The Tragic Tale of Smiling Jack

Jack W. Connolly was born May 12, 1923, in Jersey City, New Jersey. Sometime in the 1930’s, Jack and his family moved to Montana where his father became a newspaper man. He grew up around cowboys and horses, living the Montana life. Although he loved to draw, his passion was singing. He even wrote his own songs and songbooks for friends.

“Montana Cowboy,” a parody newspaper by Jack Connolly.

In October of 1942, shortly after high school, Jack married his sweetheart Georgette Schwobel of Great Falls. Soon, Georgette was pregnant.

Georgette holding John G. as an infant

In February of 1943, Jack joined the Army and was sent to the Pacific Theater. While overseas, their son, John G. was born. During the time Jack was away, he sent home many letters and postcards each with jokes and drawings of his adventures, and Georgette lovingly collected them in a scrapbook for their son.

Jack’s comics illustrated his life as a soldier in WWII: the strange transitions from the comforts of civilian life to service life and his longing for home.

Jack’s illustrations of the Japanese antagonists in his comics are reflective of the attitudes Americans had during wartime, and dehumanizing people perceived as “the other” was very common.

One day the letters stopped. Jack was declared MIA on Okinawa, and in 1945 was declared dead. Although he was never able to see his son, Jack left his legacy through his illustrations and comics. The second World War claimed the lives of millions and altered many others; Jack’s talents are just a sample of what we lost.

Jack’s cartoon strips, letters, and drawings are housed in The History Museum’s archives in Separate Collection 477. Represented here is a small percentage of Jack’s illustrations, comic pages, and letters. The collection was donated by John G., Jack’s son, in 2016.

-Megan Sanford, Archives Administrator