Today in the history of the American comic strip: March 21

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.

3.21.1902: Al Smith, who drew Mutt and Jeff for almost 50 years starting in 1932, is born in New York City. The National Cartoonists Society honored Smith with  an award in 1968.

3.21.1971: Garry Trudeau adds a Sunday strip to Doonesbury's daily lineup. Currently, only the Sunday strip runs new material.

3.21.1980: Following the successful publication of a book of her cartoons, Nicole Hollander introduces Sylvia to newspaper readers. The strip offered commentary on various issues, as well as on cats. It ran until 2012.

Doonesbury

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.