The Ormes Society

KMBC’s Brenda Washington talks with author Nancy Goldstein about Jackie Ormes, the first African-American female cartoonist.

Hat tip to Rich Watson of Glyphs!

Sunday Specials: A Conversation about Jackie Ormes

Open Books is an hour-long, Chicago-based radio program on which host Donna Seaman speaks with writers whose work is enlightening and affecting, perhaps beautiful, funny, urgent, profound, or all of the above. Tune in to Open Books: A Conversation about Jackie Ormes and the History of African American Newspaper Cartoonists. Jackie Ormes was the first African American woman cartoonist. An artist of conscience far ahead of her time, she was also an activist and a prominent figure in the Chicago Renaissance. Open Books host Donna Seaman speaks with Nancy Goldstein, author of the first book devoted to Ormes and her work, and with Chicago cartoonist Tim Jackson, whose work appears in the Chicago Defender and other newspapers across the country.

[Listen Here]

Individuals with an interest in Ormes’ creative work in the toy industry will soon be able to purchase a Patty-Jo doll of their very own! During the 1940s, Ormes partnered with the Terry Lee Company in order to produce a doll for young children based on the character Patty-Jo, a young girl featured in Ormes’ single panel cartoon Patty-Jo ‘n Ginger. Terri Lee Associates has re-introduced the Patty-Jo doll. The new dolls produced will be likenesses of the original dolls designed by cartoonist Jackie Ormes and manufactured by the Terri Lee company. The Patty-Jo doll will be sold exclusively in K-Mart stores beginning in August of 2007. A biography of Jackie Ormes will be included on the box packaging.

The Ormes Society has recently discovered that the work of Jackie Ormes is currently on display at the Smithsonian Institution’s Anacostia Community Museum in Washington, D.C. until April 30 of 2007. The work of Ormes is featured in the “Two Hundred Years of Black Paper Dolls” exhibition. Individuals who are interested in viewing the extensive Arabella Grayson collection of which Ormes’ work is a part can visit the museum between the hours of 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM. The Anacostia Community Museum is located at 1901 Fort Place, SE, Washington, D.C.

The Ormes Society has recently discovered that Swann Auction Galleries of New York is currently auctioning off a still-life painting by none other than our very own Jackie Ormes! Individuals who wish to bid on the item or simply view the wonderful work of Ms. Ormes can visit the Swann Auction Galleries Web site.

The Ormes Society has recently uncovered a stunning scan from Torchy in Heartbeats! Click here to view the artwork from Ormes in its full-color glory.