# Elton Fax > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Elton_Fax > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Elton_Fax.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elton_Fax > Source revision: 1345490932 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American artist (1909–1993)}} '''Elton Clay Fax''' (October 9, 1909 – May 13, 1993) was an American illustrator, cartoonist, and writer. ==Early life and education== Elton Clay Fax was born in 1909, in [Baltimore, Maryland](/source/Baltimore%2C_Maryland), the son of Mark Oakland Fax and Willie Estelle Fax. His father was a [stevedore](/source/stevedore) at the Baltimore Railroad Depot; his mother was a seamstress. Elton Fax graduated from [Frederick Douglass High School](/source/Frederick_Douglass_High_School_(Baltimore%2C_Maryland)) in 1926, where he was classmates with [Cab Calloway](/source/Cab_Calloway), who became a noted musician. Fax first attended [Claflin College](/source/Claflin_College), a [historically black college](/source/historically_black_college) in [Orangeburg, South Carolina](/source/Orangeburg%2C_South_Carolina), but transferred north to [Syracuse University](/source/Syracuse_University) in New York state. There he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1931. Soon after college he was featured in a solo art show at the offices of the ''[Baltimore Afro-American](/source/Baltimore_Afro-American)'' newspaper.[https://www.proquest.com/docview/530995685/A40D25F7F4B84A82PQ/3 "Baltimore Painter's Work Shocks Conservative Baltimore Critics"] ''Afro-American'' (April 23, 1932): 3.[https://www.proquest.com/docview/530958567/A40D25F7F4B84A82PQ/18 "Civilization Hasn't Helped Negro Art"] ''Afro-American'' (April 16, 1932): 21. ==Career== Elton Fax taught art at the [Harlem Community Art Center](/source/Harlem_Community_Art_Center) in New York beginning in 1934. He also worked with the [Works Project Administration](/source/Works_Project_Administration) (WPA) [Federal Art Project](/source/Federal_Art_Project), a government financial assistance program for artists during the [Great Depression](/source/Great_Depression). Fax was an illustrator for magazines such as ''[Weird Tales](/source/Weird_Tales)'', ''[Astounding Science-Fiction](/source/Analog_Science_Fiction_and_Fact)'', ''[Complete Cowboy](/source/Complete_Cowboy)'', ''[Real Western](/source/Real_Western)'', ''[Story Parade](/source/Story_Parade)'', ''[Child Life](/source/Child_Life_(journal))'', and ''[All Sports](/source/All_Sports_(magazine))''. In 1942 he began a newspaper comic named ''Susabelle'',Steven Loring Jones, [http://www.ferris.edu/jimcrow/links/comics/ "From 'Under Cork' to Overcoming: Black Images in the Comics"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014170452/http://www.ferris.edu/jimcrow/links/comics/ |date=2014-10-14 }} Ferris State University, Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia. and later an illustrated history panel, ''They'll Never Die''; both were carried in [African-American newspapers](/source/African-American_newspapers). He also created greeting card illustrations for [The Links](/source/The_Links).[https://www.proquest.com/docview/226778879/A40D25F7F4B84A82PQ/1 "Elton Fax Designs Links Cards"], ''New York Amsterdam News'' (September 29, 1962): 13. During the 1940s Fax worked for several comic companies as a cartoonist, including [Continental Features Syndicate](/source/Continental_Features_Syndicate), a group that sold comic books throughout black communities. Some other companies he worked for as a cartoonist included [Funnies Inc.](/source/Funnies_Inc.), [Quality Comics](/source/Quality_Comics), and [Novelty Comics](/source/Novelty_Comics). Books that Fax wrote and illustrated include ''West African Vignettes'' (1960),Elton C. Fax, [https://books.google.com/books?id=zQowAAAAIAAJ ''West African Vignettes''] (American Society of African Culture 1960).[https://books.google.com/books?id=ZDoDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA51 "Books Noted"] ''Black World/Negro Digest'' (August 1963): 51. ''Contemporary Black Leaders'' (1970), ''Seventeen Black Artists'' (1972), ''Garvey'' (1972, a biography of [Marcus Garvey](/source/Marcus_Garvey)),Elton C. Fax, [https://books.google.com/books?id=j3aaAAAAIAAJ ''Garvey: The Story of a Pioneer Black Nationalist''] (Dodd Mead and Company 1972). ''Through Black Eyes: Journeys of a Black Artist to East Africa and Russia'' (1974), ''Black Artists of the New Generation'' (1977), and ''Hashar'' (1980).Elton C. Fax, [https://books.google.com/books?id=yUXUAAAAMAAJ ''Hashar''] (Progress Publishers 1980). In addition, Fax illustrated books by such children's authors as [Georgene Faulkner](/source/Georgene_Faulkner)Minnie W. Koblitz, [https://books.google.com/books?id=-wI2AQAAIAAJ ''The Negro in Schoolroom Literature''] (Center for Urban Education 1969): 15. and [Verna Aardema](/source/Verna_Aardema).