John Fischetti Papers, 1942-1995

Gift of Karen Fischetti, Sept. 10, 1998, with subsequent donations from Joseph E. Geshwiler, 2005-2006.

The John Fischetti Papers are open for research in the Special Collections Reading Room; 1 box at a time (Priority III).

The John Fischetti Papers are the physical property of the Newberry Library. Copyright may belong to the authors or their legal heirs or assigns. For permission to publish or reproduce any materials from this collection, contact the Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections.

John Fischetti Papers, The Newberry Library, Chicago.

Aaron Gordon, 2000-2003; and Pamela Olson, 2004

This inventory was created with the generous support of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this inventory do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

John Fischetti was born in Brooklyn, New York on Sept. 27, 1916, the youngest in an Italian family of four children. His urge to draw developed early and, in fact, he graduated from the Pratt Technical Institute before earning his high school diploma. After graduation he went to California and worked for the Disney Studio. Eye strain forced him to give up animation and he moved to Chicago where he began working for Coronet and Esquire magazines. When Marshall Field started the Chicago Sun and bought up the Coronet/Esquire syndicate, Fischetti began doing political cartoons for the Sun; however, World War II intervened and he spent the latter part of it cartooning for Stars and Stripes. When his Sun job was no longer available after the war, he moved to New York and joined Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA), and then the New York Herald Tribune. It folded in 1966 and he moved back to Chicago and the Chicago Daily News, where he was given complete autonomy to choose his styles and topics. Fischetti was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1968. After the Daily News ceased publication in 1978, he finished his career at the Chicago Sun-Times. John Fischetti died on Nov. 18, 1980.

Political cartoons and sketches by John Fischetti, along with awards, newspaper clippings, and photographs pertaining to his life and work.

The bulk of the collection consists of original political cartoons by John Fischetti which were published in the newspapers the Chicago Daily News, the Chicago Sun-Times, and the New York Herald-Tribune. The cartoons cover international and national issues, with a large number focusing on the Soviet Union, the Vietnam War, the Nixon and Carter presidencies, inflation, human rights, and social problems.

In addition to the political cartoons, there is a small amount of miscellaneous material by and about Fischetti. Included are newspaper articles about awards he won, his life, and death; photographs of Fischetti at work and with friends; sketches, and smaller cartoons. There are also several cartoons by other artists including Jim Borgman, Morrie Brickman, Johnny Hart, Wayne Stayskal, Bill Yates, and Jim Yepo. Along with these are two poster-size cards to Fischetti, featuring cartoons by Al Hainke and Jack Jordan, and signed by employees at the Daily News.

Both the Chicago Historical Society and Ohio State University also hold significant papers and cartoons of John Fischetti.

Papers are organized in the following series:

Title Box Series 1: Political Cartoons Boxes 1-27 Series 2: Miscellaneous Boxes 28-29

• Names
  • Borgman, Jim
  • Brickman, Morrie, 1917-1994
  • Carter, Jimmy, 1924-
  • Chicago Daily News, Inc.
  • Chicago sun-times.
  • Ford, Gerald R., 1913-
  • Hainke, Al
  • Hart, Johnny
  • Jordan, Jack
  • New York Herald Tribune.
  • Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-
  • Reagan, Ronald
  • Stayskal, Wayne
  • Yates, Bill
  • Yepo, Jim
• Subject
  • Arts
  • Chicago
  • Economic & social conditions -- United States -- Caricatures and cartoons
  • International relations -- United States -- Caricatures and cartoons
  • Journalism
  • Manuscripts, American -- Illinois -- Chicago
  • Political cartoons
  • Presidential elections -- United States -- Caricatures and cartoons
  • Presidents -- United States -- Caricatures and cartoons
  • Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Caricatures and cartoons
  • World politics -- Caricatures and cartoons -- History -- 20th century
• Geographic CoverageUnited States -- Politics and government -- 1962-1980 -- Caricatures and cartoons