Garrett W. Price papers, 1909-1976

Garrett W. Price was born in Bucyrus, Kansas in 1895. Garrett's father was a doctor and his practice took the family to several Western states, finally settling in Saratoga, Wyoming. Early on, Garrett showed an aptitude for drawing. His first cartoon was published by the "Saratoga Sun" in 1912. He entered the University of Wyoming in 1912 where he studied for two years before entering the Chicago Institute of Art. After graduating from there he was hired by the Art Department of the "Chicago Tribune" where he worked from 1916 to 1925. He illustrated stories for the Sunday Magazine, made two cartoons daily for the sports column, made one illustration a day for a serial, and laid out the roto section. Garrett also contributed some poetry to the "Tribune", but never under his own name. During World War I, he also found time to be the editorial cartoonist for the "Great Lakes Navy Bulletin". He then decided to move to New York to work as a freelance artist. He had much success furnishing cartoons, illustrations, and cover art for the fledgling magazines "Life" and "The New Yorker". He also contributed to "Look", "Colliers", "Harper's Bazaar", "Saturday Evening Post", "Good Housekeeping", "Promenade", "Esquire", and others, but his most important work was with the "New Yorker", which put him under contract. He worked with "The New Yorker" for more than forty years giving them nearly 100 covers and several hundred cartoons. While living in New York he met Florence Semler. They were married in 1928 and continued to live in New York until they moved to Westport, Connecticut, where they spent the remainder of their days. When "Look" and "Colliers", two of Garrett's mainstays, shut down, Garrett began to submit more of his work to "Saturday Evening Post" and "Sports Illustrated". He also found time to illustrate several children's books and do a weekly cartoon for the Westport "Town Crier" called "Price Tags". Garrett spent the last few years of his life painting watercolors and relaxing in his Connecticut home. He died in 1979.