Object Timeline

1950

  • Work on this object began.

1991

  • We acquired this object.

2005

2007

2016

2025

  • You found it!

Sidewall, Dick Tracy

This is a sidewall. It was designed by Chester Gould and manufactured by Niagara Wall Paper Co.. It is dated 1950 and we acquired it in 1991. Its medium is machine-printed paper. It is a part of the Wallcoverings department.

Veteran cartoonist Chester Gould began drawing his most legendary character, the dashing and daring Dick Tracy, for the newspaper comics page in 1931. Modeled in the image of the innovative Sherlock Holmes, Gould was inspired to create new crime-fighting technology including the two-way wrist TV. Mickey Mouse was the first comic strip character to appear on wallpaper ca. 1930, and Popeye followed soon after.

This object was donated by Suzanne Lipschutz. It is credited Gift of Suzanne Lipschutz.

This object has not been digitized yet.

Its dimensions are

H x W: 113.8 x 48.9 cm (44 13/16 x 19 1/4 in.)

It is inscribed

Printed in right selvedge: "Licensed Famous Artists Synd., Copyright, Chicago Tribune, U.W.P.C. OF N.A." Printed in left selvedge: Naigara Wallpaper-Maxwell Wallpaper Mills."

Cite this object as

Sidewall, Dick Tracy; Designed by Chester Gould; Manufactured by Niagara Wall Paper Co.; USA; machine-printed paper; H x W: 113.8 x 48.9 cm (44 13/16 x 19 1/4 in.); Gift of Suzanne Lipschutz; 1991-89-141

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Wall Stories: Children's Wallpapers and Books.

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If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://www-4.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18637681/ |title=Sidewall, Dick Tracy |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=11 February 2025 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>