Communications

WANN Microphone

Tools of communication have transformed American society time and again over the past two centuries. The Museum has preserved many instruments of these changes, from printing presses to personal digital assistants.

The collections include hundreds of artifacts from the printing trade and related fields, including papermaking equipment, wood and metal type collections, bookbinding tools, and typesetting machines. Benjamin Franklin is said to have used one of the printing presses in the collection in 1726.

More than 7,000 objects chart the evolution of electronic communications, including the original telegraph of Samuel Morse and Alexander Graham Bell's early telephones. Radios, televisions, tape recorders, and the tools of the computer age are part of the collections, along with wireless phones and a satellite tracking system.

Resource Type: Drawings

Camera-ready comic art drawing for Marmaduke

This pen-and-ink drawing produced for the Marmaduke single-panel daily comic strip shows the Great Dane upset because Phil Winslow, his owner, has put ice in his daughter Barbara’s water, but not in his own water.Brad Anderson (1924- ) began his career as a comic artist selling s
Description (Brief)
This pen-and-ink drawing produced for the Marmaduke single-panel daily comic strip shows the Great Dane upset because Phil Winslow, his owner, has put ice in his daughter Barbara’s water, but not in his own water.
Brad Anderson (1924- ) began his career as a comic artist selling some of his cartoon art to an aviation magazine while still in high school. After college and four years' service in the U.S. Navy, Anderson began working in advertising and prepared freelance drawings for magazine cartoons in 1953. His creation Marmaduke was debuted in newspapers across the country in 1954. Today Anderson continues to draw Marmaduke with the help of his son.
Marmaduke (1954- ) is a newspaper daily panel and Sunday comic strip. The title character is a Great Dane belonging to the Winslow family, including husband and wife, Phil and Dottie, and two children, Barbara and Billy. The running theme involves the human characteristics of the title character, which contribute to the household's general unease and confusion.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1963-04-22
graphic artist
Anderson, Brad
maker
United Feature Syndicate, Inc.
ID Number
2010.0081.009
accession number
2010.0081
catalog number
2010.0081.009

Warrior Killing a Soldier

Unknown artist, about 1894“Cheyenne Picture. Warrior Killing a Soldier.”Ink and watercolorThis drawing shows the victory of a Cheyenne warrior over a U.S. Army soldier.
Description
Unknown artist, about 1894
“Cheyenne Picture. Warrior Killing a Soldier.”
Ink and watercolor
This drawing shows the victory of a Cheyenne warrior over a U.S. Army soldier. The artist depicts the warrior counting coup on his enemy by touching the fallen soldier with his riding whip (quirt). Counting coup - in this instance touching an adversary in battle - was considered an act of bravery that could gain war honors. This single event took place during a larger battle against many adversaries, as indicated by the large number of rifles at the left.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1875
date made
ca 1894
original artist
unknown
ID Number
GA.08111
accession number
1897.031963
catalog number
GA*08111
accession number
1897.31963

Woman at table, Sloppy Joe's

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1935
Artist
Miller, Benjamin
Associated Name
Bernard, Allen W.
maker
Miller, Benjamin
ID Number
2016.0084.119
accession number
2016.0084
catalog number
2016.0084.119

Cheyenne Pictures. Warrior Killing a Soldier

Unknown artist, about 1894“Cheyenne Pictures. Standing Elk’s Horse Killed in Fight with Troops.”Pencil, ink, and watercolorThe central focus of this image is a wounded horse, bleeding from head and rump, being fired on by U.S. troops at the right.
Description
Unknown artist, about 1894
“Cheyenne Pictures. Standing Elk’s Horse Killed in Fight with Troops.”
Pencil, ink, and watercolor
The central focus of this image is a wounded horse, bleeding from head and rump, being fired on by U.S. troops at the right. Standing Elk, with his name glyph above him, has dismounted and appears to be safe from the rifle shots. The suggestion of concern by the warrior indicates the high value placed on horses by Plains tribesmen.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1894
original artist
unknown
ID Number
GA.08112
catalog number
GA*08112
accession number
1897.031963

