Kelly, Walter C., 1873-1939

The comic strip "Pogo", created by Walt Kelly, ran in daily newspapers from 1948 to 1973. The strip was set in Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp and was populated by animals talking in a fractured southern dialect. Over the years "Pogo" often referred to Georgia and to several of the state's locales, such as Waycross, Fort Mudge, and Ware County. In the 1950s it was the most popular daily strip in America, primarily because of its blend of slapstick humor and engaging characters. The comic strip's popularity and satirical relevance began to fade during the 1960s. After Kelly died in 1973, "Pogo" was continued for a while by Kelly's children, Carolyn and Pete. -- New Georgia Encyclopedia http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org (viewed Dec. 8, 2008)

B. Walter Crawford Kelly, 1913-1973. Comic strip artist, editorial cartoonist, animator. Kelly's only formal art training was in high school. His early employment included work as animator with the Disney Studio (1935-1941) and free lance comic book work. He worked as art director and editorial cartoonist for the short-lived N.Y. Star (1948-49). He is best known for the comic strip, Pogo, which first appeared in newspapers in the Star on October 4, 1948. The character of Pogo had appeared earlier in Animal Comics, a comic book series, in the Dec.-Jan. 1941-42 issue. The comic strip, Pogo, was published until July, 1975. Kelly received several awards, including the Heywood Broun Award for his editorial cartoons and the National Cartoonists Society Reuben award in 1951. In 1954 Kelly became the first comic strip artist to have his work represented in the Library of Congress.

Forms part of the San Francisco Academy of Comic Art Collection, Bill Blackbeard, Director.