MACPHERSON Duncan Ian
Photo by Doug Griffen, Sunday Star, 25 Apr. 1993: H1.
“Canada as clumsy as she is, means well.” Duncan Macpherson, Macpherson’s Canada: 1.
“Bengough lacked the artistic skill of Julien, Julien did not possess Bengough’s genius for humorous invention. If the abilities of these two men had been combined in one person, he would have been the Duncan Macpherson of his time.” Peter Desbarates/Terry Mosher, The Hecklers, 156.
Edmond Wilson the great U.S. critic said of Macpherson in a New Yorker article in 1964 that he created “ a phantasmagoria for which the mediocre subjects themselves seemed hardly adequate.” The Hecklers, 146.
Comments by his peers.
“Personally I’ve always felt he is the best in North America.” Andy Donato, Toronto Sun (24 Apr. 1973).
“head and shoulders above anyone else in North American.” Len Norris, Vancouver Sun (146)
A Tribute by Blaine, Portfoolio 9: 6.
Born 20 Sept. 1924 in Toronto.
Macpherson from a very young age was interested in visual art but was discouraged by his parents who wanted him to enter the family textile business. In 1941 at seventeen years he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and was shipped overseas to England where he packed bombs. In his spare time he took art courses and studied British political cartooning. As a result, before the war ended, he won a prize for his RCAF poster showing a stick of bombs coming out of the bomb bay.
Immediately after the war Duncan using his veteran’s pension began to study graphic arts at the Boston Museum of Fine Art. However, in 1947 his father died, and bowing to family wishes, Duncan attempted to run the family business. He soon abandoned this effort and entered the Ontario College of Art from which he graduated in 1951. Dick Hersey art director at the Standard (later the Weekend Magazine) saw some of Duncan’s drawings in a collection in Ottawa and persuaded the publisher J.W. McConnell to give Duncan a contract to replace Jimmy Frise illustrating Greg Clark’s stories. Jimmy had died of a heart attack 13 March 1948.
Pierre Berton Managing Editor of Maclean’s also liked Duncan’s work and hired him to illustrate journalist Robert Thomas Allen’s stories. He illustrated both Clark’s and Allen’s essays for at least two years probably longer. In addition to illustrating the works of these two journalists he also illustrated other features in these two periodicals into the late 1950’s. He appears to have been a favourite of writers W. O Mitchell and Vernon Hockley. As can be seen below he did illustrations for Weekend Magazine the successor to The Standard at least into 1955.
When in 1958, Pierre Berton left Maclean’s to join the Star [Toronto], he talked Macpherson into joining that paper as well. At first Macpherson was hesitant. He had studied the great British editorial cartoonists James Gillray and David Low and had become, to put it in his words, “… quite convinced I didn’t think that way. They had something to say. Anything I had to say was just a personal beef. I had no great social conscience then and I don’t now.” [1973] (4). Macpherson was non-partisan. “I’m simply against wrongness in public life.” (243).
He accepted the job as editorial cartoonist at the Star at a starting salary of $11,000 per year which made him probably the highest paid cartoonist working in Canada at the time – an amazing introduction for someone who was till then first and foremost an illustrator. It was a wage well spent. Macpherson’s popularity soared although at the start readers didn’t quite know how to take him. According to Beland Honderich the Star’s publisher, “The first reaction to Macpherson’s cartoons was that they were cruel. People had never seen this type of cartooning in Canada. They weren’t prepared for it.” (148)
Although initially unsure about his qualifications as an editorial cartoonist, Macpherson’s independent personality was never in doubt. Before Macpherson, most cartoonists were part of the editorial team, often illustrating other’s ideas. Macpherson succeeded in making himself an independent contributor to the editorial page, at times producing cartoons that were in opposition to the editorial stance of the Star. This stance was adopted by many editorial cartoonists that followed. An example of his independence, occurred after about a year in the job, when he asked the Star to reduce his workload from five cartoons a week to three so that he could travel to Cuba to draw sketches for the newspaper. He was refused and so he quit and returned to Maclean’s. His popularity helped Berton to override Honderich’s decision and entice Macpherson back from Maclean’s.
He retired from the Star 25 April 1993 and died 3 May 1993 at the age of 68 years. He had been diagnosed three months earlier with pancreatic cancer.
