Born in present-day Germany in 1840, Thomas Nast became one of the most prolific American cartoonists during the American Civil War. His works supporting the abolition of slavery and the Union’s war efforts were influential in shaping opinions on the war and recruitment. In addition to his political cartoons, Nast was also known for his depictions of Santa Clause. These depictions were largely based on his childhood in Bavaria. Currently, there is a lack of political cartoons in the print collection and Thomas Nast is not represented in the collection.