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.

Date: 1960s

Camera-ready comic strip, entitled "Brick Bradford".

"Brick Bradford", originally drawn by Clarence Gray, is a science fiction comic strip that ran until 1987.
Description
"Brick Bradford", originally drawn by Clarence Gray, is a science fiction comic strip that ran until 1987. A space soap-opera type strip, similar to Buck Rogers or Flash Gordon, featured the main character Brick Bradford and his adventures in time traveling and battling space foes. In this strip, Brick and his friend Hoppy wear suits with EM fields to protect them from a dangerous robot on the loose.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
06/03/1966
graphic artist
Norris, Paul
publisher
King Features Syndicate
ID Number
GA.22532
catalog number
22532
accession number
277502

Camera-ready comic strip, entitled "Hi and Lois".

"Hi and Lois", created and drawn by Dik Browne (1917-1989) and Mort Walker (b. 1923), continues to be drawn by the sons of the original team and distributed by King Features Syndicate.
Description
"Hi and Lois", created and drawn by Dik Browne (1917-1989) and Mort Walker (b. 1923), continues to be drawn by the sons of the original team and distributed by King Features Syndicate. The comic strip features the domestic life of Hi and Lois Flagston and their family of four children and a dog. Lois is the sister of Mort Walker's other comic character, Beetle Bailey. In this strip, the children sit split between their parents. Chip, their teenage son, remarks: "If this family were any bigger, they wouldn't be able to stop the fights."
Location
Currently not on view
date made
8/10/1966
graphic artist
Browne, Dik
Walker, Mort
publisher
King Features Syndicate
ID Number
GA.22363
catalog number
22363
accession number
277502

Camera-ready comic strip, entitled "Judge Parker".

"Judge Parker" was created in 1952 by Nicholas P. Dallis, aka Paul Nichols (1911-1991). Harold LeDoux took over drawing the strip from 1965 to 2006.
Description
"Judge Parker" was created in 1952 by Nicholas P. Dallis, aka Paul Nichols (1911-1991). Harold LeDoux took over drawing the strip from 1965 to 2006. The strip has a soap-opera type storyline similar to Dallis' other comic strips, "Apartment 3-G" and "Rex Morgan, M.D." Alan Parker, a judge, along with attorney Sam Driver, take on criminals and deliver justice; family interaction also plays a key role in the story scripts. In this strip, Judge Parker calls Cassandra, searching for his son, Randy.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
08/23/1966
maker
LeDoux, Harold
ID Number
GA.22463
catalog number
22463
accession number
277502

Camera-ready comic strip, entitled "Brother Juniper".

"Brother Juniper," created by Fred McCarthy, is based on a monk of the same name. The comic is centered on Christian principles, adding humor through the somewhat naive Juniper.
Description
"Brother Juniper," created by Fred McCarthy, is based on a monk of the same name. The comic is centered on Christian principles, adding humor through the somewhat naive Juniper. In this strip, Juniper is caught fishing by the Game Warden, but argues that all he has caught is a shoe, dangling from the end of his fishing line.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
08/29/1966
publisher
Publishers Newspapers Syndicate, Inc.
ID Number
GA.22640
catalog number
22640
accession number
277502

Camera-ready comic strip, entitled Mary Perkins On Stage

Mary Perkins, On Stage, originally titled On Stage or Mary Perkins, was created and drawn by Leonard Starr (b. 1925) from 1957 until 1979, distributed by The Chicago-Tribune-New York News Syndicate.
Description
Mary Perkins, On Stage, originally titled On Stage or Mary Perkins, was created and drawn by Leonard Starr (b. 1925) from 1957 until 1979, distributed by The Chicago-Tribune-New York News Syndicate. The strip features a soap opera-type storyline of the backstage drama of actress Mary Perkins. In this strip, Mary wants to keep Bennie the Lion, and Arlie is romantically involved with Al.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
09/14/1966
publisher
Tribune Printing Company
graphic artist
Starr, Leonard
ID Number
GA.22537
catalog number
22537
accession number
277502

Camera-ready comic strip, entitled "All in Sport".

"All in Sport" (1952-1970) was created by cartoonist Chet Adams and featured as a syndicated cartoon in the sports section of several American newspapers.
Description
"All in Sport" (1952-1970) was created by cartoonist Chet Adams and featured as a syndicated cartoon in the sports section of several American newspapers. In this cartoon, a baseball umpire wears a Supreme Court robe to a baseball game, proving his worth as a judge on the diamond.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
8/2/1966
publisher
Tribune Printing Company
graphic artist
Adams, Chet
ID Number
GA.22375
catalog number
22375
accession number
277502

Camera-ready comic panel, entitled Mr. Breger

Mr. Breger (also published as Private Breger and G.I. Joe during World War II) was created by Dave Breger (1908-1970), syndicated by King Features from 1946-1960s. Breger has been credited with creating the term "G.I.
Description
Mr. Breger (also published as Private Breger and G.I. Joe during World War II) was created by Dave Breger (1908-1970), syndicated by King Features from 1946-1960s. Breger has been credited with creating the term "G.I. Joe", replacing the term "Yank" to describe American soldiers. The comic is a gag-panel about life in the military. In this drawing, a soldier places a flag at the top of a mountain.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
7/12/1966
graphic artist
Breger, Dave
publisher
King Features Syndicate
maker
Breger, Dave
ID Number
GA.22360
catalog number
22360
accession number
277502

Camera-ready comic strip, entitled "Adventures of Teena-a-Go-Go".

