Ink-Slinger Profiles by Alex Jay: Harry Grant Dart

Life 12/9/1909

Harry Grant Dart was born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on November 3, 1868, according to two passport applications found at Ancestry.com. The 1870 U.S. Federal Census recorded Dart as the youngest of three children born to George, a life insurance agent, and Anna. The family resided in Williamsport.

Information regarding Dart’s education and art training has not been found.

The 1887 Williamsport city directory listed Dart as an artist at 412 Elmira. In 1888 resided at 203 Market and the following year he was at 341 Pine. In 1890 Dart made his home in Somerville, Massachusetts, at “291 Elm W S”. The World Encyclopedia of Cartoons (1999) said Dart worked briefly for the Boston Herald.

New York City was Dart’s home according to the 1891 city directory. The illustrator’s address was 369 West End Avenue in Manhattan.

On September 10, 1894, Dart married Luella J. Sheets. The couple had a five-year-old daughter in the 1900 census. They resided in Manhattan at 256 West 85th Street. In the 1905 New York state census, the Dart family continued to live in Manhattan but at a different address, 2790 Broadway.

American Newspaper Comics (2012) said Dart produced comics for the New York World and New York Herald. The Explorigator appeared in the World from May 3 to August 9, 1908. The Herald published Boys Will Be Boys from February 7 to May 9, 1909. Dart wrote Cynthianna Blythe which was drawn by Wallace Morgan. Their collaboration ran from 1909 to 1910 in the Herald. The Sprightly Adventures of Mr. Homesweet Home debuted July 7, 1909 in the World. The strip ended May 25, 1912. Homesweet was published as book in 1914.

Some of Dart’s full-color illustrations for magazines are here. A selection of Dart’s flying machines are here.

Original art for The All-Story, October 1908

At some point Dart moved to Amenia, New York. Dart and his family were recorded there in the 1910 census. Dart was mentioned often in the local newspaper, Amenia Times.

January 8, 1910

Harry Grant Dart, Cartoonist.
The Denver Times of Friday, Dec. 10, has a great article and a nearly half page illustration setting forth the “airship thriller” of Harry Grant Dart, Cartoonist. We can not reproduce the illustration, but reprint the article as follows:

Harry Grant Dart, formerly cartoonist for The Denver Times, has scored one of the hits of the day in the realm if magazine illustration with his stirring imaginative picture, “The Accident to the Transcontinental Flyer” in Harper’s Weekly.

Dart is well known as one of the most successful illustrators of the East. He came West last spring in the capacity of cartoonist for The Times, his work while here attracting universal attention. While in the West Dart absorbed “local color” and acquired the Western flavor in a thorough manner which speaks for itself in the drawing, which shows the “flyer” stranded on the crest of Pike’s Peak. Commenting editorially upon the illustration the New York World says:

“That vivid impression as of an airship age established which Mr. Kipling conveyed through his story of “The Night Mail” is strongly paralleled through a two-page drawing by Harry Grant Dart in the current Harper’s Weekly. In this picture a giant “flyer” of the Transcontinental Air Line is stranded on the tiptop of Pike’s Peak. Beneath is the text of a wireless telegram which tells of passengers and crew safe and a wrecking ship has gone to the scene. The plausibility of the thing is absolute. One feels the very air about the disabled Rocket Limited as it is driven in the Colorado blast. Is not something of real prophecy likely to dwell in such striking veri-similitude of story-writer’s work and artist’s?”

May 7, 1910

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Grant Dart entertained Artist Morgan of the New York Herald and a gentleman friend for the week-end and over Sunday last.

October 29, 1910

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Grant Dart and her daughter, Miss Dorothy, were interested spectators of the serial evolutions at the great aviation meet at Belmont Park, New York, this week.

November 19, 1910

“Blundering Billy,” a farcical comedy in three acts, now actively being rehearsed by well know local talent under the efficient direction of Harry Grant Dart, will soon be presented to the Amenia public for the benefit of the Amenia Fire Company. See bills for date and further information next week.

February 4, 1911

Rehearsals are in active progress for the production of “Blessington Springs” Mr. Harry Grant Dart’s drama under the supervision of the talented author which will be produced at the opera house on the evening of February 22nd.

May 27, 1911

Mr. and Mrs. Paul West were week-end and over Sunday last guest of Artist Harry Grant Dart. Mr. West is the editor of the Metropolitan Section of the New York World. They are looking for a country home for the summer, preferably a small farm, which they would like to acquire.

July 8, 1911

Artist Harry Grant Dart entertained Artist (Fluffy Ruffles) Morgan of the New York Herald staff over the Fourth and they and the other "kids" had lots of sport at the Pratt House with firecrackers and other detonating material.

February 10, 1912

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Grant Dart spent the forepart of the week at the metropolis.

March 23, 1912

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Grant Dart went down to the great Metropolis on Saturday last, and trans-shipped immediately to Larchmont, where they spent the week-end as the guests of honor of the Hit-em-Hard Club, a well-known and exclusive organization of that very exclusive suburb.

April 6, 1912

Mrs. Harry Grant Dart and daughter, Miss Dorothy, have returned home from New York City.

April 20, 1912

Miss Dorothy Dart, who has been spending the Easter vacation with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Grant Dart, returned to her studies at Brearley School in New York City Monday. Mr. Dart accompanied her and returned a few days later.

May 4, 1912

Mrs. W. L. Jacobs, of New York City, is visiting Mr. and Mrs. Harry Grant Dart. Mr. Jacobs, accompanied by Wallace Morgan and Harry Wood, are expected today.

Dart was a regular contributor to Life which profiled him in its August 17, 1911 issue.

The New York Tribune, February 22, 1914, published a drawing by Dart of himself.

Dart returned to New York City and changed residences frequently. In 1914 he was at 15 West 67th Street. The following year Dart made his home at 26 West 8th Street, according to the 1915 state census. The 1917 and 1918 directories listed Dart, an artist with the World, at 345 Edgecomb Avenue. The Chelsea Hotel was Dart’s home in the 1922 and 1925 directory listings. Passenger lists from 1928 and 1930 had Dart’s address as the Hotel White on Lexington Avenue at 37th Street.

Costume party in New York City

A profile of Pop Momand, in the Evening Star (Washington, DC), September 28, 1921, said Momand got his start from Dart.

Dart passed away November 15, 1938, in Laconia, New Hampshire. According to the New Hampshire death records at Ancestry.com, the cause of death was cancer.

—Alex Jay