For his work he was awarded six National Newspaper Awards, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1965, 1970, and 1972. In 1966, he was awarded the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts medal. In 1970 he received the Molson Prize ($15,000) from the Canada Council. In 1976, he was elected to the News Hall of Fame. In 1987, he was awarded the order of Canada. On 8 October 2021, Canada Post Corp. honoured him with a first day cover and a commemorative stamp.
While remembering him as Canada’s preeminent editorial cartoonists we should not forget that Duncan Macpherson was also one of our foremost illustrators.
WORK:
CARTOONIST:
BOOK GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:
Content cartoon editorial:
The Art of Political Cartooning in Canada/1980. Ed., Steve Bradley. For., Robert LaPalme. Virgo Press, Oct. 1980: 22, 26, 33, 36, 164, 210.
Best Canadian Political Cartoons, 1983. Ed., N.M. Stahl. For., David Rosen. McClelland & Stewart Ltd. Sept. 1983: 11, 13, 18, 61, 62, 64, 68, 105, 112, 155, 192.
Best Canadian Political Cartoons, 1984. Ed., N.M. Stahl. For., Robert LaPalme. McClelland & Stewart Ltd. Sept. 1984: 30, 53, 58, 60, 85, 113, 114, 154.
Caricature . Cartoons Canada. Ed., Terry Mosher. Montréal: Linda Leith Publishing, 2012: 11.
Portfoolio, The Year 85 In Canadian Caricature. Ed., Guy Badeaux & Alan King. Writ., Charles Gordon. Montréal: Ludcom Inc. 1985.
Portfoolio, The Year 86 In Canadian Caricature. Ed., Guy Badeaux. Writ., Charles Gordon. Ludcom Inc. 1986.
Portfoolio, The Year 87 In Canadian Caricature. Ed., Guy Badeaux . Ludcom Inc. 1987.
1988 Portfoolio, The Year In Canadian Caricature. Ed., Guy Badeaux. Writ., Charles Gordon. Eden Press. 1988.
Portfoolio: 1989 in Canadian Caricature. Ed., Guy Badeaux. Writ., Charles Gordon. Macmillan of Canada, 1989.
Portfoolio 6: The Year in Canadian Caricature. Ed., Guy Badeaux . Writ., Charles Gordon. Macmillan of Canada, 1990.
Portfoolio 7: The Year in Canadian Caricature. Ed., Guy Badeaux . Writ., Charles Gordon. Macmillan of Canada, 1991.
BOOK GRAPHIC COLLECTION:
Content editorial cartoon & Cover:
A Collection of the Cartoons of Duncan Macpherson. Toronto Star Ltd., no date. [1961]
Cartoons By Duncan Macpherson. Toronto Star Ltd., no date. [1962]
Cartoons by Macpherson, vol. 3. Toronto Star Ltd., no date. [1963]
Cartoons by Macpherson, vol. 4. Toronto Star Ltd., no date. [1964]
Cartoons by Macpherson, vol. 5. Toronto Star Ltd., no date [1965]
Macpherson: World Events, Reportage Drawings, The Editorial Cartoon, 1966 Cartoons. Toronto Star Ltd., 1966.
1967 Editorial Cartoons Macpherson, vol. 7. Toronto Star Ltd., 1967.
1970 Editorial Cartoons Macpherson, vol. 8. Toronto Star Ltd., 1970.
1971 Macpherson Cartoons. Toronto: Star Reader Service, Oct. 1971.
Macpherson Editorial Cartoons 1972. Star Reader Service, Oct. 1972.
Macpherson Editorial Cartoons 1973. Star Reader Service, Oct. 1973..
Macpherson Editorial Cartoons 1974. Star Reader Service, Oct. 1974.
Macpherson Editorial Cartoons 1975. Star Reader Service, Oct. 1975.
Macpherson Editorial Cartoons 1976. Star Reader Service, Sept. 1976.
Macpherson Editorial Cartoons 1977. Star Reader Service, Sept. 1977.
Macpherson Editorial Cartoons 1978. Macmillan Co. Of Canada, 1978.
Macpherson Editorial Cartoons 1979. Macmillan Co. Of Canada, 1979.
