Illustrating Through Illustrations

For a time the Perth Amboy Evening News ran editorial cartoons above the fold on page one. These single panel illustrations highlighted central issues of the day. August 1908 offers several interesting examples, as twenty-one editorial cartoons appeared on its front page during the month. The subject matter roughly fit into one of four broad categories: society, the 1908 Presidential election, government, and international affairs.

While certain references are not immediately evident 110 years later, others remain crystal clear. By their immediateness, newspapers are as good a resource as any into understanding what was important during the days, weeks, and months they were published. They reflect what people thought at that moment. They echo the etiquette, standards, and attitudes of the time. Additionally, they show us today’s problems are often not new. All this reinforces the fact newspapers are an invaluable asset for anyone interested in history.

It is instructive to note some drawings and language used back then might not be considered appropriate today, particularly in a mainstream newspaper. Nonetheless, they still provide a fascinating glimpse into how people thought and, occasionally, how things have progressed. [Ed. Note: Each cartoon in this post was created by Ryan Walker, a noted syndicated political cartoonist in the early 20th century.]