Camera-ready comic panel, entitled Laugh It Off

Laugh It Off was a comic panel series created by New Yorker cartoonist Sydney "Syd" Hoff (1912-2004) and distributed by King Features Syndicate from 1957 to 1971. The panels often illustrated funny moments or situations people find themselves in on a daily basis.
Description
Laugh It Off was a comic panel series created by New Yorker cartoonist Sydney "Syd" Hoff (1912-2004) and distributed by King Features Syndicate from 1957 to 1971. The panels often illustrated funny moments or situations people find themselves in on a daily basis. In this panel, a boss addresses one of his workers that is putting on his jacket to leave: "I don't mind you leaving early to avoid the traffic rush, Folsom, but it itsn't even noon yet."
Location
Currently not on view
date made
8/10/1966
08/10/1966
graphic artist
Hoff, Syd
publisher
King Features Syndicate
ID Number
GA.22346
catalog number
22346
accession number
277502

On the Lookout for Game

Koba, aka Wild Horse,drawn between 1875 and 1878 at Fort Marion, Florida"On the Lookout for Game"Collected by Richard Henry Pratt about 1878Colored pencil, ink, and watercolorThis illustration by Koba shows a band of Kiowa traveling to the right.
Description
Koba, aka Wild Horse,
drawn between 1875 and 1878 at Fort Marion, Florida
"On the Lookout for Game"
Collected by Richard Henry Pratt about 1878
Colored pencil, ink, and watercolor
This illustration by Koba shows a band of Kiowa traveling to the right. Both men and women carry various supplies, bow and quiver cases, rifles, and umbrellas (a popular trade item). The route of the band is imaged using dashes on the ground. A scout keeps a lookout on the highest hill. The Kiowa hunt on foot, in the old way, though they use both old and new weapons.
date made
ca 1875-1878
original artist
Koba
ID Number
2008.0175.58
accession number
2008.0175
catalog number
2008.0175.058

Camera-ready comic strip, entitled "Blue Chips".

"Blue Chips", drawn by Morrie Brickman (1917-1994), is based on stock traders and their dealings with the economic uncertainties of the times. This was a precursor to Brickman's most famous cartoon, "The Small Society", which deals with money, politics, and national issues.
Description
"Blue Chips", drawn by Morrie Brickman (1917-1994), is based on stock traders and their dealings with the economic uncertainties of the times. This was a precursor to Brickman's most famous cartoon, "The Small Society", which deals with money, politics, and national issues. In this strip, Pigeon gets advice from his advisor, Bartlett.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
9/24/1966
graphic artist
Brickman, Morrie
publisher
King Features Syndicate
ID Number
GA.22357
catalog number
22357
accession number
277502

Camera-ready comic strip, entitled "All-Stars: Sandy".

Al Liederman (aka Leeds) drew cartoons over a forty-year period, including a stint as assistant artist on Marvel's "Captain America". During his early career and towards the end of his career, Liederman created sports-themed and editorial cartoons, including "Li'l Leaguer".
Description
Al Liederman (aka Leeds) drew cartoons over a forty-year period, including a stint as assistant artist on Marvel's "Captain America". During his early career and towards the end of his career, Liederman created sports-themed and editorial cartoons, including "Li'l Leaguer". In this strip, a baseball player figures out that the base coach is just swatting a bee, not giving a signal to the batter.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
09/03/1966
graphic artist
Liederman, Al
publisher
United Feature Syndicate, Inc.
ID Number
GA.22412
catalog number
22412
accession number
277502

Camera-ready comic art drawing for Judge Parker

This pen-and-ink drawing produced for the Judge Parker comic strip shows Charles holding Casandra Canabar and Randy Parker hostage, telling them to report to the police that the emergency call had been a false alarm.Harold Anthony LeDoux (1926-2015) moved to New York City after W
Description (Brief)
This pen-and-ink drawing produced for the Judge Parker comic strip shows Charles holding Casandra Canabar and Randy Parker hostage, telling them to report to the police that the emergency call had been a false alarm.
Harold Anthony LeDoux (1926-2015) moved to New York City after World War II and began drawing for the Famous Funnies comic books. In 1953 he began assisting Dan Heilman on the comic strip Judge Parker. LeDoux took over the strip after Heilman's death in 1965 and retired in 2006.
Judge Parker (1952- ) was created by psychiatrist and writer Nick Dallis. Dallis invited Dan Heilman, who had previously assisted on Buz Sawyer and Mary Worth,to be the artist for Judge Parker. The title character was a widower with two children, who later married a younger woman. Originally written as an attractive crime-fighting character, Parker had by the 1960s become more conservative and sedate while the younger attorney, Sam Driver, became more central to the cast, along with his client and girlfriend, Abby, and her two children.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1966-08-21
graphic artist
LeDoux, Harold
publisher
Publishers Newspapers Syndicate, Inc.
ID Number
GA.22570
catalog number
22570
accession number
277502

