John Fischetti Papers

Descriptive Summary

Title
John Fischetti Papers
Identifier
Midwest.MS.Fischetti
Repository
The Newberry Library - Modern Manuscripts
Language
English
Size
15.0 linear feet (1 box and 28 oversize boxes)
Dates
1942-1995
Collection Stack Location
1 18 7, 1 19 7, 1 16 7
Abstract
Political cartoons and assorted miscellaneous items (clippings, photographs, correspondence, etc.) of Pulitzer Prize-winning artist John Fischetti. Fischetti worked for several newspapers and magazines during his long career, including Coronet, Esquire, the Chicago Sun, the New York Herald Tribune, the Chicago Daily News, and the Chicago Sun-Times.
Creator
Fischetti, John R.

Provenance

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

Conditions Governing Access

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

Ownership and Literary Rights

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.

Cite As

John Fischetti Papers, The Newberry Library, Chicago.

Processed by

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

Acknowledgements

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.

Processing Information note

This collection was surveyed as part of the Black Metropolis Research Consortium's Survey Initiative on 2011 April 6 by Andrew Steadham.

Biography of John Fischetti

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.

Scope and Content of the Collection

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.

Related Archival Materials note

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

Organization

Papers are organized in the following series:

    Title Box
    Series 1: Political Cartoons, 1962-1980
    Boxes 1-27
    Series 2: Miscellaneous, 1942-1995
    Boxes 28-29

Appendix: Books Cataloged Separately

  • Rapoport, Daniel. Inside the House : an irreverent guided tour through the House of Representatives, from the days of Adam Clayton Powell to those of Peter Rodino. Book jacket illustration by John Fischetti. Chicago: Follett Pub. Co., 1975
  • Klein, Lenore. Brave Daniel; the story of a brave boy. Illustrated by John Fischetti. New York: William R. Scott, 1958 [hardback]
  • Klein, Lenore. Brave Daniel; the story of a brave boy. Illustrated by John Fischetti. New York: Scholastic Book Services, 1964 [paperback]

Catalog Record

https://i-share-nby.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01CARLI_NBY/i5mcb2/alma992006238805867

Indexed Terms

Indexed Terms

Inventory

Series 1: Political Cartoons,
1962-1980
Scope and Contents note

Political cartoons by John Fischetti, arranged by topic and size. Topics include international relations between countries such as China, Iran, France, Germany, the Soviet Union, the United States, and Vietnam. Topics covering national affairs include politics, presidents Nixon, Carter, Ford, and Reagan, the economy, the military, civil rights, urban problems, and labor issues. Includes oversize works, as indicated. See Boxes 25-27.

Arrangement note

Arranged by size, and alphabetically by topic thereunder.