The short lived (1966) "Adventures of Teena-a-Go-Go", written by Bessie Little with art by Bob Powell, featured the exploits of teenager Teena in a soap-opera type comic strip.
Description
The short lived (1966) "Adventures of Teena-a-Go-Go", written by Bessie Little with art by Bob Powell, featured the exploits of teenager Teena in a soap-opera type comic strip. In this strip, Teena and her friend Holly go to see their friends Peter and Gordon.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
undated
ca 1965
graphic artist
Little, Bessie
author
Powell, Bob
ID Number
GA.22406
catalog number
22406
accession number
277502

Berry's World

"Berry's World" (1962-2003) was a daily newspaper comic strip by Jim Berry (b. 1932). This was mainly a gag strip, often composed of two or fewer panels.
Description
"Berry's World" (1962-2003) was a daily newspaper comic strip by Jim Berry (b. 1932). This was mainly a gag strip, often composed of two or fewer panels. In this strip, two visitors at an art museum are viewing an exhibit on George Washington, making a comment on the influence of Washington's Farewell Address and its relevance even today with foreign influence interfering in politics.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
2/20/1966
graphic artist
Berry, Jim
publisher
NEA, Inc.
ID Number
GA.22479
catalog number
22479
accession number
277502

Camera-ready comic strip, entitled "Dotty".

"Dotty", originally published under the title "Dotty Dripple" was created and drawn by Buford Tune (d. 1989) and ran from 1944-1974, distributed by Publisher's Syndicate.
Description
"Dotty", originally published under the title "Dotty Dripple" was created and drawn by Buford Tune (d. 1989) and ran from 1944-1974, distributed by Publisher's Syndicate. The strip centered around Dotty and her family in a storyline reminiscent of Chic Young's "Blondie" comic strip. This is an original drawing by the artist of Dotty and her family.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1966
graphic artist
Tune, Buford
publisher
Publishers Newspapers Syndicate, Inc.
ID Number
GA.22503
catalog number
22503
accession number
277502

Camera-ready comic strip, entitled "Flash Gordon".

"Flash Gordon" was created by Don Moore and Alex Raymond in 1934 and later famously drawn by Dan Barry from 1951until 1990. The comic strip features the adventures of Gordon, a world-famous polo player made space adventurer, Dale Arden, his beautiful companion, and Dr.
Description
"Flash Gordon" was created by Don Moore and Alex Raymond in 1934 and later famously drawn by Dan Barry from 1951until 1990. The comic strip features the adventures of Gordon, a world-famous polo player made space adventurer, Dale Arden, his beautiful companion, and Dr. Zarkoff, a scientist, as they explore planet Mongo. Originally intended to be a space comic similar to "Buck Rogers", "Flash Gordon" stuck around much longer with a larger fanbase. Today, the comic exists only as a Sunday feature, drawn by Jim Keefe. In this strip, astronauts in space prepare a shipment of cargo bound for Earth.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
4/2/1966
04/02/1966
03/14/1966
graphic artist
Barry, Dan
publisher
King Features Syndicate
ID Number
GA.22621
catalog number
22621
accession number
277502

Camera-ready comic strip, entitled Mandrake the Magician

Mandrake the Magician was created and originally drawn by Lee Falk in 1924, although he did not submit the comic for print and distribution to King Features until 1934. Harold "Fred" Fredericks took over art for the strip in 1964 and continues to draw the strip today.
Description
Mandrake the Magician was created and originally drawn by Lee Falk in 1924, although he did not submit the comic for print and distribution to King Features until 1934. Harold "Fred" Fredericks took over art for the strip in 1964 and continues to draw the strip today. The story features Mandrake, a magician with superpowers, along with his compatriots in the fight against crime. In this strip, Mandrake shows a group around his new, fully secure, and modern home.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
09/12/1966
graphic artist
Falk, Lee
publisher
King Features Syndicate
author
Fredericks, Fred
ID Number
GA.22419
catalog number
22419
accession number
277502

Camera-ready comic strip, entitled Laredo

Laredo, also published as Laredo Crockett by Bob Schoenke was distributed by The Register and Tribune Syndicate from 1950 to 1965. The comic strip had a Western theme, featuring American Indians, cowboys, and the title character, Laredo Crockett.
Description
Laredo, also published as Laredo Crockett by Bob Schoenke was distributed by The Register and Tribune Syndicate from 1950 to 1965. The comic strip had a Western theme, featuring American Indians, cowboys, and the title character, Laredo Crockett. In this strip, Ben is taken into police custody because it appears that he shot Cholla in the back.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
04/15/1965
graphic artist
Schoenke, Bob
publisher
Register and Tribune Syndicate
ID Number
GA.22558
catalog number
22558
accession number
277502

Camera-ready comic strip, entitled "Brenda Starr: Reporter".

