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August 26, 2013 – Evansville, IN – The Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library has received a grant for $17,297 from the Institute of Museum and Library Services which administers the Library Services and Technology Act. Funds will be used to scan and digitize 3,675 original drawings of Karl Kae Knecht’s editorial cartoons, making them widely available for viewing, as well as preserving them in digital format.
This digitization project is a collaborative effort between the EVPL; the Evansville Museum of Arts, History, and Science; and the University of Evansville Libraries. Through this project, the 275 original Knecht cartoons at the Evansville Museum and 3,400 at UE Libraries will be scanned and offered for public viewing on all three institutions’ websites.
The digitization of Karl Kae Knecht’s cartoons offers access to an important piece of Evansville history. His cartoons illustrate a perspective on events that span over half a century. These unique images offer commentary on day-to-day life and public sentiment in Evansville during some of the biggest news events in the twentieth century, such as World War II and tuberculosis campaigns, highlighting the response of Evansville residents.
Knecht was a nationally-recognized cartoonist. A long-time employee of the EvansvilleCourier, his first cartoon appeared in the newspaper in 1906. For most of his career, his cartoons appeared seven days a week on the front page until 1954 when they were moved to the editorial page. Knecht retired from the Courier in May 1960 and passed away in Evansville in 1972.
Connie Rendfeld, digital initiatives librarian with the Indiana State Library, said the grant received by the EVPL is one of eight Library Services and Technology Act digitization grants awarded this year. Approximately $126,000 was dispersed.