Box 1
Folder 1-13
Title
International Relations - Africa,
Dates
n.d., 1964-1977
Box 1
Folder 14-31
Title
International Relations - China, see also Oversize,
Dates
n.d., 1964-1977,
Box 1
Folder 32-44
Title
International Relations - Cuba, see also Oversize,
Dates
n.d., 1963-1980
Box 1
Folder 45-52
Title
International Relations - Egypt,
Dates
n.d., 1967-1977
Box 1
Folder 53-62
Title
International Relations - France, Nos. 1-10, see also Oversize,
Dates
n.d., 1963-1964
Box 2
Folder 63-89
Title
International Relations - France, Nos. 11-37, see also Oversize,
Dates
1964-1969
Box 2
Folder 90-95
Title
International Relations - General European Issues, see also Oversize,
Dates
1964-1969
Box 2
Folder 96-110
Title
International Relations - General International Issues, see also Oversize,
Dates
1963-1978
Box 2
Folder 111-116
Title
International Relations - Germany, see also Oversize,
Dates
n.d., 1965-1972
Box 2
Folder 117-131
Title
International Relations - Great Britain and Ireland, see also oversize,
Dates
1963-1976
Box 3
Folder 132-142
Title
International Relations - Greece,
Dates
n.d., 1967-1973
Box 3
Folder 143-150
Title
International Relations - India, see also Oversize,
Dates
1967-1980
Box 3
Folder 151-162
Title
International Relations - Iran,
Dates
1978-1980
Box 3
Folder 163-178
Title
International Relations - Israel, see also Oversize,
Dates
1967-1980
Box 3
Folder 179-180
Title
International Relations - Italy,
Dates
1976
Box 3
Folder 181-197
Title
International Relations - Kissinger, Henry, Nos. 1-17,
Dates
1971-1975
Box 4
Folder 198-209
Title
International Relations - Kissinger, Henry, Nos. 18-29,
Dates
1975-1980
Box 4
Folder 210-218
Title
International Relations - Latin America,
Dates
1963-1979
Box 4
Folder 219-233
Title
International Relations - Middle East,
Dates
1966-1980
Box 4
Folder 234-263
Title
International Relations - Soviet Union, Nos. 1-30, see also Oversize,
Dates
n.d., 1964-1973
Box 5
Folder 264-270a
Title
International Relations - Soviet Union, Nos. 31-37, see also Oversize,
Dates
1973-1980
Box 5
Folder 271-280
Title
International Relations - Soviet Union and Afghanistan,
Dates
1979-1980
Box 5
Folder 281-295
Title
International Relations - Soviet Union and China, see also Oversize,
Dates
n.d., 1963-1980
Box 5
Folder 296-310
Title
International Relations - Soviet Union and Europe,
Dates
1964-1980
Box 5
Folder 311-314
Title
International Relations - Spain,
Dates
n.d., 1967-1975
Box 5
Folder 315-320
Title
International Relations - U. S. and China,
Dates
1964-1979
Box 6
Folder 321-330
Title
International Relations - U. S. and Other Countries,
Dates
n.d., 1965-1979
Box 6
Folder 331-354
Title
International Relations - U. S. and Soviet Union,
Dates
1967-1980
Box 6
Folder 355-374
Title
International Relations - Vietnam, Nos. 1-20,
Dates
ca. 1963-1967
Box 7
Folder 375-436
Title
International Relations - Vietnam, Nos. 21-82,
Dates
1967-1979
Box 8
Folder 437-452
Title
National Affairs - CIA/Pentagon, see also Oversize,
Dates
n.d., 1963-1975
Box 8
Folder 453-490
Title
National Affairs - Congress, Nos. 1-38, see also Oversize,
Dates
n.d., 1963-1977
Box 9
Folder 491-498
Title
National Affairs - Congress, Nos. 39-46, see also Oversize,
Dates
1977-1980
Box 9
Folder 499-512
Title
National Affairs - Courts and Law,
Dates
n.d., 1969-1979
Box 9
Folder 513-518
Title
National Affairs - Economy - Budget,
Dates
1965-1980
Box 9
Folder 519-539
Title
National Affairs - Economy - Energy Crisis,
Dates
1973-1980
Box 9
Folder 540-550
Title
National Affairs - Economy - Inflation and Unemployment, Nos. 1-11,
Dates
1967-1970
Box 10
Folder 551-621
Title
National Affairs - Economy - Inflation and Unemployment, Nos. 12-82,
Dates
1970-1980
Box 11
Folder 622-662
Title
National Affairs - Economy - Miscellaneous, see also Oversize,
Dates
1966-1980
Box 11
Folder 663-682
Title
National Affairs - Economy - Social Problems,
Dates
n.d., 1967-1978
Box 11
Folder 683-687
Title
National Affairs - Government Bureaucracy, see also Oversize,
Dates
1971-1980
