The Illustrated Krazy
Chapter 22 - Pool of Purple Shadow
Late in his life, one of Herriman’s most important relationships was to Louise Scher Swinnerton, to whom he was engaged, recalled Swinnerton’s grandson. She is profiled in this San Francisco Chronicle article, and her daughter, Mary Elizabeth, received this gift from Herriman. The gallery also includes one of several surviving letters from Herriman to Swinnerton, whom he nicknamed “Ingaborg,” and a map he drew her of the interior of his house. Also seen here is Herriman’s World War II draft card. Herriman drew this pencil sketch of his butcher, Tony Roberge, on the back of a scorecard for an unknown game that they might have been playing together. He also gave this picture of his dogs to Roberge; Herriman was known for using his wartime meat rations on food for his pets. One of Herriman’s own treasured gifts was this Navajo rug, given to him by friends grateful for the movies he would send to Kayenta every week.
