A passionate history-geek turned Public Historian, my interest in political cartoons began when I worked as a Curatorial Intern at the National Museum of American History. Tasked with sorting and categorizing dusty and occasionally arsenic-coated cartoons (don't worry, I washed my hands frequently)from the second half of the 19th century, I fell in love with the humor and detail of every cartoon. Drawn over a century before I was born,I felt disconnected to the messages of the editorial sketches until I started researching. 

 

For the duration of my internship, I identified the types of skills required to decode cartoons from any era: understand sense of humor, recognize current events and important figures, and identify the background and bias of the cartoonist. While this primary skills can require a good amount of research and commitment when trying to decode generations of cartoons, applying these steps to decoding even one cartoon can unlock the message of the drawing for any amateur cartoon-detective. I was inspired to create a digital decoding guide to share how easy it is to decode political cartoons.

​

While meme-culture has found recent and exponential fame, I wanted to celebrate the predecessor of the internet trend: the political cartoon. In my personal experience, I found that many news sources are dishonest, boring, or confusing. I had trouble learning about current events from a variety of websites and news channels. However, I could immediately analyze the bias and message of a current political cartoon. Not only are political cartoons a valuable source of news in 2020, but also a unique primary of current events from the past. I wanted to celebrate the past and present importance of cartoons through this digital space.

​

Currently, I am completing my Masters Degree in Public History at Northeastern University. Much of this digital exhibit is based on my own research and interpretation of political cartoons. Where I tried to include a variety of cartoons and perspectives, this site is heavily influenced by my  bias, research, and access. This site is in no way a comprehensive analysis of the decades or cartoonists that I study, but more of a celebration, introduction, and database of a portion of the extraordinarily detailed and expertly drawn editorial works of art. I hope this project will inspire history buffs to seek out political cartoons as news sources and encourage history professionals to utilize political cartoons as valuable primary sources and build their own, accessible databases. 

​

At the very least, I hope all decoders will get a good laugh from Nast, Berryman, and Block. Enjoy!

​

​