"Brenda Starr: Reporter" continues to be published by female artists and writers, although its original creator, Dale Messick, retired in 1980. Brenda Starr is a comic strip about a glamorous and adventurous newspaper reporter from Chicago.
Description
"Brenda Starr: Reporter" continues to be published by female artists and writers, although its original creator, Dale Messick, retired in 1980. Brenda Starr is a comic strip about a glamorous and adventurous newspaper reporter from Chicago. In this strip, Brenda must keep up appearances, and so decides to go to the salon following her trip from the South Seas.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
07/28/1966
graphic artist
Messick, Dale
publisher
Tribune Printing Company
ID Number
GA.22337
catalog number
22337
accession number
277502

Camera-ready comic strip, entitled Lolly

Lolly, created and drawn by Pete Hansen (b. 1920) was distributed by the Chicago Tribune Syndicate from 1955-1983. The strip featured a young blond woman, Lolly, and her life as a "career woman" ranging from jobs in the Navy to office secretary.
Description
Lolly, created and drawn by Pete Hansen (b. 1920) was distributed by the Chicago Tribune Syndicate from 1955-1983. The strip featured a young blond woman, Lolly, and her life as a "career woman" ranging from jobs in the Navy to office secretary. In this strip, the shower is dripping and keeping Lolly awake. When she tries to turn it off, she gets a shower instead.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
10/1/1961
10/01/1961
graphic artist
Hansen, Pete
publisher
Tribune Printing Company
ID Number
GA.22542
catalog number
22542
accession number
277502

Camera-ready comic strip, entitled "Alley Oop".

Vincent Trout (V.T.) Hamlin (1900-1993), was the creator and original artist of "Alley Oop", a comic strip featuring a time-traveling caveman of the same name. Syndicated in 1933, the strip still runs in American newspapers, although drawn by the Bender husband-wife team.
Description
Vincent Trout (V.T.) Hamlin (1900-1993), was the creator and original artist of "Alley Oop", a comic strip featuring a time-traveling caveman of the same name. Syndicated in 1933, the strip still runs in American newspapers, although drawn by the Bender husband-wife team. In this strip, Alley Oop and his friend Foozy are missing. The search party believes they are not really missing, but simply being bums somewhere else.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
4/24/1966
04/24/1966
graphic artist
Hamlin, Vincent T.
publisher
NEA, Inc.
ID Number
GA.22403
catalog number
22403
accession number
277502

Camera-ready comic panel, entitled Mrs. Fitz

Mrs. Fitz, also published as Mrs. Fitz's Flats, was created by Frank Roberge (1916-1976) and distributed by King Features Syndicate during the 1960s. The comic was often a gag-joke comic strip, featuring an old woman, Mrs. Fitz.
Description
Mrs. Fitz, also published as Mrs. Fitz's Flats, was created by Frank Roberge (1916-1976) and distributed by King Features Syndicate during the 1960s. The comic was often a gag-joke comic strip, featuring an old woman, Mrs. Fitz. In this drawing, people think they see a flying saucer, but it is only a pizza that has been thrown out of a high-story window.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
08/02/1966
graphic artist
Roberge, Frank
publisher
King Features Syndicate
ID Number
GA.22623
catalog number
22623
accession number
277502

Camera-ready comic strip, entitled "Eek & Meek".

"Eek & Meek" was a comic strip by Howie Schneider and distributed by Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA) from 1965 until 2000. The evolution of this strip is interesting.
Description
"Eek & Meek" was a comic strip by Howie Schneider and distributed by Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA) from 1965 until 2000. The evolution of this strip is interesting. All of the characters started out as anthropomorphic mice, but were drawn as humans after the early 1980s. The strip follows the struggles of its two title characters, Eek and Meek. In this strip, Meek tells Eek that his canvas for painting is best left blank.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
06/26/1966
publisher
NEA, Inc.
graphic artist
Schneider, Howie
ID Number
GA.22398
catalog number
22398
accession number
277502

Camera-ready comic strip, entitled "Apartment 3-G"

