Urban Couch

Professor Emeritus Donates Toy Soldier Collection

     In the early 1930's, Urban Couch bought his first toy soldier from a dime store in downtown Minneapolis. That soldier, which cost 10 cents, was the first of many purchases that would eventually form a collection of more than 1,600 toy soldiers and other miniature figures.

     After gathering this collection over several decades, Couch, a Professor Emeritus from West Virginia University's art department, recently donated his toy soldiers to the West Virginia and Regional History Collection. Most of the figures in the assemblage are military replicas made from lead, but other pieces represent civilians, including a London "bobby," Victorian ladies in elaborate dresses and farm laborers working with a tractor and crane.

     The civilians in the collection are colorful and charming, but the military figures are even more striking. Among the most vivid soldiers are the Bengal Lancers, the Scottish Highlanders, the Sudanese Dervishes and Prince Albert's Hussars.

Patterned after armies that existed in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the toy soldiers' uniforms are remarkably detailed. Buttons gleam and sashes are perfectly positioned as these members of the cavalry and infantry attend to their duties. Some carry rifles, swords or flags, while others sit astride their noble steeds.      Complete with accoutrements such as wooden barrels and crates, bulldog mascots and mules carrying wagon wheels and ammunition, this colorful army of stalwart soldiers enhances the West Virginia and Regional History Collection's diverse holdings.

John Cuthbert, curator of the West Virginia and Regional History collection, and WVU Professor Emeritus Urban Couch discuss pieces from a collection of iron soldiers Couch donated to the WVRHC.

     "Like all museum artifacts, these characters, the forerunners of today's 'action figures,' capture the imagination and invite us to delve deeper into history," said John Cuthbert, WVRHC curator. "They add a wonderful new dimension to the WVU Libraries special collection."

     This article was written for Ex Libris by Kathleen Kennedy, a library associate. Kennedy goes more in depth with the toy soldier donation in an article to appear in an upcoming newsletter for the West Virginia and Regional History Collection.

Ex Libris is published quarterly by the WVU Libraries
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