Box 12
Folder 688-716
Title
National Affairs - Military, see also Oversize,
Dates
n.d., 1964-1980
Box 12
Folder 717-725
Title
National Affairs - NASA, see also Oversize,
Dates
n.d., 1964-1979
Box 12
Folder 726-727
Title
National Affairs - Politics - Chicago,
Dates
1971
Box 12
Folder 728-734
Title
National Affairs - Politics - Democratic Party - Kennedy, Robert, see also Oversize,
Dates
1964-1968
Box 12
Folder 735-741
Title
National Affairs - Politics - Democratic Party - Kennedy, Ted,
Dates
1979-1980
Box 13
Folder 742-765
Title
National Affairs - Politics - Democratic Party - McGovern, George,
Dates
1972
Box 13
Folder 766-772
Title
National Affairs - Politics - Democratic Party - Miscellaneous,
Dates
1970-1979
Box 13
Folder 773-774
Title
National Affairs - Politics - Democratic Party - Wallace, George,
Dates
n.d.
Box 13
Folder 775-800
Title
National Affairs - Politics - Miscellaneous, see also Oversize,
Dates
n.d., 1964-1980
Box 14
Folder 801-815
Title
National Affairs - Politics - Presidential Campaigns - Carter, Jimmy vs. Ford, Gerald,
Dates
1976
Box 14
Folder 816-823a
Title
National Affairs - Politics - Presidential Campaigns - Carter, Jimmy vs. Reagan, Ronald,
Dates
1980
Box 14
Folder 824-843
Title
National Affairs - Politics - Presidential Campaigns - Nixon, Richard, see also Oversize,
Dates
n.d., 1966-1968
Box 14
Folder 844-851
Title
National Affairs - Politics - Presidential Campaigns - Reagan, Ronald,
Dates
1980
Box 14
Folder 852-861
Title
National Affairs - Politics - Presidents - Carter, Jimmy, Nos. 1-10,
Dates
1976-1977
Box 15
Folder 862-905
Title
National Affairs - Politics - Presidents - Carter, Jimmy, Nos. 11-54,
Dates
1977-1980
Box 15
Folder 906-925
Title
National Affairs - Politics - Presidents - Ford, Gerald, Nos. 1-20,
Dates
1974-1975
Box 16
Folder 926-936
Title
National Affairs - Politics - Presidents - Ford, Gerald, Nos. 21-40,
Dates
1975-1977
Box 16
Folder 937-974
Title
National Affairs - Politics - Presidents - Johnson, Lyndon, Nos. 1-38,
Dates
1963-1967
Box 17
Folder 975-990
Title
National Affairs - Politics - Presidents - Johnson, Lyndon, Nos. 39-54,
Dates
1967-1969
Box 17
Folder 991-1032
Title
National Affairs - Politics - Presidents - Nixon, Richard, Nos. 1-42,
Dates
1963-1970
Box 18
Folder 1033-1091
Title
National Affairs - Politics - Presidents - Nixon, Richard, Nos. 43-101,
Dates
1970-1974
Box 19
Folder 1092-1095
Title
National Affairs - Politics - Presidents - Nixon, Richard, Nos. 102-105,
Dates
1974-1978
Box 19
Folder 1096-1117
Title
National Affairs - Politics - Presidents - Nixon, Richard - Watergate,
Dates
1972-1977
Box 19
Folder 1118-1131
Title
National Affairs - Politics - Republican Party - Goldwater, Barry,
Dates
1963-1969
Box 19
Folder 1132-1152
Title
National Affairs - Politics - Republican Party - Miscellaneous, Nos. 1-21,
Dates
n.d., 1964-1974
Box 20
Folder 1153-1162
Title
National Affairs - Politics - Republican Party - Miscellaneous, Nos. 22-31,
Dates
1976-1980
Box 20
Folder 1163-1187
Title
National Affairs - Politics - Republican Party - Presidential Primaries - Reagan, Ronald vs. Ford, Gerald,
Dates
1975-1980
Box 20
Folder 1188-1200
Title
National Affairs - Politics - Republican Party - Presidential Primaries - Rockefeller, Nelson,
Dates
1963-1968
Box 20
Folder 1201-1211
Title
National Affairs - Politics - Vice-Presidents, Agnew, Spiro, Nos. 1-11,
Dates
1968-1970
Box 21
Folder 1212-1218
Title
National Affairs - Politics - Vice-Presidents, Agnew, Spiro, Nos. 12-18,
Dates
1970-1974
Box 21
Folder 1219-1251
Title
National Affairs - Social Commentary - Civil Rights, see also Oversize,
Dates
1963-1979
Box 21
Folder 1252-1254
Title
National Affairs - Social Commentary - Crime,
Dates
1969-1973
Box 21
Folder 1255-1257
Title
National Affairs - Social Commentary - Education, see also Oversize,
Dates
1963-1980
Box 21
Folder 1258-1266
Title
National Affairs - Social Commentary - Environment,
Dates
1962-1980
Box 22
Folder 1267-1269
Title
National Affairs - Social Commentary - Firearms,