[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2995532/verna_aardema_and_elton_fax/ "Mr. Pages"] ''Corpus Christi Caller-Times'' (June 12, 1960): 22. via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com) {{open access}}Roy Toothaker, "Verna Aardema: Her Wondrous Tales Fall on Willing Ears," ''Language Arts'' 56(2)(February 1979): 190-193. He also created dust jacket art for various publishers, as well as a literacy pamphlet for the [Pan American Union](/source/Pan_American_Union).[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2211&dat=19541002&id=lJwlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pfUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3610,1483027&hl=en "He Designs Book Covers"], ''The Afro American'' (October 2, 1954): 16. Among the books he illustrated are ''Paul Cuffee: America's First Black Captain'' (1970) by Johanna Johnston, and ''Take a Walk in Their Shoes'' (1989) by Glennette Turner. From 1949 to 1956, Fax was a "[chalk talk](/source/chalk_talk) artist" with the ''New York Times'' Children's Book Program. As he presented stories to children's groups, he also spontaneously illustrated them.Sandra L. West, [https://books.google.com/books?id=XP48QWTmjyUC&dq=Elton%20Fax&pg=PA111 "Elton Fax"], in ''Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance'' (Infobase Publishing 2003): 111. {{ISBN|9781438130170}} Fax was sponsored by the [U.S. State Department](/source/U.S._State_Department) for travel in [Latin America](/source/Latin_America) in 1955, and a period as a lecturer in [East Africa](/source/East_Africa) in 1963. After living in Mexico and traveling through [Bolivia](/source/Bolivia), [Argentina](/source/Argentina), and [Uruguay](/source/Uruguay), Fax wrote in his article "It's Been a Beautiful but Rugged Journey" about feeling concerned after the United States Embassy asked him if he had seen any "communist activity".{{citation needed|date=August 2022}} While in East Africa, he also toured [Nigeria](/source/Nigeria) with jazz musician [Randy Weston](/source/Randy_Weston) on a trip sponsored by the [American Society of African Culture](/source/American_Society_of_African_Culture) (AMSAC).[https://www.proquest.com/docview/226788437/A40D25F7F4B84A82PQ/154 "Made Whirlwind Trip to Africa"] ''New York Amsterdam News'' (July 27, 1963): 16. As one of fourteen AMSAC representatives at a meeting of the [Congress of Black Writers and Artists](/source/Congress_of_Black_Writers_and_Artists) in Rome in 1959, he reported on what happened at the meeting for the ''[New York Age](/source/New_York_Age)''.[https://www.proquest.com/docview/532050338/A40D25F7F4B84A82PQ/200 "14 from US Attend Rome Writers' Meet"] ''Afro-American'' (April 4, 1959): 15.[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2995495/elton_fax_at_rome_conference_1959/ "Elton Fax on a Long Writers' Conference"] ''New York Age'' (April 18, 1959): 4. via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com) {{open access}} After his time in Rome, Fax toured Africa, visiting such countries as Nigeria, [Sudan](/source/Sudan), [Egypt](/source/Egypt), and [Ethiopia](/source/Ethiopia). He drew from these trips for sketches published in his first book, ''West African Vignettes.''{{citation needed|date=August 2022}} Fax's drawings were also used in the [United States Information Agency](/source/United_States_Information_Agency) film series ''Adventure Africa''. Fax returned to Europe for the [Union of Soviet Writers](/source/Union_of_Soviet_Writers) meetings in 1971 and 1973 and the [Bulgarian Writers' Conference](/source/Bulgarian_Writers'_Conference) in 1977. Fax was a fellow at the [MacDowell Colony](/source/MacDowell_Colony) in 1968. He received a [Rockefeller Foundation](/source/Rockefeller_Foundation) Research Grant in 1976 to travel to Italy. Other awards included the [Coretta Scott King Award](/source/Coretta_Scott_King_Award) from the [American Library Association](/source/American_Library_Association) in 1972{{Cite web |title=Coretta Scott King Book Awards - All Recipients, 1970-Present {{!}} Coretta Scott King Roundtable |url=https://www.ala.org/cskbart/coretta-scott-king-book-awards-all-recipients-1970-present#1972 |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=www.ala.org |language=en}} and the Chancellor's Medal from Syracuse University in 1990.[https://books.google.com/books?id=3r0DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA20 "People"] ''Jet'' (March 19, 1990): 20. ==Personal life and legacy== In 1929, Elton Fax married Grace Elizabeth Turner. They had three children together. The family lived in Mexico for several years in the 1950sToki Johnson, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2995428/elton_and_grace_fax_in_mexico_1956/ "Mexican Holiday: Profile of an Artist, Elton Fax and Grace"] ''Pittsburgh Courier'' (September 8, 1956): 15. via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com) {{open access}} and traveled widely.Ida Peters, [https://www.proquest.com/docview/532401671/A40D25F7F4B84A82PQ/178 "Black History Feature: Elton Clay Fax"] ''Afro-American'' (February 16, 1980): 11. His second wife was Elizabeth V. Murrell, a social worker.