Ink-Slinger Profiles by Alex Jay: Ray Doherty

Raymond Henry “Ray” Doherty was born on December 4, 1906, in Garyville, Louisiana, according to his World War II draft card. In the 1910 U.S. Federal Census, Doherty was the oldest of two sons born to William, a boilermaker, and Noelie. The family resided in St. John the Baptist, Louisiana. 

The 1920 census said Doherty’s mother was a widow and head of the household. She, her sons and an aunt lived on Little Hope Street in St. John the Baptist. 

In 1927 Doherty married Eva. According to the 1930 census, Doherty, his wife and two daughters lived with his mother whose address was unchanged. Doherty was a grocery salesman.

The San Francisco Chronicle (California), January 26, 1963, said Doherty “moved to San Francisco with his wife and family in 1935 and took a job on the old Call-Bulletin.” Information about Doherty’s art training has not been found. The 1938 San Francisco city directory listed Doherty at 3303 Army Street. 

The 1940 census recorded Doherty, his mother, wife, four children and brother, a bank clerk, in San Francisco at 391 Rolph Street. Doherty was a newspaper artist whose highest level of education was the second year of high school. His house was valued at five-thousand dollars. In 1939 Doherty earned $2,705. 

On October 16, 1940, Doherty signed his World War II draft card. He was employed by the Call-Bulletin newspaper. His description was five feet eleven inches, 180 pounds, with brown eyes and hair.

Editor & Publisher, January 18, 1941, reported Doherty’s new business. 

Ray Doherty, San Francisco Call-Bulletin advertising artist, and his brother, W. T. Doherty, have begun syndication of a daily one-column panel cartoon, “Nuttibits”.

Editor & Publisher 11/25/1941

Wood Cowan’s Sissy was syndicated by Doherty. 

The Chronicle said Doherty joined the Chronicle, in 1942, as a staff artist and cartoonist. 

The Writer’s Market (1945) had an entry for Doherty. 

Ray Doherty Syndicate, 391 Rolph Street, San Francisco, California. W. T. Doherty, Editor.

Syndicates editorials, industrial and general news, cartoons, features to company publications throughout the nation. Material must be condensed, colorful, authoritative and accurate (sources of facts, dates, etc., should accompany manuscripts), and written with popular appeal. 

Doherty had an item in the Catalog of Copyright Entries, Third Series, Volume 8, Parts 7-11A, Number 1, Works of Art, Etc., January–June 1954. 

Doherty, Ray.

Horse-rating gadget. [Dial] Cardboard work. © Raymond Henry Doherty; 21May54; IP2403.

The Chronicle said Doherty left the paper in 1956.

Doherty passed away on January 25, 1963 in San Francisco. He was laid to rest at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery.