• Entry type: Person
  • Entry ID: AWE3692

Gibbs, Cecilia May

(1877 – 1969)
  • Born 17 January, 1877, Sydenham Kent United Kingdom
  • Died 27 November, 1969, Sydney New South Wales Australia
  • Occupation Author, Illustrator

Summary

May Gibbs emigrated with her family to South Australia in 1881. She studied art in London, but returned to live in Perth, where she worked for the Western Mail. She moved to Sydney in 1913. Gibbs became known for her witty illustrations and her work was in demand. The first in her famous bush babies series, Gumnut Babies, was published in 1916. Snugglepot and Cuddlepie followed in 1918. Her cartoon strip, ‘Bib and Bub’, appeared in the Sydney Sunday News from 1925, while a second strip, ‘Tiggy Touchwood’, was published in the Sunday Sun under the pseudonym of Stan Cottman. May Gibbs was appointed MBE in 1955.

Published resources

  • Resource Section
  • Resource
  • Edited Book
    • 200 Australian Women: A Redress Anthology, Radi, Heather, 1988
  • Book
    • May Gibbs, Mother of the Gumnuts, Walsh, Maureen, 2007
    • The May Gibbs Collection, Walsh, Maureen, 1985
    • About Us, Gibbs, May, 1912, https://search.sl.nsw.gov.au/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=SLNSW_ALMA2198505170002626&context=L&vid=SLNSW&tab=default_tab&lang=en_US
    • Alphabet Book, Gibbs, May, 1992
    • Bib and Bub in Gumnut Town, Gibbs, May, 1929
    • Bib and Bub: Their Adventures, Gibbs, May, 1925
    • Boronia Babies, Gibbs, May, 1919
    • Gumnut Babies, Gibbs, May, 2001
    • Chucklebud and Wunkydoo, Gibbs, May, 1924
    • The Complete Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, Gibbs, May, 1942
    • Flannel Flowers and Other Bush Babies, Gibbs, May, 1921
    • The Further Adventures of Bib and Bub, Gibbs, May, 1927
    • Gum Blossom Babies, Gibbs, May, 1916
    • Little Obelia, and further adventures of Ragged Blossom, Snugglepot & Cuddlepie, Gibbs, May, 1921
    • The Magic of May Gibbs, Gibbs, May, 2008
    • More Funny Stories, Gibbs, May, 1928
    • Mr and Mrs Bear and Friends, Gibbs, May, 1943
    • Nuttybub and Nittersing, Gibbs, May, 1923
    • Prince Dande Lion: A Garden Whim-Wham, Gibbs, May, 1953
    • Scotty in Gumnut Land, Gibbs, May, 1941
    • Wattle Babies, Gibbs, May, 1918
  • Videorecording
    • An Interview with May Gibbs, Walsh, Maureen, 1986
  • Site Exhibition