A collection of 1 million political cartoons is headed to the UCLA Library, hailing from nearly 60 countries in 30 languages, and spanning more than 330 years.
The oldest cartoon dates back to 1690, the newest as recently as 2022. But no matter the age, each piece holds a lens to the political discourse specific to its time.
Hidden history
Political cartoons hold history in the details, said Christopher Gilman, digital curriculum program coordinator with the UCLA Library.
“To understand references – like a bottle lying on the floor at the bottom of a cartoon – you need to dig in a little bit more and sleuth what these things might mean,” Gilman said.
He said cartoons take viewers down fascinating rabbit holes. By decoding the artwork, they learn the historical context around a cartoon.
“They’re very accessible, and on the other hand, they’re very layered and complex,” Gilman said.
Exposing public opinion
The $4.2 million collection was donated by Michael and Susan Kahn, who are no strangers to the university — or to the effects of a sharp piece of…
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