Manning, Reg, 1905-1986

Editorial cartoonist Reginald West Manning was born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1905. He moved with his widowed mother to Phoenix in 1919 and began work with the Arizona Republic in 1926, handling all their photography and art work. Manning became an editorial cartoonist on July 17, 1934.

Manning was initially known for his feature cartoon page, The Big Parade, in the Arizona Republic . His cartoons began national distribution in 1948 when he signed on with the McNaught Syndicate. In 1951, Manning won the Pulitzer Prize for Hats, which juxtaposed numerous silk top hats belonging to Korean War peace negotiators hung on a hat rack at the Lake Success peace talks with a soldier's helmet pierced by a bullet and hanging from a cross. Manning published over 15,000 cartoons that were distributed to as many as 179 newspapers through syndication. He was also the author of a number of books, including What Kinda Cactus Izzat? (1941) and What is Arizona Really Like? (1938).

Manning continued to submit cartoons for publication after he reduced his work schedule in 1980. He passed away in Scottsdale, Arizona on March 10, 1986.

From the guide to the Reg Manning Collection, 1936-1981, (Arizona State University Libraries Arizona Collection)

Reginald Manning (1905-1986) was a Pulitzer Prize winning American editorial cartoonist.

Born April 8, 1905 in Kansas City, Missouri, Reg Manning moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1919 with his brother and their widowed mother. While in high school, Manning received his only formal art training and drew cartoons. After graduation, he pursued freelance work for two years before being hired as an artist and photographer at the Arizona Republic in 1926 (then the Arizona Republican ), replacing Webb Smith.

At first Manning drew few editorial cartoons and instead focused on a full page Sunday current events cartoon, "The Big Parade" which appeared from October 1926 through April 1948. It included a variety of elements commenting on local issues as well as other features including Traffic Jam, a safety cartoon, Ruff Riter, and the Snooper’s Dirt Diary. Manning wanted work as a comic strip artist but his editorial cartoons proved more popular and newspapers across the United States began to reprint them. In 1937 Manning became affiliated with the McNaught Syndicate and his cartoons would eventually appear in over 125 newspapers. Manning worked out of his home and with McNaught's mailing center in Arizona to produce six cartoons a week while he also contributed a weekly cartoon to the Arizona Republic . Manning's work was well known as having an openly conservative tone.

In 1951 Manning received the Pulitzer Prize for one of his cartoons about the Korean War, "Hats". Also in May of that year, "Reg Manning Day" was held at Arizona State University with Barry Goldwater as the master of ceremonies. This event honored 25 years of Manning's work. Manning traveled giving chalk talks to soldiers and spoke as part of several college and university lecture series. He also served on the board of the Desert Botanical Garden of Arizona and was a member of the National Cartoonists Society as well as the Arizona Press Club, the Phoenix Press Club and the American Association of Editorial Cartoonists. The United States Treasury Department gave Manning a citation for his efforts to promote savings bonds.

Manning also received over a dozen awards from Freedoms Foundation, the 1957 National Safety Council Award and the Abraham Lincoln Award in 1971 and 1972. Manning's b books include two books about Arizona, The Cartoon Guide to Arizona (1938) and What Kinda Cactus Izzat? (1941), a guide to desert plants in the southwest. He also illustrated From Tee to Cup (1954) and a compilation of his cartoons was published in 1980 as Best of Reg . His other artistic work included jewelry, stationary, watercolor paintings and fabric designs.

Manning worked for the Arizona Republic for over 50 years and reduced his work load in 1980. Reginald Manning died in Phoenix, Arizona on March 10, 1986.

From the guide to the Reg Manning Papers, 1941-1969, 1954-1964, (Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries)