Jump to Content

Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Conrad (Paul) Papers
mssCON 1-12360  
View entire collection guide What's This?
Search this collection
Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Access
  • Publication Rights
  • Preferred Citation
  • Provenance
  • Biographical Note
  • Scope and Content
  • Related Materials in the Huntington Library
  • Arrangement

  • Contributing Institution: The Huntington Library
    Title: Paul Conrad Papers
    Creator: Conrad, Paul, 1924-2010
    Identifier/Call Number: mssCON 1-12360
    Physical Description: 272.41 Linear Feet (285 boxes, 1 folder)
    Date (inclusive): 1950-2005
    Abstract: This collection contains the professional and personal papers of Paul Conrad (1924-2010), chief editorial cartoonist for the Los Angeles Times from 1964 to 1993. Includes original cartoons, rough sketches, correspondence, book, speech and lawsuit files, photographs, ephemera and tear sheets.
    Language of Material: English.

    Access

    Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

    Publication Rights

    Copyright is owned by Paul and Kay Conrad. As of this writing, inquiries may be addressed to Conrad Associates, 904 Silver Spur Road, #358, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274. Other information may be available at conradprojects.com.
    The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item]. Paul Conrad Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

    Provenance

    The bulk of the collection was acquired as the gift of Paul and Kay Conrad in December 1993, and February 1994.
    About 2,000 additional cartoons were donated in July, 1994, and approximately 500 pieces, including original cartoons from 1994 and all Denver Post items, were donated in March 1995.
    About 1,000 additional cartoons were donated in April 2005.
    1 cartoon gift of Mr. and Mrs. David Shiras, June 1995.
    11 pieces gift of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Day, December 1996.
    3 pieces gift of Mr. and Mrs. Franklin and Estelle Horowitz and Lisa Horowitz, March 2006.
    Note: Missing from the collection are most of his cartoons from the Denver Post. This collection includes loose and bound tear sheets from the Denver Post, but only a few original drawings. Some original drawings were sold, given as gifts or donated for fundraisers, and are therefore missing. Also, the Conrads donate between 10 and 30 drawings a year to the Library of Congress. Where possible, there is a print or photocopy in place of the original.

    Biographical Note

    Paul Conrad served as chief editorial cartoonist for the Los Angeles Times from 1964 to 1993. His career began at the Denver Post in 1950 where he drew until moving to the Los Angeles Times. Conrad won three Pulitzer Prizes (1964, 1971 and 1984) and numerous other journalism awards. Five years after being included on Richard Nixon's Enemies List, Conrad held the Richard M. Nixon Chair at Whittier College, in 1977- 78. After his semi-retirement in 1993, Conrad continued to produce four cartoons a week through Tribune Media Services. He also made bronze sculptures of political figures. Paul Conrad was born June 27, 1924 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, along with his identical twin Jim. He was married to Kay King Conrad and they had four children. He died September 4, 2010.

    Scope and Content

    Professional and personal papers of Paul Conrad, including original cartoons, rough sketches, correspondence, book, speech and lawsuit files, photographs, ephemera and tear sheets. The collection is in three parts, based on acquisition. Part I is the bulk of the collection, and parts II and III are mainly original cartoons. Original cartoons from the Denver Post are not represented in this collections.

    Contents:

