Caroline and Erwin Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon

Library of Congress Collections Relating to the Study of Caricature and Cartoon

The Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress makes available the Caroline and Erwin Swann Collection of Caricature and Cartoon (as well as other important cartoon and caricature holdings) for consultation by researchers. While American work is the particular strength of the Library's collection, the Prints and Photographs Division has acquired cartoons and caricatures by such Mexican, British, and French artists as Jose Guadalupe Posada, Max Beerbohm, James Gillray, André Gill, and "Caran d'Ache." American caricaturists and cartoonists include Charles Dana Gibson, Winsor McCay, Thomas Nast, Rollin Kirby, Walt Kelly, Bill Mauldin, and David Levine. In addition to original drawings, the Library of Congress houses a substantial comic book and satirical periodical collection in its Serial and Government Publications and Rare Book and Special Collections divisions.

The Foundation encourages scholars to make use of the collections of the Library of Congress. We have prepared information on cartoon-related research at the Library of Congress. A number of caricatures and cartoons have been cataloged and can be searched in the Prints and Photographs Online Catalog (in some cases, digitized images will display when searching at a computer within the Library of Congress; the images do not display when searching remotely). In addition, the following sections of the Prints and Photographs Reading Room home page provide assistance in locating other caricature and cartoon materials: Prints and Photographs Guides, Reference Aids, and Finding Aids (see, in particular, the document entitled "Publications Relating to the Collections," as well as the guide, Special Collections in the Library of Congress).

For information, email us at: swann@loc.gov