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Clifford K. Berryman

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Clifford Kennedy Berryman (April 2, 1869 – December 11, 1949) was a Pulitzer Prize–winning cartoonist with The Washington Star newspaper from 1907 to 1949. He was previously a cartoonist for The Washington Post from 1891 to 1907.

Clifford K. Berryman
Berryman in an early 20th century Harris & Ewing photo
Born(1869-04-02)April 2, 1869
Clifton, Kentucky, US
DiedDecember 11, 1949(1949-12-11) (aged 80)
Washington, D.C., US
Area(s)Editorial cartoonist
Notable works
"Remember the Maine"
"Drawing the Line in Mississippi"
AwardsPulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning, 1944
Spouse(s)Kate Geddes Durfee (m. 1893)

During his career, Berryman drew thousands of cartoons commenting on American presidents and politics. Political figures he lampooned included former Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Harry S. Truman. He is particularly known for his cartoons "Remember the Maine" and "Drawing the Line in Mississippi."

Berryman was a prominent figure in Washington, D.C. President Harry S. Truman once told him, "You are ageless and timeless. Presidents, senators and even Supreme Court justices come and go, but the Monument and Berryman stand."[1] Berryman's cartoons can be found at the Library of Congress, the National Archives, and George Washington University, as well as archives that house presidential collections.[2]

Biography

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Early life

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Berryman was born on April 2, 1869, in Clifton, Kentucky, to James Thomas Berryman and Sallie Church Berryman. Berryman's father often entertained friends and neighbors with drawings of "hillbillies" from their hometown; Clifford inherited his father's knack for drawing.

Editorial cartoons

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Berryman's 1902 political cartoon in The Washington Post spawned the teddy bear.

Berryman was appointed draftsman to the United States Patent Office in Washington, D.C., serving there from 1886 to 1891. During his tenure, Berryman submitted sketches to The Washington Post. In 1891, he became an understudy of political cartoonist George Y. Coffin at The Washington Post. After Coffin died in 1896, Berryman took over the position as cartoonist for the newspaper.

As a political cartoonist, Berryman satirized both Democrats and Republicans, and covered topics such as drought, farm relief, food prices, representation of Washington, D.C., in Congress, labor strikes and legislation, campaigning and elections, political patronage, European coronations, the America's Cup, and the atomic bomb.

In 1898, during the Spanish–American War, The Post printed Berryman's classic illustration "Remember the Maine," which became the battle-cry for American sailors during the War. His November 16, 1902, cartoon, "Drawing the Line in Mississippi," depicted President Theodore Roosevelt showing compassion for a small bear cub. The cartoon inspired New York store owner Morris Michtom to create a new toy and call it the teddy bear.[3]

Berryman worked at The Washington Post until 1907, when he was hired by The Washington Star. Berryman was the first cartoonist member of the Gridiron Club and served as the organization's president in 1926.[2]

He drew political cartoons for The Washington Star until his death in 1949.[2] As a Washingtonian, he was an advocate for DC voting rights.[4]

Personal life

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Berryman married Kate Geddes Durfee on July 5, 1893, and they had three children: Mary Belle, who died as an infant, Florence Seville, who later became an art critic, and James Thomas, who became a Pulitzer Prize–winning cartoonist.[5][6]

Berryman was a Presbyterian and an active member of the Washington Heights Presbyterian Church.

Awards

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"But Where Is the Boat Going?", a political cartoon that earned Berryman the 1944 Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning

In 1944, Berryman was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning for his drawing "But Where is the Boat Going."[7] The cartoon depicted President Franklin D. Roosevelt and other government officials trying to steer the USS Mississippi in several different directions.

Clifford K. and James T. Berryman Award for Editorial Cartooning

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Main article: Clifford K. and James T. Berryman Award

Since 1989, the National Press Foundation has presented the Clifford K. and James T. Berryman Award annually for editorial cartooning.[8] Winners have included Chip Bok (1993), Jim Morin (1996), Kevin Kallaugher (2002), Rex Babin (2003), Steve Sack (2006), Matt Wuerker (2010), Nick Anderson (2011), Adam Zyglis (2013), and Clay Bennett (2014).

Death

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Berryman died on December 11, 1949, from a heart ailment, age 80, and is interred in Glenwood Cemetery in Washington, D.C.[9]

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References

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  1. ^ "Caricaturing Campaigns". The Washington Post.
  2. ^ a b c "Collection: Clifford K. Berryman cartoon collection | George Washington University". searcharchives.library.gwu.edu. Retrieved 2022-10-29.
  3. ^ "Home - Theodore Roosevelt Association". www.theodoreroosevelt.org.
  4. ^ "Council Honors Historic Champion of DC Voting Rights: Cartoonist Clifford Berryman • Council of the District of Columbia". Council of the District of Columbia. October 30, 2016. Archived from the original on 2018-11-19. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  5. ^ Elizabeth A. Brennan; Elizabeth C. Clarage (1999). "James T. Berryman". Who's who of Pulitzer Prize Winners. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 145. ISBN 978-1-57356-111-2.
  6. ^ Taft, William H. (2015). "Berryman, James Thomas (1902–1971)". Encyclopedia of Twentieth Century Journalists. Taylor & Francis. p. 69. ISBN 978-1-317-40324-1.
  7. ^ "Clifford K. Berryman of The Evening Star, Washington, DC". pulitzer.org. 1944. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  8. ^ "Clifford K. & James T. Berryman Award for Editorial Cartoons". National Press Foundation. Retrieved 2022-10-29.
  9. ^ "National Figures Among Hundreds at Berryman Rites". The Evening Star. December 13, 1949. p. 2.
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