Dates
1964-1977
Box 22
Folder 1270-1276
Title
National Affairs - Social Commentary - Health Issues, see also Oversize,
Dates
n.d., 1964-1978
Box 22
Folder 1277-1294
Title
National Affairs - Social Commentary - Labor, see also Oversize,
Dates
n.d., 1964-1979
Box 22
Folder 1295-1311
Title
National Affairs - Social Commentary - Media, see also Oversize,
Dates
n.d., 1966-1980
Box 22
Folder 1312-1318
Title
National Affairs - Social Commentary - Miscellaneous, Nos. 1-7, see also Oversize,
Dates
n.d.
Box 22
Folder 1319-1365
Title
National Affairs - Social Commentary - Miscellaneous, Nos. 8-54, see also Oversize,
Dates
1963-1980
Box 23
Folder 1366-1373
Title
National Affairs - Social Commentary - Protest,
Dates
n.d., 1968-1970
Box 24
Folder 1374-1375
Title
National Affairs - Social Commentary - Sports,
Dates
n.d., 1974
Box 24
Folder 1376-1399
Title
National Affairs - Social Commentary - Urban Problems, see also Oversize,
Dates
n.d., 1963-1980
Box 24
Folder 1400-1403
Title
National Affairs - Social Commentary - Women's Issues, see also Oversize,
Dates
1966-1970
Box 24
Folder 1404-1406
Title
National Affairs - Terrorism,
Dates
1968-1977
Box 25
Folder 1407
Title
Oversize - International Relations - China,
Dates
n.d.
Box 25
Folder 1408-1413
Title
Oversize - International Relations - Cuba,
Dates
1962
Box 25
Folder 1414-1417
Title
Oversize - International Relations - France,
Dates
1962
Box 25
Folder 1418
Title
Oversize - International Relations - General European Issues,
Dates
1962
Box 25
Folder 1419-1422
Title
Oversize - International Relations - General International Issues,
Dates
1962
Box 25
Folder 1423-1426
Title
Oversize - International Relations - Germany,
Dates
1962-1963
Box 25
Folder 1427-1428
Title
Oversize - International Relations - Great Britain and Ireland,
Dates
1962-1963
Box 25
Folder 1429-1430
Title
Oversize - International Relations - India,
Dates
1962-1963
Box 25
Folder 1431
Title
Oversize - International Relations - Israel,
Dates
1977
Box 26
Folder 1432-1440
Title
Oversize - International Relations - Soviet Union,
Dates
1962
Box 26
Folder 1441-1442
Title
Oversize - International Relations - Soviet Union and China,
Dates
1962
Box 26
Folder 1443
Title
Oversize - National Affairs - CIA/Pentagon,
Dates
1962
Box 26
Folder 1444
Title
Oversize - National Affairs - Congress,
Dates
1962
Box 26
Folder 1445-1446
Title
Oversize - National Affairs - Economy - Miscellaneous,
Dates
n.d., 1962
Box 26
Folder 1447
Title
Oversize - National Affairs - Government Bureaucracy,
Dates
n.d.
Box 26
Folder 1448
Title
Oversize - National Affairs - Military,
Dates
n.d.
Box 26
Folder 1449
Title
Oversize - National Affairs - NASA,
Dates
n.d.
Box 26
Folder 1450
Title
Oversize - National Affairs - Politics - Democratic Party - Kennedy, Robert,
Dates
n.d.
Box 26
Folder 1451-1454
Title
Oversize - National Affairs - Politics - Miscellaneous, Nos. 1-4,
Dates
1962
Box 27
Folder 1455-1458
Title
Oversize - National Affairs - Politics - Miscellaneous, Nos. 5-8,
Dates
1962
Box 27
Folder 1459
Title
Oversize - National Affairs - Politics - Presidents - Nixon, Richard,
Dates
1963
Box 27
Folder 1460-1464
Title
Oversize - National Affairs - Social Commentary - Civil Rights,
Dates
n.d., 1962-1964
Box 27
Folder 1465
Title
Oversize - National Affairs - Social Commentary - Education,
Dates
1962
Box 27
Folder 1466
Title
Oversize - National Affairs - Social Commentary - Health Issues,
Dates
n.d.
Box 27
Folder 1467-1468
Title
Oversize - National Affairs - Social Commentary - Labor,
Dates
1962
Box 27
Folder 1469
Title
Oversize - National Affairs - Social Commentary - Media,
Dates
1962
Box 27
Folder 1470-1480
Title
Oversize - National Affairs - Social Commentary - Miscellaneous,
Dates
n.d., 1962
Box 27
Folder 1481
Title
Oversize - National Affairs - Social Commentary - Urban Problems,
Dates
n.d.
Box 27
Folder 1482
Title
Oversize - National Affairs - Social Commentary - Women's Issues,
Dates
1962
Series 2: Miscellaneous,
1942-1995
Scope and Contents note

