Austin Curtis, Scientist, Successor to Dr. Carver
A multi-panel sheet shows the chemist Austin Curtis with Dr. George Washington Carver in a laboratory, walking together, and a painted cabin, with captions on Curtis's work. The tell is testimonial: a named scientist's career is presented as a positive example, in admiring wording ('almost paternal pride', 'great work').
Propaganda techniques used in this cartoon
- Date
- 1943
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- Office of War Information (cartoon artwork; artist Charles Alston)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Cartoon
- Issuer type
- State
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Persuade or win support
- Themes
- Science and technology, Race and ethnicity
- Event
- World War II
- Regime
- Roosevelt administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives (NARA), RG 208, Artworks and Mockups for Cartoons Promoting the War Effort (NAID 535594), retrieved October 3, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (U.S. government work)
Office of War Information. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 208, 208-COM-233 (NAID 535696).
Text on the object
AUSTIN CURTIS SCIENTIST SUCCESSOR TO DR. CARVER YOUNG CURTIS' ABILITY IS ATTESTED BY THE FACT THAT IN ALL OF DR. CARVER'S LONG YEARS OF RESEARCH, THE NOTED SCIENTIST NEVER BEFORE ACCEPTED AN ASSISTANT. [Door sign:] DR. CARVER PRIVATE DO NOT DISTURB THE DRABNESS OF THE SOUTHERN SCENE HAS BEEN GREATLY ALTERED BY THE BRIGHT, CHEERFUL PAINT DR. CURTIS DEVELOPED FROM ORDINARY CLAY AND DISCARDED MOTOR OIL. WITH ALMOST PATERNAL PRIDE, DR. CARVER GROOMED CURTIS TO CARRY ON THE GREAT WORK HE BEGAN. HIS ACHIEVEMENTS IN CHEMURGY ARE LITTLE KNOWN, ALTHOUGH HE HAS DEVELOPED ARTISTS COLORS, FACIAL OIL, PAPER, AND INSULATING BOARD FROM THE MAGNOLIA; BREAKFAST FOOD AND SYNTHETIC LEATHER FROM THE PUMPKIN! [Signed:] Alston OWI
