Draft:Arthur Hastings Sloggatt
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| Art Sloggatt | |
|---|---|
| Born | Arthur Hastings Sloggatt March 8, 1917 Brooklyn, NY |
| Died | September 1975 Long Island, NY |
| Spouse(s) | Dorothea Mae Green |
| Children | 9 |
Arthur Hastings Sloggatt (March 8, 1917 – September 1975) was an American illustrator, political cartoonist, and art director, best known for his syndicated political cartoons published in the New York Daily Mirror. His work, marked by bold caricature and incisive political commentary, appeared in national magazines and newspapers during the Cold War era and was syndicated through Hearst Publications and the Universal Press Syndicate. His work appeared in more than 30 newspapers.[1]
Early life and education
[edit]Sloggatt was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Arthur and Anna (Cope) Sloggatt. He attended John Adams High School in Ozone Park, Queens, where he earned a scholarship to attend Saturday classes at the Art Students League in New York City. While employed at the American Surety Company from 1935 to 1941, Sloggatt contributed illustrations and designed the company’s display for the 1939 New York World’s Fair. During this period, he also studied illustration and commercial art at St. John’s University and the Phoenix Art Institute.
Military service
[edit]Sloggatt enlisted in the United States Army during World War II, where he rose from private to the rank of First Lieutenant. He was stationed in Louisiana, Texas, and California, where he trained soldiers for armored warfare and served as editor of a regimental newspaper. He was later deployed to Europe, serving in France, Germany, and Italy. Sloggatt commanded a mobile tank battalion during the Rhineland and Po Valley campaigns. He received the Silver Star for valor, Bronze Star and a Purple Heart with an oak leaf cluster for injuries sustained in combat.[2]
Career
[edit]After returning from military service, Sloggatt began his professional art career at the age of 28. He joined Towse Publishing, where he handled design, illustration, and production. He later worked for the Associated Ad Service, maintaining a studio in New York City. His illustrations appeared in the New York Times Sunday music section and the nationally syndicated Ripley’s Believe It or Not feature, which he illustrated from 1949 to 1956.
In the early 1950s, Sloggatt worked with the Institute of Political and Fiscal Education, where he eventually directed the organization’s art operations. In 1952, he appeared on WPIX-TV, drawing historical figures on a children's program.
In 1956, he joined the New York Daily Mirror as an associate art director in the Promotion Department, later becoming the newspaper’s full-time political cartoonist in 1957. His editorial cartoons—often addressing topics such as nuclear disarmament, foreign aid, taxes, and elections—were regularly reprinted in national publications. He frequently caricatured figures such as John F. Kennedy, Nikita Khrushchev, Fidel Castro, Charles de Gaulle, and representations of "Mr. H-Bomb."
In 1961, Sloggatt was awarded the George Washington Medal by the Freedom Foundation at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
Later work
[edit]When the New York Daily Mirror ceased publication in 1964, Sloggatt continued to produce syndicated cartoons and pursued a variety of freelance projects. He illustrated a humorous series on the Second Vatican Council for Delphic Publishers, which was later compiled into a book titled After the Council – An Ecumenical Spoof.
Sloggatt’s later commercial work included projects for Van Son Holland Ink Corporation of America, Panacolor–Zeiss, and the Lincoln Processing Corporation. Following a heart attack in 1968, he began painting prolifically, focusing on landscapes and childhood memories. In 1969, he founded Arthur Hastings Sloggatt, Inc., and became creative director at Van Son Holland Ink. He also designed a series of limited-edition collector’s plates commemorating the American Bicentennial in 1976.
Exhibitions and legacy
[edit]In 1974, Sloggatt held a one-man exhibition at the Bellmore Library in Bellmore, New York. Notable works included Gardiner’s Light, The Lighthouse on the Hudson, The Wake of the Mary Kay, Roses and Driftwood, and a series of paintings from Monhegan Island.
Personal life
[edit]Sloggatt married Dorothea Mae Green in 1941. The couple had nine children and resided in Merrick, New York. Sloggatt died in September 1975.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Arthur H. Sloggatt, 58, Dies, Mirror Editorial Cartoonist". The New York Times. 12 September 1975. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
- ^ Kelly, James (6 November 2014). "Bronze, Silver, Purple: My Dad, The Army Vet, Had Them All". Long Islander News. Retrieved 30 April 2025.