Dale Messick

Dale Messick (April 11, 1906 – April 5, 2005) was the first woman syndicated comic strip artist in the United States. She was best known as the creator of Brenda Starr, which at its peak in the 1950s ran in 250 newspapers.

Related Topics:
April 11 - 1906 - April 5 - 2005 - Syndicated - Comic strip - Brenda Starr - 1950s

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She was born Dalia Messick in South Bend, Indiana to a seamstress and commercial artist. She had an interest in writing and drawing since childhood. She studied briefly at the Ray Commercial Art School in Chicago but left to begin a career as a professional artist.

Related Topics:
South Bend, Indiana - Seamstress - Chicago

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She began working for a Chicago greeting card company and was successful but quit when her boss lowered her pay during the Great Depression. She moved to New York City and found work at another greeting card company at a higher salary, and began assembling a portfolio of comic strips after work.

Related Topics:
Great Depression - New York City

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Messick was not the first female comic strip creator; Nel Brinkley, Gladys Parker, and Edwina Dumm had all achieved success in the field. But there was still a bias against women and Messick decided to change her first name to Dale to help get her work seen by editors. She produced a number of ideas for strips with titles such as Weegee, Mimi the Mermaid, Peg and Pudy, the Struglettes, and Streamline Babies, none of which were picked up for publication.

Related Topics:
Nel Brinkley - Gladys Parker - Edwina Dumm

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