Homer Davenport
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Homer Calvin Davenport (March 8, 1867 – May 2, 1912) was a political cartoonist from the United States.
The latter part of the 19th century saw the rise of two modern institutions we all can recognize today: Machine Politics and Multimedia Empires. Both grew and fed off each other during this period of US history. In the middle of this fray was cast a Silverton Artist with a photographic memory, small-town demeanor and caustic frontier wit.
Homer C. Davenport was born in the Waldo hills several miles south of Silverton, Oregon in 1864 to free-thinking pioneers from New England. Homer’s mother, Florinda, died when he was still a child, but recognized a talent in him beyond his years. Florinda was an avid fan of Harpers Weekly, an illustrated news magazine. She was particularly enamored with the political cartoons of the German immigrant, Thomas Nast, who made his name in part by exposing the corruption of New York City government, by way of biting satire. Before she died, Florinda made her husband Timothy promise to nurture Homer’s art.
Contrary to the expectations of the citizens of Silverton, the lazy boy who never worked and spent his days drawing ended up becoming the highest paid political cartoonist in the world. It was the emerging media mogul William Randolph Hearst who recognized and channeled Homer’s talent. The result was a continuing stream of highly detailed pen & ink caricatures of many of the leading figures of the day.
Indeed, Homer’s work was so powerful, that it inspired some politicians to do what they always seem to do when confronted with a problem: They attempted to pass a law banning political cartoons! The New York State Legislature, with the prodding of U.S. Senator Thomas C. Platt, (R-NY) drafted a bill that would have effectively outlawed certain types of political cartoons. The bill died, but the effort inspired Homer to create one of his most famous cartoons: “No Honest Man Need Fear Cartoons,” (below).
Behind the figure of Senator Platt is the visage of Boss Tweed, one of the principals from an earlier generation of political crooks, in part brought down by Nast. In effect, this piece is Homer’s homage to Nast, whose most famous creation was the Tammany Tiger, representing the Tammany Hall political machine that controlled New York City’s municipal government for decades.
Homer went on to author several autobiographical books and went on the lecture circuit, traveling the world speaking on cartoons, satire and Silverton. He also published a large-format book containing many of his cartoons. His last assignment was to illustrate the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912. He caught pneumonia while waiting on the NYC Docks for the arrival of the survivors, and died shortly after. Hearst paid for an elaborate funeral and had Homer’s body returned to his native Silverton for burial.
In addition to his influential cartooning, Homer is remembered for personally playing a key role in bringing pure-blooded Arabian horses to America (as chronicled in his book,My Quest for the Arabian Horse). Horses descended from those he imported are referred to as Davenport Arabians.
His legacy is kept alive by Silverton’s annual Homer Davenport Days festival, held the first full weekend of August. Besides great food, beverages and music, Homer Days also plays host to the annual Homer Davenport International Cartoon Contest. Amateur and professional cartoonists from around the world vie for the honors. All entries are displayed during the festival in the Silverton Art Association’s Borland Gallery.
Sources: Homer Davenport of Silverton L. Huot & P. Powers West Shore Press, Bingen, WA 1973.
"Homer The Country Boy" Mickey Hickman Capitol City Graphics, Salem, OR 1986.
