Owen Middleton

Owen Middleton studied at School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Case School of Engineering and East High School. The recorded working language is English. Employment is recorded with Chicago Tribune and Works Progress Administration. Work by Owen Middleton is recorded in the collections of Index of American Design.

• Name — Owen Middleton • Born — 3 March 1884 • Died — 20 October 1954 • Place of death — Brooklyn, New York • Known for — Political cartoons • Training — School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Born in 1888, Middleton was raised in Cleveland. He trained at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and drew for the Chicago Tribune. Middleton was a conscientious objector during World War I and spent time in prison. In 1939, Middleton briefly worked as an artist for the Federal Art Project in New York City drawing watercolor renderings for the Index of American Design, where he was photographed for the series “Garret to Gallery.” Three of Middleton's drawings are in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. • Illustration — Owen Middleton works on a watercolor drawing for the Index of American Design, from Garret to Gallery. Middleton contributed work to commercial comics in the early 1940s. His work in Spy Smasher and War Heroes was published by Fawcett Comics and Dell Publishing. Middleton also created his own comic strip Sergeant Joe that directly referenced current events, based on the life of boxer Joe Louis, which circulated in African American newspapers across the United States. He once said in a 1944 interview with Augusta Strong that “one political cartoon is worth one hundred editorials.” Across his life and career Middleton advocated for labor unions and worker’s rights. In the 1920s he supported the Industrial Workers of the World. At the time of his death in 1954, Middleton was running for New York State Senate as an American Labor Party candidate for Brooklyn’s 11th District.

• Black Pulp!

Owen Middleton is recorded as draftsperson, columnist, comics artist, politician and medical illustrator.