Guide to the Virgil Partch Cartoons and Artwork
MS.M.002
Finding aid prepared by Joanna Lamb; edited by Sara Seltzer
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries
The UCI Libraries
P.O. Box 19557
University of California, Irvine
Irvine, California, 92623-9557
949-824-3947
spcoll@uci.edu
© 2013
Title: Virgil Partch cartoons and artwork
Identifier/Call Number: MS.M.002
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
14.9 linear feet
(21 boxes and 1 oversize folder)
Date (inclusive): circa 1930s-1974
Abstract: Virgil Partch, also known as Vip, was the creator of the popular syndicated cartoon
Big George and also had a successful career as a freelance cartoonist and book illustrator in the United States from the 1950s to the
1980s. In addition to original
Big George cartoons, this collection includes original artwork created by Partch for numerous magazines including
Collier's,
True, and the
New Yorker. It also includes art work for two children's books,
The Dog Who Snored Symphonies and
The Christmas Cookie Sprinkle Snatcher.
Creator:
Vip, 1916-1984
Access
The collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Property rights reside with the University of California. Copyrights are retained by the creators of the records and their
heirs. For permission to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head of Special Collections and Archives.
Preferred Citation
Virgil Partch cartoons and artwork. MS-M002. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California.
Date accessed.
For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this
collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Virgil Partch, 1974.
Processing History
Joanna Lamb, assisted by Anne Nguyen, 2010.
Biography
Virgil Partch, also known as Vip, was the creator of the popular syndicated cartoons
Big George and
The Captains' Gig. He was a successful freelance cartoonist and book illustrator in the United States from the 1950s to the 1980s and was widely
known for drawing outlandish characters with distorted anotomy. His cartoons were published in numerous magazines including
Collier's,
True,
Playboy, and
The New Yorker. He also published 19 books of cartoons and illustrated 12 others, including the two children's books
,The Dog Who Snored Symphonies and
The Christmas Cookie Sprinkle Snatcher. Partch was killed in a car accident in 1984.
Virgil Franklin Partch was born to U.S. Navy petty officer Paul Chester Partch and civilian Anna Pavaloff on October 17, 1916
on St. Paul Island, Alaska. Partch's father was stationed at naval radio stations in Alaska and the West Coast and the family
moved often. In 1929 Paul Partch retired from the Navy and the family settled in Tucson, Arizona where Virgil Partch attended
a local middle school. At Tuscon High School, Partch played football, baseball, and drew cartoons for the school newspaper.
Even at this early stage of his career Partch had adopted the artists monogram Vip. The letter i in Vip was initially meant
to represent the f of his middle name, but was so often mistaken for the letter i by Partch's classmates that Partch decided
to adopt the letter i, creating the well-known moniker Vip.
Partch attended the University of Arizona as a Fine Art major for one year before moving to Los Angeles, California to attend
the Chouinard Arts School, a training ground for Disney animators. In 1937, after attending six months of classes at Chouinard,
Partch took and failed the Disney Studio drawing test. Soon after he was hired as a messenger at Disney Studios and eventually
progressed to the position of assistant animator. In 1938 Partch met and married Helen Marie Aldridge, an 18-year-old art
student. The couple had three children together: Peter, Anna, and Nicholas.
While employed at Disney, Partch was often reproached for his refusal to adhere to the guidelines for drawing Mickey Mouse.
During the 1941 Disney strike Partch began drawing and submitting freelance cartoons to magazines, and he did not return to
Disney following the end of the strike. The first magazine to purchase one of his cartoons was
Collier's, a popular magazine published between 1888 and 1957. This purchase led to a long and thriving partnership between the artist
and the magazine and represented the first success of Partch as a freelance cartoonist. He would eventually publish works
in the
New Yorker,
the Saturday Evening Post,
Liberty,
This Week,
True, and
Playboy. In addition to working as a freelance cartoonist at this time, Partch accepted a position at the Walter Lantz Production
Studios. Disagreements over the depiction of one of the studios main cartoon characters, Woody Woodpecker, led to Partch's
resignation from the Studio and his determination to launch full-time freelance career. Partch's cartoons are easily recognized
and frequently include characters with distorted anatomy. His human characters often include an excessive number of fingers,
a trait Partch claimed was the direct result of his time drawing three-fingered characters at Disney. He was also widely known
for cartoons that depict literal interpretations of common expressions and for his popular sex and alcohol related cartoons.