Daily Smile: A Travelling Exhibition of Original Duncan Macpherson Cartoons Donated to the Public Archives of Canada by the Toronto Star. The Canadian Government Publishing Centre, Supply & Services, 1980.
How Pierre and I Saved the Civilized World. Writ., Gary Lautens. Methuen Publications, 1984. A collection of Lautens columns and a collection of Macpherson’s editorial cartoons.
BOOK TEXT:
Content commentary political:
Hoods On The Hill. Writ., Senator Royce Firth. Coach House Press, 1991: 82.
COMMEMORATIVE PROGRAM:
Walter Gordon’s Seventieth Birthday Party. 27 January 1976.
ILLUSTRATOR:
BOOK TEXT:
Content history & Cover dust jacket front:
The Golden Trail. Writ., Pierre Berton. Macmillan Co. of Canada, 1954.
Rumours of War. Writ., Ron Haggart & Aubrey E. Golden. New Press, 1971.
Content humour & Cover dust jacket front:
Needham’s Inferno. Writ., Richard J. Needham. Macmillan Co. of Canada, Nov. 1966.
Content humour & Cover dust jacket wrap around:
Letters from Lilac. Writ., George Bain. Macmillan Co. of Canada, 1978.
Cover dust jacket front:
The Struggle For The Border, Writ., Bruce Hutchison. Longmans, Green & Co. Ltd., 1955. This image originally appeared on the front cover of Maclean’s 5 March 1955.
Cover dust jacket wrap around:
My Childhood and Yours. Writ., Robert Thomas Allen. Macmillan of Canada, 1977.
PERIODICAL TEXT:
Content essay:
Maclean’s, …: “…”. Writ., Robert Thomas Allan: (unless otherwise stated)…. |
…, 15 September 1950: “The Great Women’s Hair Mystery”. …: 24, 25.
…, 16 November 1950: “Ever Try to Teach Your Wife to Drive?”. …: 18, 19. …, 15 March 1951: “You Too Can Be A Perfect Parent”. …: 10, 11. …, 15 April 1951: “The Traffic Jam Is Here To Stay”. …:14, 15. 18, 19. …, 1 June 1951: “Women Have No Sense Of Humour “…: 18. “But They Don’t Know It”. Writ., James Thurber: 19. …, 1 September 1951: “How To Slay Them With Small Talk”. …: 20, 21. …, 1 October 1951: “Shopping’s A Game Women Play But Men Don’t Know The Score”. …: 24,25. …, 15 February 1952: “Wild Animals I Have Known … Slightly”. …: 18-19. …, 1 May 1952: “Never Bet With Tour Wife”. …: 24. … 15 May 1952: “What’s It’s Like To Be Forty”. …: 11. … 15 June 1952: “! Was A Bird Dog”. …: 21. … 1 December 1952: “You can’t stop a woman crying”. …: 26. …, 15 January 1953: “When Ignorance Is Bliss”. …: 22 …, 1 April 1953: “you, Too can try to write short stories”. …: 77. …, 15 April 1953: “How to Live With a Woman”. …: 18, 19. …, 15 May 1953: “The Day I Ran Away”. …: 22, 23. …, 15 June 1953: “Never Tell A Woman Anything”. …: 26, 27. …, 1 July 1953: “How To Sell A House”. …: 14, 15. …, 1 October 1953: “My 12 Hours as a madman”. Writ., Sidney Katz: 10, 11, 12, 13. …, 15 October 1953: “Let’s not squabble about the snail”. …: …, 1 November 1953: “How to write a letter”. …:20, 21. …, 15 January 1954: “My first seven days of TV”. …: 7. …, 1 February 1954: “How to win an argument”. …: 24. …, 1 April 1954: “Deduct The Lesser Of Two”. …: 30. …, 1 August 1954: “Children are monsters”. …: 14-15. …, 1 September 1954: “How To Manhandle A Child’s Allowance”. …: 16. See “Content story” as well. …, 15 September 1954: “Clinic for Marriage Counselors”. …: 22. …, 9 June 1956: “I cry at the movies”. …: 32. …, 15 October 1954: “How to get along with your neighbours”. …: 30-31. …, 1 December 1954: “Never ask a woman the