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Research Guides

Communication Studies: Cartoons

This subject guide is a starting point for communication-related research, including mass media, speech communication, and more.

Today's Editorial Cartoons

Historical Editorial Cartoons

Searching for Comics and Editorial Cartoons

Many digitized full text magazine and newspaper databases allow you to search for editorial cartoons. Use the following search strategy to find advertisements within the following fulltext datbases provided by Proquest (vendor). Keep in mind that these publications were digitized from microfilm copies so images are only in b/w and may be of poorer quality. Searching is not perfect, so your results may include some articles. 

Magazines

Newspapers
  • Proquest Historical Newspapers - collection of 15 newspapers dating. Includes Atlanta Constitution, Baltimore Afro-American, Boston Globe, Chicago Defender, Chinese Newspapers Collection, Globe & Mail, The Guardian and The Observer, Korea Times, LA Times, New York Amsterdam News, New York Times, Pittsburgh Courier, Times of India, Wall Street Journal & Washington Post.

Advanced search example: box 1: topic or name; optional year range; check off document type "editorial cartoon.comic"

 

Comics and Editorial Cartoons are generally discovered by browsing magazines and newspapers. Many of the magazines and newspapers from the 19th century are in microfilm (in the Microform and Newspaper Collections on the ground floor of Suzzallo) or part of American Periodical Series Online (see link above in Searching for Comics and Editorial Cartoons). Many 20th century magazines are available in print and housed either in Suzzallo Allen Stacks, Special Collections or are in storage (can be requested). For information on analyzing advertisements see Analyzing Political Cartoons.

These magazines and newspapers are likely to include comics or editorial cartoons.  Click on the links below to find out where the magazine or newspaper is located in the UW Libraries.