Today in the history of the American comic strip: September 10

American cartoonists and writers may not have invented the comic strip, but some argue that the comics, as we know them today, are an American creation. Clearly, the United States has played an outsize role in the development of this underappreciated art form.

9.10.1904: Winsor McCay’s Dream of the Rarebit Fiend makes its debut. It had a recurring theme in which a character had a nightmare or other bizarre dream, usually after eating a Welsh rarebit: a cheese-on-toast dish.

9.10.1972: Joanie Caucus joins the Doonesbury cast. She later attended law school; worked on the John Anderson campaign and for Rep. Lacey Davenport; and married journalist Rick Redfern, with whom she had a son, Jeff.

9.10.1979: Joanie Caucus’ daughter, J.J., makes her first appearance in Garry Trudeau’s Doonesbury. "J.J." stands for Joan Junior.

Most of the information listed here from one day to the next comes from two online sites -- Wikipedia, and Don Markstein's Toonopedia -- as well as 100 Years of American Newspaper Comics, edited by Maurice Horn. Note that my focus is on American newspaper comic strips (and the occasional foreign strip that gained popularity in the United States). Thus, comic books and exclusively online comics are not included here.