For the Westfield Historical Society’s First Wednesday Luncheon series in December, guests are welcome to the in-person luncheon at the newly renovated Echo Lake Country Club on Wednesday, December 1st at 11:45am. Ryan Hyman will present "Cartoonist Thomas Nast’s Historical Icons."
Appropriate for the holiday season, popular Santa Claus and political cartoonist, Thomas Nast, will be the topic of Ryan Hyman’s presentation. The nineteenth century political cartoonist Thomas Nast’s most popular political cartoons will be highlighted ― and a few interesting but lesser known images
Thomas Nast (1840-1902) is known as the Father of American Political Cartoons. He is most famous for popularizing the images of the Democratic Donkey, Republican Elephant, Uncle Sam and Santa Claus among others. He is best known for the political cartoons that he created for Harper’s Weekly for about a twenty-five year period from the early 1860s through the mid-1880s.
Ryan C. Hyman is the F. M. Kirby Curator of Collections at the Macculloch Hall Historical Museum (MHHM) in Morristown, New Jersey. In addition to managing the museum’s decorative and fine art, Mr. Hyman oversees the museum’s Thomas Nast Collection. Its more than 5,000 works have been the focus of his research for the past twenty years.
Mr. Hyman has organized numerous exhibitions at MHHM including “Gone for a Soldier” Jerseymen in the Civil War, Thomas Nast: President Maker and Campaign Breaker, Controversies: The More Things Change, and Thomas Nast’s Unknown Works and American Icons. He has lectured extensively on the subject of Thomas Nast including at the Union League Club, New York City, the Museum of Early Trades and Crafts, Madison, New Jersey, the Flagler Museum, Palm Beach, Florida, among others.
Those wishing to attend the luncheon may make a reservation by email to westfieldhistoricalsociety@gmail.com; or, by calling 908-654-1794, before Friday, Nov. 26th. Please advise if there are special dietary needs. The luncheon fee of $35 (WHS members) or $40 (non-members) includes a three-course meal, coffee/tea, and gratuity. Tables will be spaced out and mask wearing is recommended except when actively eating or drinking (these guidelines are subject to change). The luncheon fee should be paid in advance (check payable to Westfield Historical Society) by mailing to Westfield Historical Society, P.O. Box 613, Westfield, NJ 07091; by Venmo to @Westfield-HistoricalSociety; or online, by clicking on “Registration” at the top of this page. Payments should be received by Friday prior to the luncheon.
