Today in the history of the American comic strip: September 19

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.

9.19.1872: A. D. Condo is born in Freeport, Illinois. He collaborated with J. W. Raper to create The Outbursts of Everett True (1905-1927). He also created Mr. Skygack, from Mars (1907-1917), which is considered the first science fiction comic.

9.19.1949: Casey Ruggles, a Sunday-only Western strip for the past few months, adds a daily strip. The comic survived until 1954.

9.19.1952: Linus van Pelt of security blanket fame, the younger brother of Lucy van Pelt, makes his first appearance in Charles Schulz’s Peanuts. However, he isn't mentioned by name until three days later.
 
9.19.2010: The illustrator of Inside Woody Allen, Stuart Hample, dies in New York City. He was 84. As its name suggests, the strip focused on Allen's quirks and foibles. It ran from 1976 to 1984.

Casey Ruggles

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.