Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. Artwork under copyright: Artwork © John Frith.
Scratch Mrs. Roosevelt, Would You!
Artifact IDMO 1971.49.15
Object Type
Cartoon
Artist
John Eric Frith
(British-born political cartoonist, 1906 - 2000)
Date1943
Mediumpaper (cardstock), ink
Dimensionsoverall H 16 in x W 12 1/2 in (40.6 cm x 31.8 cm )
Physical DescriptionAn original black and white cartoon referencing Eleanor Roosevelt's 1943 visit to Australia as First Lady. The cartoon features two koalas – an adult and a joey – in a eucalyptus tree. The adult is angrily spanking the crying joey who is lying face-down over a branch. The artist’s signature and the date are in the lower right corner of the cartoon: “Frith 43.”
The cartoon is within a red window mat with two cutouts below the illustration. The first cut out includes the printed caption for the cartoon: “Scratch Mrs. Roosevelt, would you!”. The second cutout incudes printed information regarding the donation of the cartoon: “Gift of the Armand Hammer Foundation.”
Historical NoteDuring her wartime trip to the Pacific in 1943, Eleanor Roosevelt visited the Taronga Park Zoo in Sydney, Australia on September 10. During the visit, Mrs. Roosevelt held one of the zoo’s koalas, who, in the excitement, scratched her shoulder and left hand. Political cartoonist John Frith created this cartoon following the incident, and it appeared in the Sydney Bulletin, an Australian weekly magazine, on September 23, 1943.Additional DetailsThe cartoon is within a red window mat with two cutouts below the illustration. The first cut out includes the printed caption for the cartoon: “Scratch Mrs. Roosevelt, would you!”. The second cutout incudes printed information regarding the donation of the cartoon: “Gift of the Armand Hammer Foundation.”
Custodial History NoteListed in a 1970 auction of John A. Roosevelt belongings, the cartoon was purchased by the Armand Hammer Foundation for the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Credit LineGift of the Armand Hammer Foundation
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesPolitical Cartoons (National Archives Identifier 749653)
Use Restriction StatusRestricted - FullyCopyright© John Frith / 1943.
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