"Ding" Darling, selected cartoons

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J.N. "Ding" Darling was a famed cartoonist and conservationist. His 50-year cartooning career, national syndication and two Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoons made Darling a recognized and respected cartoonist. Below are a few of Darling's cartoons--including some of his conservation-themed and his Pulitzer Prize-winning pieces. You may view larger, more detailed versions (each about 60K) of each cartoon by selecting its image on this page. If you're planning to copy/print cartoons for other than personal use, read the copyright information.

Ding's conservation cartoons:

"Wanted: More and better game refuges." Darling was a lifelong hunter and outdoorsman. He believed there should be more refuges for wildlife and feared that too few would endanger game species. Many of his cartoons reflected his passion for setting land aside for wildlife.

"If we only had a place to stop and catch our breath."

click the images to view larger versions

"Don't say it, --sign it." This cartoon appeared during the 1938 congressional campaign. It encouraged officials to follow through with wildlife preserves promises and to sign conservation pledges when in office. Years after its creation, it was widely reprinted during congressional campaigns.

"What that mud in our rivers adds up to each year." This cartoon was published in 1947, but like many of Darling's cartoons, its message is still an issue today. One of Darling's and the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation's major issues is the loss of topsoil.

The sign says, "The equivalent of 125,000 160-acre farms now moving down our rivers."

"Speaking of our wasteful land and tenantry." Darling worried that the nation's forest would not be able to withstand time if they were continually cut down. This cartoon was drawn in 1921; at that time Darling worried there wouldn't be unlimited virgin forest for the future.

"100 years from now we won't have any timber left at all-- Unless you begin reforestation now!"

"What of it? My lease runs out long before that."

"The only kettle she's got." In this 1947 cartoon, Darling demonstrated the link between the amount of tillable soil and growing world population. In the cartoon Mother Nature is cooking for the world population out of a small kettle labeled world's total tillable soil.

"Nobody's constituents" This cartoon represents Darling's belief that there isn't anyone to defend wildlife in Washington. Darling saw this first hand and tried to be wildlife's defender when he served as Chief of the U.S. Biological Survey for approximately 18 months.

"Guess we'll have to go into politics."

"When prodigal son meets prodigal father." With this cartoon Darling shows what could happen for future generations if resources and national credit are taken for granted. Darling was the son of a minister and used the story of the prodigal son in a different light.

"Sorry Son, there isn't any fatted calf. We ate the last old cow last generation."

"Farmer John." Ding was proud of his Iowa background. He spent most of his cartooning career at the Des Moines Register. He used his symbol of Iowa, the well-fed and happy Farmer John, to demonstrate the state's prosperity from the land.

"That's where the tall corn grows"- Farmer John sings Iowa's unofficial theme song.

Ding's pulitzer-prize winning cartoons:

"In good old U.S.A." This cartoon reflected Darling's basic values and earned his first Pulitzer Prize in 1924. It tells of an orphan becoming one of the world's greatest mining engineers and economist, of the son of a plasterer becoming a great nuerologist and a printer's apprentice becoming the U.S. president.

"What a place for paper waste salvage." This cartoon appeared on September 14, 1942 and won Darling his second Pulitzer. It illustrates the large amount of paperwork in Washington D.C. Darling admitted he had to look up this cartoon when it was nominated for the award, and he questioned the panel members' judgement for selecting it.

Ding's farewell cartoon

"Bye now_It's been wonderful knowing you." Ding gave this cartoon to his secretary to use after his death. It appeared on the front page of the Des Moines Register on February 13, 1962, the morning after he died. It shows what his studio may have looked like--hunting devices behind the sofa and pictures of Farmer John, Teddy Roosevelt and his duck stamp design on the walls.

For more Ding Darling cartoons and instructions for ordering the Ding Darling CDrom, visit the Ding Darling Wildlife Society website.

Copyright Information:
"Ding" Darling's editorial cartoons are copyrighted. The copyright is held by the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society. While their use within the classroom by teachers and students is encouraged without specific permission, publishing any of the contained cartoons in any format requires the specific written permission of the copyright holder. Visit the society's website for details on how to obtain copyright permission.