Gaar Williams
Encyclopedia
Gaar Campbell Williams was a prominent American cartoonist who worked for the Indianapolis News
and the Chicago Tribune
. His scenes of horse-and-buggy days in small towns of the Victorian era included situations taken from memories of his childhood in his hometown of Richmond, Indiana
. Labeled the Hoosier Cartoonist or the James Whitcomb Riley
of the Pencil, his cartoon panels captured the flavor of a bygone era to the degree they were deemed worthy of reprinting in the mid-20th century years after his death.
He drew his first cartoons for publication while he was the staff artist for the Richmond High School
magazine, Argus. After studies at Cincinnati Art Academy
and the Chicago Art Institute
, Williams began cartooning in 1904 for the Chicago Daily News
, where he stayed for three years. He joined the Indianapolis News in 1909. In Indianapolis, where he had a growing reputation as a designer of book plates, he married Magdalena "Lena" Engelbert, a graduate of Earlham College
in his hometown.
His well-known drawings include The End of a Perfect Day, depicting the American doughboy returning from WWI, and Long Boy, published on the William Herschell song sheet. After illustrating Keeping Up with William (Bobbs-Merrill, 1918) by Irving Bacheller
, he illustrated Ring Lardner
's The Young Immigrants (Bobbs-Merrill, 1920). In 1921, Williams moved to the Chicago Tribune, where he stayed for the next 14 years.
By the time of his death in 1935, his cartoons were being published in 39 newspapers. He was buried at Earlham Cemetery in Richmond, Indiana.
Indianapolis News
The Indianapolis News was an evening newspaper published for 130 years, beginning December 7, 1869, and ending on October 1, 1999. At one time it had the largest circulation in the state of Indiana, and was the oldest Indianapolis newspaper in existence....
and the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
. His scenes of horse-and-buggy days in small towns of the Victorian era included situations taken from memories of his childhood in his hometown of Richmond, Indiana
Richmond, Indiana
Richmond is a city largely within Wayne Township, Wayne County, in east central Indiana, United States, which borders Ohio. The city also includes the Richmond Municipal Airport, which is in Boston Township and separated from the rest of the city...
. Labeled the Hoosier Cartoonist or the James Whitcomb Riley
James Whitcomb Riley
James Whitcomb Riley was an American writer, poet, and best selling author. During his lifetime he was known as the Hoosier Poet and Children's Poet for his dialect works and his children's poetry respectively...
of the Pencil, his cartoon panels captured the flavor of a bygone era to the degree they were deemed worthy of reprinting in the mid-20th century years after his death.
He drew his first cartoons for publication while he was the staff artist for the Richmond High School
Richmond High School (Richmond, Indiana)
Richmond High School is a public high school in Richmond, Indiana, located at 380 Hub Etchison Parkway. It is the home of the Richmond Red Devils, who are members of the North Central Conference of the Indiana High School Athletic Association . The current enrollment of the school is around 1,700...
magazine, Argus. After studies at Cincinnati Art Academy
Art Academy of Cincinnati
The Art Academy of Cincinnati is a private college of art and design, accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, in Cincinnati, Ohio...
and the Chicago Art Institute
Art Institute of Chicago
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of America's largest accredited independent schools of art and design, located in the Loop in Chicago, Illinois. It is associated with the museum of the same name, and "The Art Institute of Chicago" or "Chicago Art Institute" often refers to either...
, Williams began cartooning in 1904 for the Chicago Daily News
Chicago Daily News
The Chicago Daily News was an afternoon daily newspaper published between 1876 and 1978 in Chicago, Illinois.-History:The Daily News was founded by Melville E. Stone, Percy Meggy, and William Dougherty in 1875 and began publishing early the next year...
, where he stayed for three years. He joined the Indianapolis News in 1909. In Indianapolis, where he had a growing reputation as a designer of book plates, he married Magdalena "Lena" Engelbert, a graduate of Earlham College
Earlham College
Earlham College is a liberal arts college in Richmond, Indiana. It was founded in 1847 by Quakers and has approximately 1,200 students.The president is John David Dawson...
in his hometown.
His well-known drawings include The End of a Perfect Day, depicting the American doughboy returning from WWI, and Long Boy, published on the William Herschell song sheet. After illustrating Keeping Up with William (Bobbs-Merrill, 1918) by Irving Bacheller
Irving Bacheller
Addison Irving Bacheller was an American journalist and writer who founded the first modern newspaper syndicate in the United States.- Birth and education :...
, he illustrated Ring Lardner
Ring Lardner
Ringgold Wilmer Lardner was an American sports columnist and short story writer best known for his satirical takes on the sports world, marriage, and the theatre.-Personal life:...
's The Young Immigrants (Bobbs-Merrill, 1920). In 1921, Williams moved to the Chicago Tribune, where he stayed for the next 14 years.
Portfolios
The Tribune reprinted his work in at least a dozen portfolios: Zipper (1935) reprinted 25 of his 1932-34 cartoons about the dog Zipper. Hunting and Fishing (1935) reprinted 30 of his cartoons from 1927-34. Others were Among the Folks in History (four portfolios), Mort Green and Wife, Our Secret Ambition, Something Ought to be Done About This, Static, A Strain on the Family Tie and Wotta Life! Wotta Life!By the time of his death in 1935, his cartoons were being published in 39 newspapers. He was buried at Earlham Cemetery in Richmond, Indiana.
Books
Some of his political cartoons were reprinted in George Hecht's The War in Cartoons: A History of the War in 100 Cartoons by 27 of the Most Prominent American Cartoonists (Dutton, 1919). One of his cartoon features, Among the Folks in History, was collected as a book published by the Book and Print Guild in 1935 and reprinted by Rand McNally in 1947, followed by How to Keep from Growing Old (Rand McNally, 1948) with an introduction by Franklin P. Adams.Further reading
- Newton, Judith Vale and Carol Weiss, A Grand Tradition: The Art and Artists of the Hoosier Salon, 1925-1990. Indianapolis, Indiana: Hoosier Salon Patrons Association, Inc., 1993.