way”. …: 33. …, 15 February 1955: “Women Just Have No Imagination”. …: 26-27. …, 14 May 1955: “Should husbands and wives take separate holidays”. …: 24-25. …, 6 August 1955: “How Children Remodel Their Parents”. …: 14-15. …, 1 October 1955: “Will a machine ever take your job”. Writ., Norman DePoe: 21, 22. …, 3 September 1955: “Uncle Bob Comics: Uncle Bob Sez A Lot of Kid’s Humour Is Aimed At Making Us Adults Disappear”. …: 18. This illustration is in the form of a cartoon strip. …, 29 October 1955: “I don’t Want to play”. …: 14-15. …, 10 December 1955: “How to drive an author crazy”. …: 48. …, 7 July 1956: “How to handle your kids in holidays”. … 22-23. … 29 September 1956: “I’ve got enough insurance, thanks”. …: 27. …, 2 March 1957: “I’m sick of being a good listener”. …: 12-13. …, 6 July 1957: “There’s nothing phonier than a grateful author”. …:18. …, 17 August 1957: “Women Are Crooks”. …: 20-21. …, 31 August 1957: “How to live with a teen-age daughter”. … 12, 13. …, 28 September 1957: “Hangover at the OK corral”. …: 24-25. …, 12 October 1957: “What happened to the suburb they called Crestwood Heights”. Writ., Robert Olson: 24-25. …, 9 November 1957: “We’ve taken the fun out of motoring”. …: 24-25. …, 23 November 1957: “I Don’t Want the new leisure”. …: 26-27. …, 1 March 1958: “Why I don’t like speeches”. … 18-19. …, 26 April 1958: “Why The Traffic Jams Keep Getting Worse”. Writ, Herbert Manning: 16-17. “I’m swearing off bargains”. …: 28. …, 7 June 1958: “Robert Thomas Allen’s answer to Peyton Place – Grassi Place”. …: 24-25. …, 27 September 1958: “What I remember most about school”. …:22-23. …, 11 October 1958: “The Cloak And Dagger Struggle To Keep New Cars Secret”. Writ., Eric Hutton: 16-17. …, 11 October 1958: “Dear Social Register”. …: 22. …, 20 December 1958: “Robert T. Allen pleads Give Christmas Back To The Kids”. …: 14, 15, 42. …, 17 January 1959: “The cruel conspiracy of public speaking”. Writ., Bruce Hutchison: 22. …, 31 January 1959: “How to endure a father”. Writ., Jane and Mary Allen: 18, 19. … 28 March 1959: “A day in the life of a spaceman”. Writ., Thomas Walsh: 28. … 20 August 1966: “How To Cock A Snoot”. Writ., Nicholas Steed: 18, a caricature of Richard Needham. |
The Standard, …: “…”. Writ., Gregory Clark: …. | |
…, 1949: “Here’s Mud”. …: 18.
…, 8 October 1949: “Huntin’”. …:16. …, 12 November 1949: “Harmony”. …:18. …, 18 March 1950: “Whee”. … 12.
|
…, 8 April 1950: “Pssst! Sshhh!”. …: 15.
…, 28 April 1950: “Wrong Number”. …: 15. …, 6 May 1950: “Hair-do”. …: 13. …., 1950: “Samaritan”. …: 12. …, 14 April 1951: “Take It Off”. …: 14. |
The Toronto Star, 5, February 1953: “The long road to topple Joe Clark”. Writ., Val Sears: B4.
Content essay & Cover front (not related):
Maclean’s, …: “…”. Writ., Robert Thomas Allen: … |
…, 15 April 1954: “I Hate Dogs”. …: 27-27.
…, 1 October 1954: “The Surest Way To Get A Job”. …: 20, 21. …, 7 January 1956: “Why I hate my kid’s teacher”. …: 16-17. …, 6 February 1956: “How to survive a children’s birthday party”. …: 22, 23. …, “I’m tired of filling out forms”. …: 22, 23. …, “How Scrooge might spend Christmas 1957”. …: 26, 27. |
Content history:
Maclean’s, …: “…”. …: …. |
…, 15 December 1953: “An Excursion Into Canada With Charles Dickens”. Writ., James Bannerman: 28, 29, Duncan drew the illustrations in the Phiz tradition.