    1. Original cartoons (Boxes 1-106), arranged chronologically, starting in 1967. There are 40- 50 cartoons per box. Each cartoon has its own folder.
    2. Original cartoons- oversize (Boxes 107- 167), arranged chronologically (independent of smaller original series), starting in 1959. There are 40- 50 cartoons per box. Each cartoon has its own folder.
    3. Rough sketches and photocopies (Boxes 168- 191), arranged chronologically in six-month groups. Sketches are matched with a photocopy of the final cartoon when possible.
    4. Correspondence (Boxes 192- 211), arranged alphabetically. Each author has a separate folder, and this series consists of fan mail, hate mail, and requests for drawings in addition to personal correspondence. Includes political and other prominent figures as well as letters Conrad has labeled "Regular Nuts", "Threats" and "Worth Saving". Much of the hate mail is cartoons that readers have altered to fit their sentiments by changing captions or adding drawings and sent back to Conrad. There is more fan mail than hate mail. A lot of the fan mail is people asking for favorite prints. The Conrads regularly donated original drawings or prints to mainly liberal groups for handgun control, first amendment rights, the ACLU, as well as church, children's and educational groups. Correspondence from prominent figures includes mainly political figures depicted by Conrad responding (mostly positively)to his cartoons, a number of letters from Gerald Ford, with whom Conrad participated in a "Humor and the Presidency" symposium. Also, correspondence from widows or children of people Conrad did memorial cartoon tributes for.
    5. Book files (Box 212), arranged chronologically by book. Books include Drawn and Quartered, Gang of Nine, The King and Us, Pro and Conrad, and When in the Course of Current Events. Includes chapters, contracts, correspondence, and proposals for other books and projects.
    6. Lectures and Speeches (Box 213- 216), arranged chronologically. Each speech has its own folder, titled when possible. Includes some Whittier College class lectures, and speeches to various groups. There is a lot of overlap in this series, often with only a different one-page introduction.
    7. Lawsuits (Box 217), Conrad was sued twice for defamation of character, once by Mayor Tom Yorty and once by Union Oil's CEO Fred Hartly. He was also sued by Bill Mauldin for using the characters Willie and Joe. Also, miscellaneous cases (flag burning, First Amendment) in which Conrad is interested or is listed as Amicus Curiae.
    8. Photographs (Boxes 218- 220), arranged chronologically. Many are portraits of Conrad at his drawing table, also photographs from journalism events, balloon races, and photos sent by friends. Notable people appearing in photographs include Gerald Ford, Ethel Kennedy, Art Buchwald and Conrad's wife Kay. Many were not well labeled, and the given dates are estimates based on how Conrad looks compared to photos where dates are known. Also, one binder of slides, mostly of his cartoons.
    9. Ephemera (Boxes 221- 227), arranged in alphabetical sub-categories. Includes lists, photocopies, exhibit materials, newspaper clippings and calendars.
    10. Tear sheets (Boxes 228- 237), unbound and bound, arranged chronologically. Conrad's cartoons from the Denver Post.
    11. Original cartoons- Part II (Boxes 238- 264), arranged chronologically, from 1995- 2000. There are 40- 50 cartoons per box. Each cartoon has its own folder.
    12. Rough sketches and photocopies- Part II (Boxes 265- 270) arranged chronologically in six-month, one year or multi-decade groups. Sketches are matched with a photocopy of the final cartoon when possible, but this is rare.
    13. Correspondence- Part II (Boxes 270- 271), arranged alphabetically.
    14. Photographs- Part II (Box 271), arranged chronologically.
    15. Ephemera- Part II (Boxes 271- 272), arranged in alphabetical subcategories. Includes comment cards from the Huntington Library exhibit, lists and photocopies, and miscellaneous items.
    16. Original cartoons- Part III (Boxes 273- 284), arranged chronologically, from 2001- 2003. There are 40- 50 cartoons per box. Each cartoon has its own folder.

    Related Materials in the Huntington Library

    1. Paul Conrad papers, addenda, 1937-2010, (bulk 2003-2010)  
    2. Corwin, Norman, 1910-2011. The Adventures of Reagan Hood : unpublished book written jointly with Paul Conrad, 1972-1994, corrected typescript, correspondence and research and source material.  
    3. Los Angeles Times records, 1869-2002.   (mssLAT)

    Arrangement

    Organized in the following series: Part 1: 1.Original cartoons (Boxes 1-106), 2.Original cartoons- oversize (Boxes 107- 167), 3.Rough sketches and photocopies (Boxes 168- 191), 4.Correspondence (Boxes 192- 211), 5.Book files (Box 212), 6.Lectures and Speeches (Box 213- 216), 7.Lawsuits (Box 217), 8.Photographs (Boxes 218- 220), 9.Ephemera (Boxes 221- 227), 10.Tear sheets (Boxes 228- 237); Part II: 11.Original cartoons (Boxes 238- 264),12.Rough sketches and photocopies (Boxes 265- 270), 13.Correspondence(Boxes 270- 271), 14.Photographs (Box 271), 15. Ephemera (Boxes 271- 272); Part III: 16.Original cartoons- Part III (Boxes 273- 284).

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Artists -- United States -- Archives
    Editorial cartoonists -- United States -- Archives
    Editorial cartoons -- United States -- 20th century
    Los Angeles (Calif.)
    United States -- Politics and government -- Caricatures and cartoons.
    Editorial cartoons -- United States -- 20th century
    Personal papers -- United States -- 20th century
    Professional papers -- United States -- 20th century
    Los Angeles Times (Firm)