This collection contains one series, Panel Cartoon Printing Plates.
CGA.2018.082: Ann Empie Groves, 2018
[identification of item], [Box number/ Folder Number], Hal Empie Collection, SPEC.CGA.HMP, Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, Ohio State University
Materials in this collection are available for use, but may be used in the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum reading room only. Audio/visual materials and computer media may need a use copy produced before access is allowed. To request materials from this finding aid, please contact the reading room at 614-292-6369 or email
Materials in this collection may be protected by copyright, and are made available for research and educational purposes. In general, the OSU Libraries do not own the copyright for materials from our collections and cannot grant copyright permissions for these materials. The user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status. If copyright protection applies, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exceptions to the law. Works in the public domain are not protected by copyright and do not require permission to use.
Emily Winter, 2019
Hart Haller (Hal) Empie was born on March 26, 1909 in Safford, Arizona Territory. Empie’s path to becoming a cartoonist came through his pharmacy career. As a teenager, Empie worked at the Best Drug Store in Safford. After his graduation from high school, Empie attended the University of Arizona in pre-med and later transferred to Capitol College of Pharmacy in Denver, Colorado. After passing Board of Pharmacy licensing examinations in both Colorado and Arizona, Empie received a special dispensation to practice pharmacy before the age of 21, making him the youngest licensed pharmacist in Arizona history. In 1934, he purchased Duncan Drug Store in Duncan, Arizona (later renamed Art Gallery Drug Store) and set up his easel next to the prescription counter, where he painted between customers. Empie started drawing his famous Empie Kartoon Kards in the mid-1930s and was a major contributor to early issues of Arizona Highways magazine. Amazingly, Empie was a self-taught artist and art teacher, his only formal instruction was a six-week course in 1950 studying oil painting techniques under Polish artist, Frederick Taubes.
As a pharmacist, businessman, and artist, he contributed to a number of publications including Life magazine and drew countless cartoons for newspapers and magazines. His Empie Kartoon Kards were postcards sold at stores across the Western United States. These cards were famous for their humorous slice of life scenes as interpreted by Empie. Mr. Empie published his works in Arizona Highways magazine and newspapers across the Southwestern United States. Empie was highly regarded for his fine art portraying places and people of the American Southwest.
Hal Empie passed away aged 93 in 2002. At his passing, Mr. Empie was the oldest continuous resident artist in Arizona.
The collection also includes metal printing blocks that match the selection of Empie Kartoon Kards and printing matrices. These are printmaking artifacts.
Miscellaneous clippings about Hal Empie may be found in the library's biography file under his
Cooper, Evelyn S. "Arizona's Hal Empie : his life, his times and his art." Tempe, Arizona : Arizona Historical Foundation; 2001.