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Joaquín de Alba Cartoon Collection

 Collection
Identifier: 156

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of caricatures of politicians and world leaders, courtroom sketches, and two metal plates of two U.S. congressmen.

Dates

  • Creation: 1966-1967

Creator

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Use

The collection has no known restrictions.

Biographical / Historical

Joaquin De Alba was born in Cadiz, Spain in 1912. He was an illustrator, painter, and political cartoonist who published his work under the pseudonym ‘Kin’ in Spain, and under his own name in the United States. His career as a political cartoonist began at the ABC newspaper of Seville, Spain in 1926, and he continued to work for various publications there until he left first for New York, and then later moved to Washington, DC. In 1966 he began working for The Washington Daily News. He eventually moved to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic where de Alba was professor in the School of Fine Arts, which later became the National School of Visual Arts. He was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1966 for his work. During Lyndon B. Johnson’s presidency, he drew original cartoons for the Johnson Presidential Library and Museum in Austin, Texas. The library holds 72 original political cartoons published in The Washington Daily News. de Alba died in Palma del Rio, Spain in 1983.

Extent

2 Linear feet

1 Boxes

Arrangement

Series I: Drawings (.5 linear feet)
The Drawings Series consists of sketches and caricatures of celebrities, U.S. politicians, and world leaders. Celebrities include George Hamilton and Bob Hope. Politicians include Gerald Ford, Lyndon B. Johnson, Adam Clayton Powell, and Henry Cabot Lodge. World Leaders include King Badouin of Belgium, Queen Elizabeth, and Fidel Castro. There are also courtroom sketches of the Bobby Baker Trial (1967) and the Robert Earl Barnes Trial. There are three “stories” which appear to be sketches for political cartoons: “Dog Story”, “Long Hair Story”, and “Private School Story”. Folders are arranged alphabetically by the individual's last name.

Series II: Plates
The two plates are in separate small envelopes along with photocopies of the articles showing their publication in The Washington Daily News, February 27, 1967. One plate is an engraving of Gerald Ford; the other is Hervey Machen. Folders are arranged alphabetically by the individual's last name.



Custodial History

No deed of gift has been identified. It is unclear how or when the Library acquired this collection.

Related Materials

Johnson Presidential Library and Museum in Austin, Texas. No collection name, or number identified.

Processing Information

Basic/Standard archival procedures were used at the time of processing.

Title
Joaquín de Alba Cartoon Collection
Subtitle
An inventory of the Joaquín de Alba Cartoon Collection at DC Public Library
Author
Carol Auerbach
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the The People's Archive, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library Repository

Contact:
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(202)727-1213