"Apartment 3-G" or 3 Girls, is a soap-opera type comic strip that features three career women who share an apartment (Apartment 3-G) in Manhattan, New York. Created by Nicholas P.
Description
"Apartment 3-G" or 3 Girls, is a soap-opera type comic strip that features three career women who share an apartment (Apartment 3-G) in Manhattan, New York. Created by Nicholas P. Dallis (1911-1991) with art by Alex Kotzky (1923-1996), the strip is still in publication, though by different writers and artists. In this daily strip, affluent neighbor Newton Figg returns home in his limo, asking his driver James to finish running a few errand for him.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
09/28/1966
graphic artist
Kotzky, Alex
publisher
Publishers Newspapers Syndicate, Inc.
ID Number
GA.22630
catalog number
22630
accession number
277502

Camera-ready comic strip, entitled "Henry".

"Henry", created in 1932 by Carl Anderson (1865-1948), features the title character, a young bald boy who is mute. In newspaper comics, Henry communicates only through pantomime. The strip was syndicated by King Features in 1934.
Description
"Henry", created in 1932 by Carl Anderson (1865-1948), features the title character, a young bald boy who is mute. In newspaper comics, Henry communicates only through pantomime. The strip was syndicated by King Features in 1934. After 1948, "Henry" was drawn on weekdays by John Liney and on Sundays by Don Trachte. The strip was drawn until 2005, and reprints continue to be featured in syndication. In this strip, Henry purchases a sailor hat, but when he returns home, he is made to "swab the decks" of his house.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
9/1/1966
graphic artist
Anderson, Carl
publisher
King Features Syndicate
ID Number
GA.22442
catalog number
22442
accession number
277502

Camera-ready comic panel, entitled Mostly Malarky

Mostly Malarky was created and drawn by Wallace "Wally" Carlson (1884-1967) and distributed by The Chicago Tribune-New York News Syndicate from the 1950s until 1966. The comic features gag-joke panels.
Description
Mostly Malarky was created and drawn by Wallace "Wally" Carlson (1884-1967) and distributed by The Chicago Tribune-New York News Syndicate from the 1950s until 1966. The comic features gag-joke panels. In this panel, a man chases a baby carriage down a hill, which he does not know is full of groceries, not a baby.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
09/02/1962
graphic artist
Carlson, W. A.
publisher
Tribune Printing Company
ID Number
GA.22448
catalog number
22448
accession number
277502

Camera-ready comic strip, entitled Mac Divot

Mac Divot was created and drawn by prolific artist Mel Keefer (b. 1926) and writer Jordan Lansky, distributed between 1955 and 1973 by The Chicago Tribune Syndicate.
Description
Mac Divot was created and drawn by prolific artist Mel Keefer (b. 1926) and writer Jordan Lansky, distributed between 1955 and 1973 by The Chicago Tribune Syndicate. The strip featured golfer Mac Divot and his friendships with other golfers, including special illustrated guests such as Bob Hope. In this strip, Mac explains the perils of hitting less than a full shot into a green with a following wind.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
8/3/1966
08/03/1966
publisher
Tribune Printing Company
author
Lansky, Jordan
ID Number
GA.22631
catalog number
22631
accession number
277502

Camera-ready comic strip, entitled "Davy Jones".

"Davy Jones", a United Features Syndicate strip from 1961-1971, was written by Sam Leff with art by Wayne Boring and later, Al McWilliams. The strip began in the 1920s, first published with the name "Joe Jinks" and later "Curly Kayoe".
Description
"Davy Jones", a United Features Syndicate strip from 1961-1971, was written by Sam Leff with art by Wayne Boring and later, Al McWilliams. The strip began in the 1920s, first published with the name "Joe Jinks" and later "Curly Kayoe". The strip featured the adventures of a seaman named Davy Jones who became a major character in the "Curly Kayoe" strip in the late 1950s. In this strip, a scuba diver believes he has seen Satan appear during his underwater exploration.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
09/20/1966
graphic artist
Leff, Sam
publisher
United Feature Syndicate, Inc.
ID Number
GA.22560
catalog number
22560
accession number
277502

Camera-ready comic strip, entitled "Buz Sawyer".

"Buz Sawyer" was created and originally drawn by Roy Crane (1901-1977), and continued by other artists until 1989. The comic is a mixture of adventure and soap-opera, centered on the main character, Buz Sawyer, a Navy pilot. In this strip, Mr.
Description
"Buz Sawyer" was created and originally drawn by Roy Crane (1901-1977), and continued by other artists until 1989. The comic is a mixture of adventure and soap-opera, centered on the main character, Buz Sawyer, a Navy pilot. In this strip, Mr. Sweeney gives NASA a special fuel he had received from "a little green man."
Location
Currently not on view
date made
07/24/1966
graphic artist
Crane, Roy
publisher
King Features Syndicate
ID Number
GA.22472
catalog number
22472
accession number
277502

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