…, 26 November 1955: “Maclean’s Flashback: Niagara Falls Was A Hell Raising Town”. Writ., Duncan McLeod: 23.
… 25 May 1957: “Maclean’s Flashback: When voting was a high adventure”. Writ., Fergus Cronin: 28, 29, 36. |
Content history:
Maclean’s …: “The Struggle For The Border …”. Writ., Bruce Hutchison: … |
…, 15 February 1955: Advertisement: 79.
…, 5 March 1955: “… The Escape that saved the Nation”. …: 11, 12, 13, 14-15 and the cover front. …, 19 March 1955: “… The Day They Carved Up Canada”. …: 16, 17. …, 2 April 1955: “… The Epic Race to the Sea”. …: 16-17, 18, 19. …, 16 April 1955: “… How Brock founded the Canadian myth”. …: 26-27. … 30 April 1955: “… When a Canadian ruled Oregon”. …: 24, 25. … 14 May 1955: “… The Two Peers Who Launched the Commonwealth”. …: 28-29. … 28 May 1955: “… They saved the Pacific coast for Canada”. …:22-23. Conclusion. |
Content novelette:
Maclean’s, 15 May 1954: “The Last of the Curlews”. Writ., Fred Bodsworth: 22-23, 24, 25, 57
Maclean’s, 8 June 1957: ‘Look now horseman …” Writ., Edmund Gillan: 21, 22-23, 24, 25, 36, 58.
Content story:
Maclean’s, …: “…” …: …. |
…, 1 January 1952: “The Land of Might-Have-Been”. Writ., Lorenzo Semple Jr.: 14-15.
…, 15 March 1952: “The Princess and the Wild Ones”. Writ., W. O. Mitchell: 12=13. …, 25 June 1955: “Jake & The Kid: The Golden Jubilee Citizen”. Writ., W. O. Mitchell: 32-33. …, 18 May 1958: “The truth about the Sasquatch.” Writ., Vernon Hockley: 34-35, 67-72. …, 1 March 1953: “When the Redskins took over Twiggeville”. Writ., James Alverton: 14-15. …, 1 June 1953: : “Jake & The Kid: Crocus At The Coronation”. Writ., W.O. Mitchell: 18-19. …, 1 March 1954: “Are People Monkeys”. Writ., James McNamee: 22, 23. …, 1 April 1954: “The Sherriff Of Fractured Jaw”. Writ., Jacob Hay: 22, 23. …, 1 September 1954: “Solution: rob a bank”. Writ., Michael Sheldon: 12, 13. …, 25 June 1955: “Jake & The Kid: The Golden Jubilee Citizen”. Writ., W.O. Mitchell: 35-36. …, 20 August 1955: “The Burning Crusade of Andrew McNorran”. Writ., Doris French: 16-17. …, 12 November 1955: “Uncle Charley’s secret treasure”. Writ., Illingworth H. Kerr: 22-23. …, 26 May 1956: “The Magic Brain Of Sigismund Gantzoff”. Writ., Michael Sheldon: 18-19. …, 21 July 1956: “The strange case of Little Jack Horner”. Writ., Barry Mather: 26. …, 1 September 1956: “What would Carry Nation do?”. Writ., Vernon Hockley: 24-25. …, 13 Oct. 1956: “The spectacular farewell of Wellington Axminister”. Writ., M. H. Horowitz: 32-33. …, 17 April 1957: “How Bamford-Gordon abolished the income tax”. Writ., John Gray: 22-23. …, 10 April 1958: “The truth about the Sasquatch”. Writ., Vernon Hockley: 34, 35. |
The Standard, 19 May 1951: “Batting Average In The Stars”. Writ., Brian Ellis: 12,13.
Sunday Star [Toronto], 23 Dec. 1979: “A Christmas Carol.” Writ., Val Sears: A16.
Toronto Star, 1 July, 1978: “A woman waiting at a window.” Writ., Morley Callaghan: C1-C2.
Weekend Magazine, 5-17, 1955: “Sawket Mullet collects a Debt.” Writ., Barbara Grantmyre: 6.
Content story & Cover front (not related):
Maclean’s, 23 June 1956: “the race for the love of Mizpah Jenkins”. Writ., Vernon Hockley: 26-27. Cover: Trucker sits down to lunch at side of the road.
