Charles Werner

Charles George Werner(March 23, 1909 – July 1, 1997) was an Americaneditorial cartoonistwho won aPulitzer Prizein 1939 and later worked 47 years for theIndianapolis Star.

Biography

Charles Werner was born on March 23, 1909, in Marshfield, Wisconsin. Werner attendedOklahoma City Universitywith no formal training in art.From 1930 until 1935 he worked as staff artist and photographer for Springfield, Missouri'sLeader and Press.Werner joined theDaily Oklahomanin 1935, eventually becoming editorial cartoonist in 1937.

Werner left theOklahomanfor a job as Chief Editorial Cartoonist at theChicago Sunin 1941. However he left theSunfor theIndianapolis Starin 1947 and worked there until his retirement in 1994. In 1959 he also served as the president of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists.

In his nearly 60-year career, Werner's work garnered interest from several U.S. Presidents. In 1965Lyndon B. Johnsonrequested over a dozen original cartoons for his personal collection. Former PresidentHarry Trumanalso requested an original cartoon from Werner for his presidential library. Charles Werner died on July 1, 1997, from cancer.

Awards

"Nomination for 1938", Werner's Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoon

Werner won thePulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooningin 1939. The winning cartoon was published in theDaily Oklahomanon October 6, 1938. Titled "Nomination for 1938", it depicted theMunich Agreementwhich provided for the transfer ofSudetenlandto Hitler's Germany. At 29 years old, Werner was the youngest person to win the Pulitzer for Editorial Cartooning.

Werner also received theSigma Delta Chi Awardfor excellence in journalism in 1943, and seven Freedom Foundation Awards (1951–1963). During the 1969 International Salon of Cartoons in Montreal, Werner won an award as one of the world's six best cartoonists.

External links

• Charles Werner Papers (1938–1966)at Syracuse University (primary source material).
• Charles George WerneratLibrary of Congress,with 3 library catalog records