Donald in pre-World War 2 US Navy yearbook

I'm not an expert in Disney history, but most people know the company helped America's war effort in World War II by designing logos for units, and making training films. At work, I've stumbled across this pre-war (to America at least) example of the Naval Air Station Pensacola Florida yearbook The Flight Jacket 1940, which was compiled for the training class for new pilots. At some point in the next few months, the yearbook will be transferred to the more appropriate Navy Department Library in the Washington Navy Yard which appears to need a copy. In the meantime, one can see scans of the famed Duck here.

Cartoons on matchbooks

I stopped into the MARVA matchbook club meeting yesterday to hand off some old matchbooks (as you know, I love ephemera) and the group was very welcoming. They usually have piles they trade amongst themselves as everyone has to specialize. I found a few of cartoon interest:


3 hillbilly gag cartoons, probably from the 1940s or early 1950s, on matchbook covers.


"Won't Be Long Now" hillbilly cartoon gag on matchbook cover.


A cricket that looks a lot like Disney's Jiminy on a "Li'l Cricket Food Stores" matchbook cover.


Matchbook ad for Art Instruction, Inc, the school that Charles Schulz attended (via correspondence) and taught at before Peanuts.


Interior of matchbook ad for Art Instruction, Inc, the school that Charles Schulz attended (via correspondence) and taught at before Peanuts.


Cartoon matchbook spotlighting French cartoonist.


ANNÉE DE L'ENFANCE [aka, Année internationale de l’enfant : 1979]

Francisque Poulbout (1879-1946)
Dessinateur humoriste, POULBOT devient célèbre vers 1910, grâce à ses dessins inspirés des gosses de la rue. Il crée en 1920 le Dispensaire de P'tits Poulbots et la République de Montmartre pour aider les enfants nécessiteux. Le nom de poulbot est aujourd’hui passé dans la langue courante pour désigner un gosse de la rue.

Translation by Portugese comics scholar Leo de Sa:

INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE CHILD [1979]
Francisque Poulbout (1879-1946)
Cartoonist, POULBOT became famous around 1910, thanks to his drawings inspired by street kids. In 1920 he created the Dispensary of Little Poulbots and the Republic of Montmartre to help needy children. The name "poulbot" became the everyday-language designation for a street kid.