Maclean’s, 20 July 1957: “ I, Red Wind my friend Running Hawk his intrepid dog Lucy and Constable Kilroy were on the track of a desperate criminal … who could be expected to do anything except what he did.” Writ., Vernon Hockley: 24-25. Cover: Rocket firing at Fort Churchill
Cover front:
Maclean’s …. |
…, 15 February 1954, Ice fishing.
…, 1 June 1954, Government Icebreaker D’Iberville near Craig Harbour in the Arctic. …, 21 Dec. 1957, Montreal at night. …, 15 March 1958, Counting Caribou from the air. …, 10 August 1958, Score board at Maple Leaf Gardens. …, 14 February 1959, The emotions of fourteen people crowded in an elevator whose limit is ten. |
Star Weekly, …: “…”. |
…, 14 August I965: “Greed For The Yankee Dollar Will Destroy Us”.
…, 6 November 1965: “Will Old Age Force Them To Quit”. (Caricatures of Pearson and Diefenbaker) …, 8 January 1966: “Tommy Douglas: Strong Man In The Middle” (Caricature of Douglas) SW Magazine, 2 September 1967: “The Diefenbaker Story”. (Caricature of Diefenbaker hand on bust of Macdonald who looks at him with a quizzical gaze). |
WRITER & ILLUSTRATOR:
BOOK TEXT & GRAPHIC:
Content travel & Cover slipcase:
Macpherson’s Canada. Toronto Star Ltd., 1969.
MERCHANDISE:
Placemat, bag and china:
Barberian’s Steak house, 7 Elm Street, Toronto.
SOURCE:
Book:
Professional Heckler: The Life & Art of Duncan Macpherson. Writ., Terry Mosher. Terry Mosher, 2020.
Article book:
Daily Smile: A Travelling Exhibition of Original Duncan Macpherson Cartoons Donated to the Public Archives of Canada by the Toronto Star. The Canadian Government Publishing Centre, Supply & Services, 1980.
The Hecklers. Writ. & Ed.., Peter Desbarates & Terry Mosher. McClelland & Stewart Ltd., 1979: 146-156, 243-244.
Article periodical:
Canadian Notes & Queries, 90, Summer 2014: “The Landscape: Duncan Macpherson.” By Seth.
Maclean’s 18 January 1958: “In The Editor’s Confidence: Some cannibalism among our caricaturists” 55. Lewis Parker and Duncan Macpherson draw caricatures of each other. See PARKER Lewis as well.
Article newspaper:
Sunday Star [Toronto], 25 April 1993: “Celebrating Macpherson: Award-winning Star cartoonist retires after 35 years.” Writ., Jack Brehl., “The Making of a Master.” Writ., Jack Brehl., “The wicked wit and wisdom of devilish Duncan Macpherson.” a folio., “Tributes to a great cartoonist., writers, Pierre Berton, Edmund Wilson, anonymous, “As others see him.”, Cartoonists, Roy Peterson, Donato, John Larter, Terry Mosher. H1-H8.
Brantford Expositor, 24 Apr. 1973: “Impulsive cartoonist draws with a scalpel”: 4.
Globe and Mail, 6 July 1993: Obituary: A16.
GALLERY:
The Standard, 8 October 1949: “Huntin’”:16.
The Standard, 28 April 1950: “Wrong Number”. Writ., Greg Clark:15.
Maclean’s 1 February 1954: 24.
Maclean’s, 5 March 1955: Front cover.
The Struggle For The Border, 1955: Dust jacket front.
Maclean’s,26 April 1958: 28.
On Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau’s 1st resignation as leader of the Liberal Party, Toronto Star, 22 Nov. 1979: A8
Taken from program for Walter Gordon’s Seventieth Birthday Party, 1976. This cartoon which originally appeared in the Toronto Star, portrays the passage of the “Bank Act” by economic nationalist Walter Gordon of the Lester B. Pearson government. The act was passed to protect Canada’s financial independence from the U.S.A.
MacPherson Editorial Cartoons 1978: Front cover. This cartoon is an example of his sympathy for the average Canadian. This character appears in many of Macpherson’s editorial cartoons.