Camera-ready drawing, entitled Mary Worth

Mary Worth, also titled Mary Worth's Family during the early 1940s, was famously drawn by Ken Ernst and written by Allen Saunders during the 1960s-1980s. It continues to be distributed by King Features Syndicate, although with new artists and writers.
Description
Mary Worth, also titled Mary Worth's Family during the early 1940s, was famously drawn by Ken Ernst and written by Allen Saunders during the 1960s-1980s. It continues to be distributed by King Features Syndicate, although with new artists and writers. The strip features the title character Mary, a former teacher and widow, in a soap-opera style storyline including the drama surrounding her apartment house neighbors. This is an original drawing of Mary Worth by Ernst.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
undated
graphic artist
Ernst, Ken
author
Saunders, John Allen
ID Number
GA.22500
catalog number
22500
accession number
277502

Camera-ready comic art drawing for Popeye

This pen-and-ink drawing was prepared for the comic strip Thimble Theatre, Starring Popeye. Popeye is shown talking about his move to his new house, which has everything he could ever need.
Description (Brief)
This pen-and-ink drawing was prepared for the comic strip Thimble Theatre, Starring Popeye. Popeye is shown talking about his move to his new house, which has everything he could ever need. The last panel reveals the house to be next to a spinach factory.
Forrest Cowles "Bud" Sagendorf (1915-1994) started his cartoonist career in 1931 as an assistant to E. C. Segar for the comic strips Thimble Theatre and Sappo. After Segar’s death in 1938, Sagendorf was asked to continue drawing any material that featured the character Popeye, who had been a part of the Thimble Theatre cast since 1929. Over the next few decades, Sagendorf wrote and drew Popeye for Dell Comic Books, and eventually took over the entire Thimble Theatre strip in 1959. In the mid-1980s Sagendorf’s eyesight began to fail and he left the daily strip, but continued to draw the Sunday strip until his death in 1994.
Popeye (1929-1994, dailies, continuing Sundays) was originally a component of E. C. Segar’s Thimble Theatre comic strip. The character Popeye was first introduced when Castor Oyl and Ham Gravy were traveling overseas, and happened upon the sailor while they were lost. The character Popeye became popular and eventually a regular cast member. Later, in the 1970s, the strip was renamed for him. One of the biggest turning points in the strip was Ham Gravy's replacement by Popeye as a love interest for Castor Oyl’s sister, Olive. Gradually, other characters such as Wimpy and Swee’Pea were made more central to the cast. The Popeye character was adapted to films in the 1930s. Newspapers have been publishing reprints of Sagendorf’s dailies since 1994, but the Sunday Popeye strip is still drawn regularly.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1965-01-10
graphic artist
Sagendorf, Bud
publisher
King Features Syndicate
ID Number
GA.22425
catalog number
22425
accession number
277502

Portrait of Henry M. Phillips

Stephen Ferris signed and dated this pencil portrait in 1876.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Stephen Ferris signed and dated this pencil portrait in 1876.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1876
original artist
Ferris, Stephen James
ID Number
GA.16663
catalog number
16663
accession number
119780

Portrait of Gerome Ferris

Stephen Ferris drew his young son in pencil on January 20, 1868. Gerome would have been about five.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Stephen Ferris drew his young son in pencil on January 20, 1868. Gerome would have been about five.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1868-01-20
original artist
Ferris, Stephen James
ID Number
GA.16654
catalog number
16654
accession number
119780

Camera-ready comic strip, entitled "Debbie Deere".

