Jane Allen Boyer

Jane Allen Boyer, an illustrator for several charming WWI era books aimed at girls, lived in Riverton.

Her 1940 obituary gives a fuller explanation of her life in Riverton where “…she was most active in its church, club, and social life.”

Her considerable accomplishments as a member of Christ Church, the Porch Club, the Red Cross, the Cinnaminson Home Board of Managers, and the Welfare Association of Riverton and Cinnaminson certainly helped improve the well-being of the Borough’s citizens.

Several of the books she illustrated are online at Project Gutenberg where you can read every page of each illustrated book. There are even Kindle versions.

A sampling of some of her endearing artwork follows:

illustration – Mary Frances Cook Book

Policeman’s Motto – Our Town and Civic Duty

Fireman’s Motto – Our Town and Civic Duty

firecracker dangers – Mary Frances First Aid Book

Postman’s Motto – Our Town and Civic Duty

sailor – Our Town and Civic Duty

illustration – Mary Frances Sewing Book

soldier – Our Town and Civic Duty

mouse – Mary Frances Cook Book

Jane Allen Boyer postcard 1909 On the Way to Meeting, side 1

While abebooks.com has a used hardcover copy of The Mary Frances Sewing Book for sale for $225, at least three of Boyer’s books (Cook Book, Knitting & Crocheting, and Sewing) now live on as 100th-year anniversary paperback editions for sale on Amazon for $19.99-$21.95 each.

This image from the auction site invaluable.com depicts a sold oil on canvas work by Jane Allen Boyer.

By the way… our historical society does not have any of the items pictured here. Even the New Era obit is a screen capture from our digital newspaper archive.

If a reader can fill in a bit more about the life and work of this Riverton artist, or favor us with a donated item, please contact us. -JMc, Editor