Journey to the Reuben: The Early Years

September 11, 2014 through January 4, 2015
Upstairs Changing Gallery

Rarely exhibited original Peanuts strips from the 1950s, as well as some of Schulz’s early pre-Peanuts cartoons are featured in this exhibition which highlights how Schulz’s career progressed from lettering Catholic comic books to producing panel cartoons for The Saturday Evening Post and winning the 1955 Reuben award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year.

Schulz received his first Reuben Award at the age of 33 following the initial whirlwind success of Peanuts. For Schulz, the path to this important recognition at a relatively young age began early in adulthood as his style developed and he grew accustomed to the rigorous work regimen demanded by a daily comic strip.

“It really was a surprise. I never dreamed that I would win anything like that so quickly.” Charles M. Schulz, 1984

The Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year award is chosen by a secret ballot of the members of the National Cartoonists Society. Informally known as the ‘Reuben’ and named after Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist, Rube Goldberg, this prestigious professional accolade represents the highest honor bestowed annually by the National Cartoonists Society. Schulz was awarded a second Reuben in 1964.