"Debbie Deere", the first newspaper comic strip created and drawn by Frank Bolle (b. 1924), was published from 1966 to 1969 by McNaught Syndicate. Debbie is a newspaper advice columnist, who is continually involved in the drama of her fans.
Description
"Debbie Deere", the first newspaper comic strip created and drawn by Frank Bolle (b. 1924), was published from 1966 to 1969 by McNaught Syndicate. Debbie is a newspaper advice columnist, who is continually involved in the drama of her fans. Although the strip was short lived, it allowed Bolle to gain recognition as a comic strip artist; he went on to draw five other strips including "Winnie Winkle". In this strip, Mr. Boyd, Debbie's boss, criticizes her writing.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
07/15/1966
graphic artist
Bolle, Frank
publisher
McNaught Syndicate, Inc.
ID Number
GA.22556
catalog number
22556
accession number
277502

Camera-ready comic strip, entitled Muggs and Skeeter

Muggs and Skeeter, also published under the title Muggs McGinnis from 1927 until 1936, was created and drawn by Wallace "Wally" Bishop (1906-1982). The strip was distributed by King Features Syndicate from 1927 until 1974.
Description
Muggs and Skeeter, also published under the title Muggs McGinnis from 1927 until 1936, was created and drawn by Wallace "Wally" Bishop (1906-1982). The strip was distributed by King Features Syndicate from 1927 until 1974. The comic strip featured two boys, Muggs and Skeeter, and their adventures in boyhood (and teenage-boyhood). In this strip, Muggs and Skeeter are disappointed because they were not invited to Suzie's party.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
9/7/1966
08/22/1966
graphic artist
Bishop, Wally
publisher
King Features Syndicate
ID Number
GA.22440
catalog number
22440
accession number
277502

Camera-ready comic art drawing for Brenda Starr

This pen-and-ink drawing produced for the Brenda Starr comic strip shows Brenda engaging in deception in order to investigate her story, while using her colleague Kelly as her agent.Dalia "Dale" Messick (1906-2005), a female comic artist, changed her name from Dalia in order to b
Description (Brief)
This pen-and-ink drawing produced for the Brenda Starr comic strip shows Brenda engaging in deception in order to investigate her story, while using her colleague Kelly as her agent.
Dalia "Dale" Messick (1906-2005), a female comic artist, changed her name from Dalia in order to be recognized for her work, and to fit societal norms. The strip about an adventurous female reporter was debuted in 1940. Its popularity came with industry criticism, particularly from women journalists who reacted to the artist's embellishments of the profession. Nonetheless Messick produced the strip until 1980 and then began developing other comic strips for local publications in California.
Brenda Starr (1940-2011) was a comic strip that portrayed the life of a contemporary female newspaper reporter. The title character was shown in adventurous stories at work and at home. She participated in persistent journalism and dramatic romances. After many years Brenda married her periodical love interest, Basil St. John. The story was eventually recreated as a television movie in 1976 and as a film in 1992.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1951-05-07
graphic artist
Messick, Dale
publisher
Tribune Printing Company
ID Number
2010.0081.369
accession number
2010.0081
catalog number
2010.0081.369

Camera-ready comic panel, entitled Let's Explore Your Mind

Let's Explore Your Mind was a 1950s comic panel created by Bill Lignante (b. 1925), who later became a major artist for ABC News. The comic was created to get readers to critically think.
Description
Let's Explore Your Mind was a 1950s comic panel created by Bill Lignante (b. 1925), who later became a major artist for ABC News. The comic was created to get readers to critically think. In this panel, Lignante asks, "Does a person's physical build reveal his personality?"
Location
Currently not on view
date made
08/16/unknown year
original artist
Lignante, Bill
ID Number
GA.22535
catalog number
22535
accession number
277502

Portrait of Señorita Matilde Gadia

The signed pencil portrait of Señorita Gadia was made in Granada, Spain, during Ferris’s 1881 visit. See also GA*16669 for another member of the family.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
The signed pencil portrait of Señorita Gadia was made in Granada, Spain, during Ferris’s 1881 visit. See also GA*16669 for another member of the family.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1881
original artist
Ferris, Stephen James
ID Number
GA.16675
catalog number
16675
accession number
119780

Camera-ready comic page, entitled "Another Edison Questionnaire".