[https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/05/obituaries/elizabeth-murrell-fax-a-social-worker-66.html "Elizabeth Murrell-Fax, a Social Worker"] ''New York Times'' (October 5, 1989). Elton Fax died in 1993, age 83, in [Queens, New York](/source/Queens%2C_New_York). He was the older brother of music scholar [Mark Fax](/source/Mark_Fax). [Sue Bailey Thurman](/source/Sue_Bailey_Thurman) donated some of Elton Fax's visual art to Heritage Hall at [Livingstone College](/source/Livingstone_College) in 1973.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VVo5AAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZikMAAAAIBAJ&pg=591%2C184884 "Bishop Walls' $75,000 Funds Livingstone Center"] ''ThAfro American'' (June 26, 1973). His papers are housed at the New York Public Library, Boston University, and Syracuse University.[http://archives.nypl.org/scm/20719 Elton C. Fax Papers], New York Public Library Archives & Manuscripts.[https://www.loc.gov/folklife/civilrights/survey/view_collection.php?coll_id=2274 Elton C. Fax Collection], Boston University Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center.[http://library.syr.edu/digital/guides/f/fax_e.htm Elton Fax Collection], Syracuse University Libraries. == Selected works == * ''Through Black Eyes: Journeys of a Black Artist to East Africa and Russia (1960)'' * ''West African Vignettes (1960)'' * ''Contemporary Black Leaders'' (1970) * ''Seventeen Black Artists'' (1971) * ''Garvey: The Story of a Pioneer Black Nationalist'' (1972) * ''Black Artists of the New Generation'' (1977) * ''Elyuchin'' (1984) * ''Hashar'' (1980) * ''Soviet People as I Knew Them'' (1988) ===Illustrator only=== * ''Dr. George Washington Carver, Scientist by [Shirley Graham Du Bois](/source/Shirley_Graham_Du_Bois) and [George Dewey Lipscomb](/source/George_Dewey_Lipscomb) (1944)'' * ''Almena's Dogs'' by [Regina Jones Woody](/source/Regina_Jones_Woody) (1954) * ''Tales from the Story Hat'' by Verna Aardema (1960) * ''The Na of Wa'' by [Verna Aardema](/source/Verna_Aardema) (1960) * Opening sequence for Africa Adventure short film series (beginning 1966), produced by the [US Information Agency](/source/United_States_Information_Agency) * ''Black and Beautiful'' by [Ruby Dee](/source/Ruby_Dee) (1974) * ''Paul Cuffee: America's First Black Captain'' by [Johanna Johnston](/source/Johanna_Johnston) (1970) * ''The Seven Wishes of Joanna Peabody'' by [Genevieve Gray](/source/Genevieve_Gray) (1972) * ''Take a Walk in Their Shoes'' by [Glennette Tilley Turner](/source/Glennette_Tilley_Turner) (1989) ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2010648420/ "Come, let us take counsel together"] (A 1944 poster by Elton Fax, in the NAACP Collection, Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress.) * [https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/99471881/ "Finish the Fight! Join NAACP Now"] (A 1946 poster by Elton Fax, in the NAACP Collection, Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress.) *[https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2010648419/ 8th annual youth conference], New Orleans, Louisiana, Nov. 21–24, 1946 (A 1946 poster by Elton Fax, in the NAACP Collection, Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress.) *[https://artbma.org/documents/findingAids/PWAPRecords.html Public Works of Art Project, Maryland Division Records finding aid] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320064605/https://artbma.org/documents/findingAids/PWAPRecords.html |date=2016-03-20 }}, Archives and Manuscripts Collections, The Baltimore Museum of Art *[http://cdm16075.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15264coll7/id/87 Women viewing gallery, Contemporary Negro Art exhibition, The Baltimore Museum of Art, 1939]. Exhibitions Photograph Collection, Archives and Manuscripts Collection, The Baltimore Museum of Art {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Fax, Elton}} Category:1909 births Category:1993 deaths Category:Works Progress Administration workers Category:20th-century African-American artists Category:African-American illustrators Category:American comic strip cartoonists Category:American comics writers Category:African-American comics writers Category:African-American comics artists Category:American science fiction artists Category:American horror artists Category:20th-century American illustrators Category:20th-century American male artists Category:American children's book illustrators Category:Artists from Baltimore Category:Syracuse University alumni Category:Coretta Scott King Award winners Category:Writers who illustrated their own writing --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Elton Fax](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elton_Fax) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elton_Fax?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.