Jim Case - Greatest Labor Cartoonist of His Day

Born in 1894, after attending the State School in Brisbane  Jim Case was employed by The Worker Newspaper as a machine room assistant at the age of 14. The Worker was a labour union newspaper originally published as a monthly journal and later became a weekly. One of Cases tasks was taking the the line drawings from chief illustrator Monte Scott to the etchers to prepare etching plates for printing. Case showed early talent in drawing and was encouraged in his artistic endeavours by workmates and without  doubt, considering his style, was a protege of Monte Scott. Whilst still in his teens he left the newspaper to take up a career as a painter and decorator but continued with his drawing and in 1908 at the age of 24  had his first illustration published on the cover of The Worker newspaper, a line drawing diorama of May Day celebrations held in Brisbane.

1908 'MAY DAY IN BRISBANE 1908.', Worker (Brisbane, Qld. : 1890 - 1955), 9 May, p. 1. , viewed 30 Apr 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70868991

llustrations by Case, Alf Ponty and Monte Scott appeared on rotation through the years 1908 and 1909 until Scotts death in Sydney in late 1909 and with Scotts passing, Cases illustrations appeared more often and the industrial unrest and later WWI and conscription became fertile ground for a staunch Laborites work. One of his more notable illustrations Black Friday, 1912 depicted a demur young woman (Australia), looking down and away as she pulls back the curtain (Queensland) to reveal the bloody scene as police take to demonstrators with truncheons during the General Strike of 1912. A poster size version of this image is held with the National Library of Australia and has been coloured in places including the red of the wounded and injured demonstrators.

1912 'BLACK FRIDAY, Brisbane, February 2, 1912.', Worker (Brisbane, Qld. : 1890 - 1955), 13 April, p. 12. , viewed 01 May 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70881782

The general strike in which the Black Friday incident occurred lasted from Tuesday 30 January 1912 to March 6 1912 and during the action a Daily Strike Bulletin was issued, this single sheet newsletter style publication continued publication ofter the strike by becoming a fully fledged daily newspaper called The Daily Standard to compliment the weekly publication of The Worker. Jim Case was appointed chief illustrator of The Daily Standard at age 29. 

Jim Case, Illustrated works from "The Worker" 1908-1912.

In late 1920 it was announced that Case had been offered lucrative employment in Sydney as a special illustrator with the The Truth chain of newspapers. He and his family settled in Bondi in early 1921 but Case became ill and it was discovered he had cancer. He had surgery from which he recovered from but within weeks had become ill again. Jim Case passed away 24 October 1921.

"The last rites in connection with the passing of our old friend and colleague, Jim Case, took place on the afternoon of Saturday, October 29, at the Bulimba Cemetery. The casket, which was accompanied by Mrs. Case from Sydney, was taken from Hislop's  Funeral parlor, and the cortege, which was representative of all sections of the Labor Movement, was especially well attended by his erstwhile workmates and colleagues of the 'Worker,' 'Standard,' and 'Truth' newspapers. Floral tributes, which were very numerous, were sent by each of the journals, the proprietaries, and staffs, and a number of his most intimate friends and relatives. He rests near the brow of a hill which looks towards the city of his birth and in which he developed and wisely used his wonderful talents. Some day someone, in, tracing back the industrial history of the days just passed, will go through the files of the 'Worker' and the 'Standard,' and in the proper perspective of time will pronounce Jim Case the greatest Labor cartoonist of his day. His memory as a man and a sterling, true-hearted workmate will be long cherished fondly by his 'Worker' colleagues."

1921 'MEN AND MATTERS', Worker (Brisbane, Qld. : 1890 - 1955), 10 November, p. 10. , viewed 01 May 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71052756

Grave of Jim Case, located in Section 8, Plot 201, Balmoral Cemetery, Brisbane.