John T. McCutcheon (1870-1949) was a Pulitzer-Prize winning cartoonist, known for his political cartoons. In this comic, three panels depict critical thinking questions. On reverse, two copies of the panel scenes feature Edison-related questions typed beneath.
Description
John T. McCutcheon (1870-1949) was a Pulitzer-Prize winning cartoonist, known for his political cartoons. In this comic, three panels depict critical thinking questions. On reverse, two copies of the panel scenes feature Edison-related questions typed beneath. Under panel 1, "Who will survive in a group?", under 2, "What is the quickest ocean voyage?" and under 3, "Is a high pressure salesman successful?"
Location
Currently not on view
date made
08/02/1930
original artist
McCutcheon, John T.
publisher
Tribune Printing Company
ID Number
GA.24200
catalog number
24200
accession number
1976.320859

Camera-ready comic page, entitled "A Boy, Unknown a Month Ago..."

John T. McCutcheon (1870-1949) was a Pulitzer-Prize winning cartoonist, known for his political cartoons and fascination with technology, particularly aviation. In this comic page, the artist depicts the scene of "Broadcasting to the Nation from the Washington Monument in D.C.
Description
John T. McCutcheon (1870-1949) was a Pulitzer-Prize winning cartoonist, known for his political cartoons and fascination with technology, particularly aviation. In this comic page, the artist depicts the scene of "Broadcasting to the Nation from the Washington Monument in D.C. for President Coolidge." In the foreground, various groups, delegates, soldiers, etc. are in attendance. On reverse, "A Boy, Unknown a Month ago, is about to receive the greatest ovation ever accorded a Private citizen, June 11, 1927." This was in reference to Charles Lindbergh receiving the first Distinguished Flying Cross ever awarded.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
06/11/1927
original artist
McCutcheon, John T.
publisher
Tribune Printing Company
ID Number
GA.24191
catalog number
24191
accession number
1976.320859

Portrait of Miss Drysdale

Signed pencil drawing made in 1883Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Signed pencil drawing made in 1883
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1883
original artist
Ferris, Stephen James
ID Number
GA.16672
catalog number
16672
accession number
119780

Camera-ready comic page, entitled Life's Like That

Life’s Like That, created and drawn by Fred Neher (1903-2001), was distributed by Bell-McClure Syndicate and later the United Features Syndicate, from 1934 until 1977. The comic was a gag panel about everyday life.
Description
Life’s Like That, created and drawn by Fred Neher (1903-2001), was distributed by Bell-McClure Syndicate and later the United Features Syndicate, from 1934 until 1977. The comic was a gag panel about everyday life. This comic page features characters such as Golde, Some Punkins and Will-Yum.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
09/04/1966
graphic artist
Neher, Fred
publisher
Bell-McClure Syndicate
ID Number
GA.22423
catalog number
22423
accession number
277502

Camera-ready comic strip, entitled "Donald Duck".

The Walt Disney character Donald Duck debuted in 1934 in a comic strip entitled "Wise Little Hen" which was published in the Silly Symphonies comic strip series.
Description
The Walt Disney character Donald Duck debuted in 1934 in a comic strip entitled "Wise Little Hen" which was published in the Silly Symphonies comic strip series. Donald debuted in his own "Donald Duck" black and white daily comic strip on Febuary 7, 1938 and in 1939 he had his own Sunday color comic strip. Al Taliaferro (1905-1969) drew the majority of the strips until the late 1960s, which were distributed by King Features Syndicate. In this strip, Donald attempts to karate chop a board to impress his nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie. However, he ends up with a big splinter in his hand.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
08/11/1966
graphic artist
Disney, Walt
publisher
Walt Disney Productions
graphic artist
Taliaferro, Al
author
Karp, Bob
ID Number
GA.22409
catalog number
22409
accession number
277502

Camera-ready comic strip, entitled Little Lulu

Little Lulu, created in 1935 by Marjorie Henderson "Marge" Buell, started as a comic to replace Carl Anderson's Henry comic in The Saturday Evening Post. The daily comic strip was syndicated from 1950 until 1969, drawn by several different artists.
Description
Little Lulu, created in 1935 by Marjorie Henderson "Marge" Buell, started as a comic to replace Carl Anderson's Henry comic in The Saturday Evening Post. The daily comic strip was syndicated from 1950 until 1969, drawn by several different artists. The comic strip features the title character, a precocious and often bad-tempered little girl, Lulu, and her interactions with her family and others around her. In this strip, Tubby ate the dinner Lulu had made for her dog Mops.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
08/26/1966
graphic artist
Buell, Marge
ID Number
GA.22638
catalog number
22638
accession number
277502

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