Thomas Nast Day
A Centennial Celebration
Saturday, December 7, 2002
Morristown, New Jersey

You never met Thomas Nast, the father of the American political cartoon. He died 100 years ago in December of 1902. But you certainly have met and recognize his creations in his illustrations and editorial cartoons: The Democratic Donkey, the Republican Elephant, the Tammary Tiger, Santa Claus, Uncle Sam and countless others are a part of the American popular culture. To honor Thomas Nast in the town where he chose to live for thirty years we have pulled out all the stops to create a celebration of events for you in Morristown, New Jersey.

Thomas Nast Day begins at Macculloch Hall Historical Museum ( 45 Macculloch Avenue in Morristown) at 11 AM. A fascinating retrospective of Nast's life and career, Thomas Nast Portrays a Changing America, examines the social and political cartoons of the most influential American journalist working in the third quarter of the 19th century. The second part of the Macculloch Hall show is entitled Tribute: Cartoonists Salute Thomas Nast. More than 40 cartoonists honor Nast by showing how his everlasting symbols and ideas still resound in the works of cartoonists today. Their works reveal that Nast continues to strongly influence graphic journalists whose work can be found on editorial pages. Hours for the exhibition are from 11 AM to 7 PM on December 7. Admission is $4, $3 for seniors and students.

As you leave Macculloch Hall look right to white house across the corner of Miller Road and Macculloch Avenue. This where Nast and his familylived for more than 30 years. Today it is a private home and not open to the public. Nast had a studio on the second floor. This house will be the subject of a media installation at the Morristown & Morris Township Library shown later in the day.

The second location of Thomas Nast Day will be the Cartoonist's Roundtable in the Bickford Theatre of the Morris Museum at 6 Normandy Heights Road in Morristown. The Roundtable starts at 2 PM and runs till 4 PM. The Thomas Nast Society is sponsoring this lively discussion of 4 nationally known cartoonists. David Levine, Signe Wilkinson, Cullum Rogers and Scott Stanis will talk about Nast, political symbols, and the role of cartoonists in an ever changing news environment. They will offer their sharp observations in word ( and perhaps on a huge "chalk talk" pad) about their art, Nast's art and the way cartoonists see the world of people and events. For tickets contact the library's Local History & Genealogy department at (973) 538-3473. Admission is $10. Tickets for this event are limited and expected to go quickly. Any remaining tickets will be sold at the Bickford Theatre door from 1:15- 1:50 pm just prior to the event.

Following the Cartoonists Roundtable at the Morris Museum, the next event across town promises to be equally invigorating and stimulating. The Morristown & Morris Township Library at 1 Miller Road in Morristown will host the third and final segment of Nast Day.

Starting at 4:30 PM, the four cartoonists from the Roundtable and the audience will come back to the library for a variety of happenings. The cartoonists will sign copies of the cartoonists exhibition catalogue. There will be an exhibit of many of the Library's Nast treasures including it's extraordinary 9 x 12 foot Caricaturama painting. Two media installations will be on view for the public to see, the first, Thomas Nast and Villa Fontana, shows the Nast home and family using rare photographs and drawings. The house and the Nast children served as models for the many Christmas drawings Nast created. This 23 minute DVD will offered only at the library as will the second installation a slide show, The Grand Caricaturama of Thomas Nast, based on the 1868 theatrical event that set NYC and Boston stirring. Nast created 33 huge color cartoon paintings for the stage. Three of these panels can be seen on Nast Day. Five others are in storage at the Library of Congress. The others have been long lost or destroyed. The library will unveil a newly restored Nast Civil War work in watercolor and will show a remarkable work ( soon to be restored) recently presented to the library as a gift. The Jockey Hollow Stamp Club will offer the newest Nast Christmas covers and cachets. They will exhibit and offer for sale the stamp covers they have published honoring Nast for 30 years.

Scrumptious refreshments will be served. The events at the Morristown & Morris Township Library are free and open to the general public.

Join us in Morristown, NJ on Thomas Nast Day December 7, 2002 and experience a real piece of American History.