The State Historical Society of Missouri

For thirty-five years Tom Engelhardt was the editorial cartoon voice of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and on October 18, 2008, at 2:00 p.m., he will share his experiences and knowledge with the public during a tour of the exhibit Engelhardt on Elections, on display in the Society’s Main Gallery.

Born in St. Louis in 1930, Engelhardt aspired to be a cartoonist at an early age and admired the work of Post-Dispatch artist Daniel Fitzpatrick.  Engelhardt attended various schools and universities, halting his formal education for a tour with the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War.  After his discharge he studied at Oxford University in England.  He returned to the U.S. in the late 1950s, working freelance cartooning jobs and as part of a newspaper syndicate before landing at the Post-Dispatch in 1962.

Engelhardt will present his work and talk about the artistic techniques used to create his cartoons, as well as the stories behind the images he drew during his tenure.  “These cartoons teach us many wonderful lessons about our history,” said Joan Stack, curator of art collections at the State Historical Society. “We are fortunate to have this unique opportunity to discuss them with Mr. Engelhardt.”

The tour of Engelhardt on Elections with Tom Engelhardt is free and open to the public. The Main Gallery is open Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.