librarians at the museum on Sunday, part of the Whitney’s program Story Time with NYPL, which offers free story times on the second Sunday of every month.

The Whitney’s exhibit will focus on Gág, seen here in 1932. Robert Janssen – Kerlan Collection University of Minnesota
The Whitney’s exhibit will focus on Gág, seen here in 1932. Robert Janssen – Kerlan Collection University of Minnesota
“Millions of Cats” is the oldest American picture book still in print.
“Millions of Cats” is the oldest American picture book still in print.

The Whitney is currently running the exhibition Wanda Gág’s World to showcase the work of the famed Manhattan artist, author, and illustrator, who died in 1946 at the age of 53.

“The Whitney has a large collection of prints by Wanda Gág, but we actually haven’t shown any of her work here since the mid-1990s, so it’s been nearly 30 years,” Roxanne Smith, senior curatorial assistant at the Whitney, told The Post.

“And we thought that we had such a treasure trove of works by her that we could put together a small survey to represent her career.”

The Whitney has not displayed Gág’s work since the 1990s. The Whitney Museum
The Whitney has not displayed Gág’s work since the 1990s. The Whitney Museum
Gág, in December 1916, with a palette and paintbrush. Kerlan Collection, University of Minnesota
Gág, in December 1916, with a palette and paintbrush. Kerlan Collection, University of Minnesota

Gág was pioneering in other ways too. For one, she took on multiple lovers, Smith, who curated the collection with the Whitney’s curatorial fellow Scout Hutchinson, learned during their research.

“She only got married when she was 50 years old, and she only lived until 53. She was with the same man for many decades, Earle Humphreys [her business manager]. But she had lovers in between and was very upfront about that,” Smith explained.

“She lived, I would say, a bohemian and creative life in all ways, and very much identified as a feminist, and didn’t feel it necessary to be married.”

The museum, located on Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District, has a first-edition copy of “Millions of Cats,” which won a Newbery Honor award in 1929, on display on its seventh floor.

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