1. What’s So Funny? Using Cartoons as Primary Sources

2. Why Use Cartoons Information about historical events
Attitudes of society at the time
Good example of multiple perspectives
Remember, a cartoonist is expressing an opinion not fact

3. Where to Find Cartoons Newspapers Archival collections Collected works
Editorial pages
Archival collections
“CA” at OHS
Collected works
Artist or topic specific
Internet sites
See CD tutorial

4. Tools Used By Cartoonist
Exaggeration
Allusion
Analogy
Symbolism
Caricature
Stereotype
Humor
Personification

5. Interpreting Cartoons
Historical background
Secondary sources
Date
Examine the publication
Use visual clues
Issue
Read surrounding editorials and articles
Labels, Symbols and Stereotypes
Secondary sources and surrounding editorials and articles
Artist
Sometimes cartoons can be difficult to interpret because they contain people or events that we may not know about.
This slides lists ways to do some research on historic cartoons.

6. Interpreting Cartoons
What about this cartoon?
1972 Olympic Games, Munich

7. Thomas Nast ( )
Popularized the elephant and donkey as representations of Republican and Democratic parties
Originated “popular” image of Santa Claus
Began a position at Harper’s Weekly in summer of 1862
Decline in popularity and skill in the mid-1870s
Considered the “Father of American Caricature”

8. Primary Source Activity
Look at your Thomas Nast cartoon
Complete the activity
Share with the group
What did you notice about your cartoon compared to the other cartoons?
Nast’s cartoons began to take a political turn during the Civil War focusing on race and equality in America. Nast’s illustrations spoke to the citizens, and it was said that his Reconstruction cartoons did more for the reputation of political cartoons than any other person’s.
However, as Reconstruction waned on Nast’s depictions of African Americans, which were suprisingly realistic, became less sympathetic, and he started using stereotypical images of African Americans and lazy with big lips and a dopey expressions. This may represent his growing disallusion with Reconstruction.

9. Now it’s YOUR turn!
Create your own cartoon about the Civil War or Reconstruction
Who are the players?
What position are you supporting?
Be creative
Draw the opposite of your opinion
Experiment with symbols
Are you drawing as a contemporary or in retrospect?
Share with the group

10. Example
If I pick Ohio and Underground Railroad as my topic, my cartoon may look like this