John Fischetti papers
Scope and Content of the Collection
Political cartoons and sketches by John Fischetti, along with awards, newspaper clippings, and photographs pertaining to his life and work.
The bulk of the collection consists of original political cartoons by John Fischetti which were published in the newspapers the Chicago Daily News, the Chicago Sun-Times, and the New York Herald-Tribune. The cartoons cover international and national issues, with a large number focusing on the Soviet Union, the Vietnam War, the Nixon and Carter presidencies, inflation, human rights, and social problems.
In addition to the political cartoons, there is a small amount of miscellaneous material by and about Fischetti. Included are newspaper articles about awards he won, his life, and death; photographs of Fischetti at work and with friends; sketches, and smaller cartoons. There are also several cartoons by other artists including Jim Borgman, Morrie Brickman, Johnny Hart, Wayne Stayskal, Bill Yates, and Jim Yepo. Along with these are two poster-size cards to Fischetti, featuring cartoons by Al Hainke and Jack Jordan, and signed by employees at the Daily News.
Dates
- Creation: 1942-1995
Creator
- Fischetti, John R. (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
The John Fischetti papers are open for research in the Special Collections Reading Room; 1 box at a time (Priority III).
Ownership and Literary Rights
The John Fischetti papers are the physical property of the Newberry Library. Copyright may belong to the authors or their legal heirs or assigns. For permission to publish or reproduce any materials from this collection, contact the Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections at reference@newberry.org.
Biography of John Fischetti
John Fischetti was born in Brooklyn, New York on Sept. 27, 1916, the youngest in an Italian family of four children. His urge to draw developed early and, in fact, he graduated from the Pratt Technical Institute before earning his high school diploma. After graduation he went to California and worked for the Disney Studio. Eye strain forced him to give up animation and he moved to Chicago where he began working for Coronet and Esquire magazines. When Marshall Field started the Chicago Sun and bought up the Coronet/Esquire syndicate, Fischetti began doing political cartoons for the Sun; however, World War II intervened and he spent the latter part of it cartooning for Stars and Stripes. When his Sun job was no longer available after the war, he moved to New York and joined Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA), and then the New York Herald Tribune. It folded in 1966 and he moved back to Chicago and the Chicago Daily News, where he was given complete autonomy to choose his styles and topics. Fischetti was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1968. After the Daily News ceased publication in 1978, he finished his career at the Chicago Sun-Times. John Fischetti died on Nov. 18, 1980.
Extent
15 Linear Feet (1 box and 28 oversize boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Political cartoons and assorted miscellaneous items (clippings, photographs, correspondence, etc.) of Pulitzer Prize-winning artist John Fischetti. Fischetti worked for several newspapers and magazines during his long career, including Coronet, Esquire, the Chicago Sun, the New York Herald Tribune, the Chicago Daily News, and the Chicago Sun-Times.
Organization
Papers are organized in the following series:
- Series 1: Political Cartoons, 1962-1980
- Boxes 1-27
- Series 2: Miscellaneous, 1942-1995
- Boxes 28-29
Collection Stack Location
1 18 7, 1 19 7, 1 16 7
Provenance
Gift of Karen Fischetti, Sept. 10, 1998, with subsequent donations from Joseph E. Geshwiler, 2005-2006.
Separated Materials
The following items were removed from the collection for individual cataloging:
Processed by
Aaron Gordon, 2000-2003; and Pamela Olson, 2004
Acknowledgements
This inventory was created with the generous support of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this inventory do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Subject
- Chicago Daily News, Inc. (Organization)
- Chicago Sun-Times (Organization)
- Borgman, Jim (Person)
- Carter, Jimmy, 1924- (Person)
- Ford, Gerald R., 1913-2006 (Person)
- Hainke, Al (Person)
- Hart, Johnny (Person)
- Jordan, Jack (Person)
- New York Herald Tribune (Firm) (Organization)
- Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994 (Person)
- Reagan, Ronald (Person)
- Stayskal, Wayne (Person)
- Yates, Bill, 1921-2001 (Person)
- Brickman, Morrie, 1917-1994 (Person)
- Yepo, Jim (Person)
Genre / Form
Geographic
- United States -- Economic conditions -- 20th century -- Comic books, strips, etc.
- United States -- Politics and government -- 1962-1980 -- Caricatures and cartoons
Occupation
Topical
- International relations -- United States -- Caricatures and cartoons
- Manuscripts, American -- Illinois -- Chicago
- Political cartoons
- Presidents -- United States -- Caricatures and cartoons
- Presidents -- United States -- Election -- Caricatures and cartoons
- Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Caricatures and cartoons
- World politics -- Caricatures and cartoons -- History -- 20th century
- Title
- Inventory of the John Fischetti papers, 1942-1995
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Pamela Olson
- Date
- ©2004.
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- 2015-08-11: Added 2 cartoons acquired from Bookfair, Jan. 2015.
Repository Details
Part of the The Newberry Library - Modern Manuscripts and Archives Repository
60 West Walton Street
Chicago Illinois 60610 United States
312-255-3512
reference@newberry.org