This series includes material about Fischetti's awards, including the Pulitzer Prize and Sigma Delta Chi award. Further materials include two brief biographies, newspaper clippings, obituaries, and articles published after his death regarding the Fischetti Editorial Cartoon Competition and exhibit at Columbia College, Chicago. There are a handful of photographs of the cartoonist at work and with others, including Studs Terkel, Bob Cromie, and Bill Mauldin. Also included are small sketches by Fischetti, and cartoons by other artists such as Jim Borgman, Morrie Brickman, Johnny Hart, and Wayne Stayskal. In addition, there are two poster-size cards to Fischetti, featuring cartoons by Al Hainke and Jack Jordan, and signed by employees at the Daily News. See Box 29 for oversize materials.

Arrangement note

Arranged by size, and alphabetically by topic thereunder.

Box 28
Folder 1483
Title
Awards,
Dates
1954-1974
Box 28
Folder 1484
Title
Biography - From Exhibit at Chicago Public Library Cultural Center,
Dates
1986
Box 28
Folder 1485
Title
Biography - Pratt Profiles,
Dates
1964
Box 28
Folder 1486
Title
Card with Cartoon by Al Hainke, Signed by Fischetti's Colleagues: see Oversize,
Dates
1973
Box 28
Folder 1487
Title
Card with Cartoon by Jack Jordan, Signed by Fischetti's Colleagues: see Oversize,
Dates
ca. 1972
Box 28
Folder 1488
Title
Cartoons by Others - Borgman, Jim,
Dates
n.d.
Box 28
Folder 1489
Title
Cartoons by Others - Brickman, Morrie: see Oversize,
Dates
n.d.
Box 28
Folder 1490
Title
Cartoons by Others - Hart, Johnny,
Dates
n.d.
Box 28
Folder 1491
Title
Cartoons by Others - Stayskal, Wayne,
Dates
n.d.
Box 28
Folder 1492
Title
Cartoons by Others - Yates, Bill,
Dates
n.d.
Box 28
Folder 1493
Title
Cartoons by Others - Yepo, Jim (Pancho),
Dates
n.d.
Box 28
Folder 1493a
Title
Lisagor, Peter - Eulogy by Fischetti (?),
Dates
ca. 1976
Box 28
Folder 1494
Title
Newspaper Clippings, see also Oversize,
Dates
n.d., 1954-1979
Box 28
Folder 1495
Title
Newspaper Clippings - Posthumous, see also Oversize,
Dates
n.d., 1982-1995
Box 28
Folder 1496
Title
Obituaries (2 incomplete), see also Oversize,
Dates
1980
Box 28
Folder 1497
Title
Photographs - John Fischetti,
Dates
ca. 1942-1970's
Box 28
Folder 1498
Title
Photographs - John Fischetti at Work, (black and white negatives),
Dates
n.d.
Box 28
Folder 1499
Title
Photographs - John Fischetti with Others - see Oversize,
Dates
1970's
Box 28
Folder 1500
Title
Photographs - John Fischetti with Others on Cromie's Circle,
Dates
Early 1970's
Box 28
Folder 1501
Title
Photographs - John and Karen Fischetti with Studs Terkel,
Dates
ca. 1970's
Box 28
Folder 1502
Title
Photographs - John Fischetti Cartoon, During Student Strike - see Oversize,
Dates
1970
Box 28
Folder 1503
Title
Sketchbook,
Dates
1980
Box 28
Folder 1504
Title
Sketches, see also Oversize,
Dates
n.d., 1980
Box 28
Folder 1505
Title
Small Cartoons,
Dates
n.d., 1972-1980
Box 28
Folder 1506
Title
Work Notes,
Dates
n.d.
Box 29
Title
Oversize Miscellaneous,
Dates
n.d., 1954-1995