On September 23, 1944 Partch joined the United States Army and was stationed at Fort Ord in Monterey Bay, California where
he drew cartoons for the base newspaper the
Panorama. During this period Partch continued to submit freelance work to magazines and illustrate advertisements, and he began to
draw numerous cartoons depicting military life which were included in
Collier's. In 1945, while still enrolled in the Army,
Collier's published the first collection of Partch cartoons in book format,
It's Hot in Here. Partch would go on to publish 19 books and illustrate 12 others.
In the 1950s Partch moved to Balboa Island in Newport Beach, California with his family before building a home overlooking
the ocean in nearby Corona Del Mar. During this time he began publishing numerous cartoons, calendars, and other materials
with
True Magazine and also served as the True Humor Editor for a brief time. In 1953 a
VIP on Sex cartoon was included on the cover of the first edition of
Playboy alongside actress Marilyn Monroe. Partch often met other well-know cartoonist at the Ivy House Restaurant in Laguna Beach
to discuss their work over lunch. The group was known to sign autographs and give out sketches during their lunches.
Partch created the syndicated feature
Big George in the 1960s about a middle-aged family man.
Big George was initially syndicated as a single frame cartoon and was later developed into a comic strip for Sunday distribution. The
strip was published through the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. In addition to creating a second syndicated comic strip in 1977,
The Captain's Gig, Partch was also a founding member of the Famous Artist School. In 1971 Partch's eyesight began to deteriorate and he was
forced to use an engraver's magnifying tool to complete his cartoons. Partch and his wife were killed in an automobile accident
north of Los Angeles, California on Interstate 5 on August 4, 1984.
Collection Scope and Content Summary
This collection comprises approximately 3,700 comics, cartoons, illustrations, and other original drawings and artwork created
by cartoonist Virgil Partch, also known as Vip. The majority of the collection consists of original cartoons and comic strips
of Partch's syndicated feature
Big George, which appeared in over 300 newspapers throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Samples of freelance cartoons that were published
in
Collier's,
Liberty,
Look,
True, and the
New Yorker are included along with original calendar illustrations produced and sold for
True magazine. Partch illustrated several books and this collection includes the galleys and original illustrations from two children's
books,
The Dog who Snored Symphonies and
The Christmas Cookie Sprinkle Snatcher as well as the cover art for Partch's first published book
It's Hot in Here. Additionally this collection includes early abstract artwork from the 1940s and 1950s.
Collection Arrangement
This collection is arranged in four series:
- Series 1. Big George cartoons and comic strips, 1961-1974 and undated, 10 linear feet
- Series 2. Children's Book illustrations, circa 1969-1971, 0.8 linear feet
- Series 3. Freelance cartoons, 1944-1974 and undated, 2 linear feet
- Series 4. Original art, 1930s-1962 and undated, 2.1 linear feet
Separation Note
The following books were removed from this collection and cataloged separately in Special Collections and Archives:
-
Armed Farces
-
The Art of Being A Successful Student
-
Bar Guide
-
Big George
-
Cartoon 62
-
Cartoon 64
-
Cartoons Out of My Own Head
-
Crazy Cartoons
-
The Dead Game Sportsmen
-
Funny Cartoons
-
Hanging Way Over
-
Here We Go Again
-
It's Hot In Here
-
Le Monde Etrange de Virgil Partch
-
Man the Beast
-
Man the Beast and the Wild, Wild Women
-
New Faces on the Barroom Floor
-
Nowhere Near Everest: An Ascent to the Height of the Ridiculous!
-
Où Va-T-il Les Cherchers?
-
Sport am Morgen
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Caricatures and cartoons -- California -- 20th century
Cartooning -- California -- 20th century
Cartoonists -- California -- 20th century -- Archives
Cartoonists -- California -- Orange County
Cartoons (humorous images)
Children's literature -- 20th century
Comic strips
Illustrations
Big George cartoons and comic strips Series 1.
1961-1974 and undated
Series Scope and Content Summary
Big George was a syndicated cartoon and comic strip created by Virgil Partch in 1960 that was published through the 1980s. The syndicated
feature began as single panel cartoon, but comic strips were soon added for Sunday distribution. The cartoon follows the antics
of a middle-aged man, his family, and pets. Partch's outlandish comic style and common addition of extra fingers were toned
down for the syndicate. This series includes original black and white and color cartoon and comic strip drawings, over-sized
cartoons created for the Steve Allen Show, and a small number of printed proofs from the syndicate.
Series Arrangement
This series is arranged alphabetically by topic.
Box 20, Folder 4
Cartoon displays for the Steve Allen Show
1964 January
Subject files
Arrangement Note
The arrangement preserves the intellectual order imposed by the creator.
Box 4, Folder 2-3
Baseball
1963-1969 and undated
Box 4, Folder 4-11
Business, male friend
1963-1969 and undated
Box 4, Folder 12-14, Box 5, Folder 1-2
Cat, dog
1962-1973 and undated
Box 5, Folder 3
Christmas, New Year's
1964-1969
Box 5, Folder 5-13
Family, home, wife, husband
1963-1969 and undated
Box 6, Folder 3-4
Golf
1963-1969 and undated
Box 6, Folder 6-7
Kids
1964-1969 and undated
Box 6, Folder 9
Poker & checkers
1963-1968
Box 6, Folder 10
Police and driving
1963-1968 and undated
Box 6, Folder 11-13
Pools, beach, sports, hunting
undated
Box 6, Folder 15-17
Yardwork, fix-it, hobbies, picnic, barbeque
undated
Box 20, Folder 5-6
Color copies
1966-1967
Note
There is one color copy that does not have a corresponding black and white counterpart.
Box 13, Folder 1-4, Box 14, Folder 1-2
Children's book illustrations Series 2.
circa 1969-1971
Series Scope and Content Summary
Virgil Partch published nineteen books and illustrated twelve others including children's books. This series includes original
illustrations and galley proofs from two children's books,
The Christmas Cookie Sprinkle Snatcher and
Ludwig: The Dog that Snored Symphonies.
Series Arrangement
This series is arranged alphabetically by book title.
The Christmas Cookie Sprinkle Snatcher
Box 15, Folder 1
Galley proof
1969 April 30
Box 15, Folder 2-3
Black and white illustrations
circa 1968-1969
Box 15, Folder 4
Color illustrations
circa 1968-1969
Ludwig: The Dog That Snored Symphonies
Box 15, Folder 5
Original drawings
circa 1970
Freelance cartoons Series 3.
1944-1974
Series Scope and Content Summary
Virgil Partch was a successful freelance cartoonist and his cartoons were featured repeatedly in many magazines. This series
includes original cartoon drawings that were published in numerous magazine and newspapers. Also included are oversize materials
and calendar artwork created for
Collier's and
True magazines, the two publications that most often features Partch's work.
Series Arrangement
This series is arranged by publication when known and also by subject or form.
Box 16, Folder 1-8
Dated files
1944-1960 and undated
Subject files
Arrangement Note
The arrangement preserves the intellectual order imposed by the creator.
Box 19, Folder 7
Oversized cartoons
undated
Box 17, Folder 4
Framed magazine originals
1962 and undated
Physical Description
These materials were identified as framed cartoons and include attached backings. At least one image is from
Collier's. The other publishers were not identified.
Box 17, Folder 5-6
King Features Syndicate
1944-1951 and undated
Box 17, Folder 7-9
Liberty and others
circa 1940s and undated
Box 17, Folder 10-11
Look
1954-1963
Physical Description: Color finishes.
Box 18, Folder 1
Los Angeles Times
undated
Box 19, Folder 5
Artwork for magazine cover
1958
Box 18, Folder 4-6
Black and white originals
undated
Subject files
Arrangement Note
The arrangement preserves the intellectual order imposed by the creator.
Box 18, Folder 8
Drinking and hunting features
undated
Box 18, Folder 2
Unknown publications
undated
Original art Series 4.
1930s-1962 and undated
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series consists of original artwork and drawings. The early drawings and early painting are not cartoon related and depict
abstract representations of the human form. This series also includes three oversize paintings that may have been created
as cover art for Partch's books and several playful poster sized pencil drawings, including two works depicting Virgil Partch
and his wife on the trapeze. The poster
Mano a Mano appears to have been created by Bill MacIntyre and given to Partch as a gift.
Series Arrangement
This series is arranged alphabetically.
Box 19, Folder 8
Early drawings
circa 1930s
Box 20, Folder 2-3
Early paintings
1943 and 1953
Box 19, Folder 9
Funny Stuff Down Here
undated
Box 20, Folder 1
It's Hot In Here cover art
circa 1942
Folder XOS 1
Let's Go painting
1962
Physical Description: Signed "Vipper".
Box 21
The Flying Partches (to Anderson)
undated
Physical Description: Pencil sketch, grey and red. 18"x62"
Box 21
The Flying Partches
undated
Physical Description: Black and rust paint and pastel. 18"x62"
Box 21
For A Limited Engagement
undated
Box 21
Mano a Mano by Bill MacIntyre
1930s-1962 and undated
Physical Description: Sketch of matador; paint and pastel.
Box 18, Folder 10
Skilton cartoon
late 1940s
Acquisition Note
Donated by David Skilton in 2008.
Folder XOS 1
Untitled sketch for painting
undated
