Naming Library Spaces: The Banx Room

We previously introduced you to the origins of the Saxe Room so today's blog post is about our smaller meeting room at the Main Library, the Banx Room. Named after the beloved Worcester cartoonist, James Albert Banks, he was more commonly known to old-time newspaper readers by his pseudonym, "Al Banx." 

Al Banx

James Albert Banks was born in Boston on April 6 or 7, 1900 (several genealogical documents conflict on the exact date) to Michael Banks and Mary (Scott) Banks. Banks served as a private in the 75th Company, Sixth Regiment of U.S. Marine Corps in Europe during WWI and was honorably discharged in 1919. He then received vocational training under the Veterans Bureau at the School of Practical Art in Boston, which was followed by a year of working in the art department of the Boston Globe, before he ended up working for the Worcester newspapers, where he used the name, "Al Banx" for his cartoons. 

The first Al Banx cartoon appeared in the Worcester Evening Gazette on February 12, 1923. Al Banx cartoons covered a wide range of life in Worcester and New England. He frequently drew cartoons about sports, as well as cartoons about daily life, politics, and newsworthy events such as historic floods and courthouse drama.

"That High School Basketball Battle on Friday Night Should be a Thriller," Worcester Evening Gazette, February 12, 1923

In addition to drawing cartoons and occasionally leading classes on the subject, Banks was involved in a variety of local community, social, and veteran groups. He was a member of the Aletheia Grotto, a masonic organization; the Gen. Charles Devens Post of the American Legion; Worcester Detachment, Marine Corps League; Massachusetts 2nd Division Association; St. Luke's Episcopal Church; honorary member of the Yankee Division Veterans Association; a trustee of the City of Worcester's World War Memorial; and more. He also frequently chaired or attended community events and even served as a guest of honor, cartoonist, or toastmaster for many of them. The Worcester Evening Gazette noted in his May 2, 1967 obituary that his favorite honor was being named "'commodore' of the Kelley Square Yacht Club, a name he gave to habitues of the Hotel Vernon in Kelley Square in the Thirties."

The mayor and other prominent men of Worcester feted Banks in advance of his July 1940 wedding to Miss K. Pauline Snow. Mayor Bennett named the cartoonist Worcester's "Ambassador of Good Will" according to the July 2, 1940 issue of the Worcester Evening Gazette. Banks and his wife later had a son, Albert Snow Banks, in March 1942.

"Banx is Named as 'Ambassador,'" Worcester Evening Gazette, July 2, 1940

Banks served in the Intelligence Section, Headquarters Co., 21st Regiment of the Massachusetts State Guard during World War II in support of their recruitment efforts. He was later promoted to staff sergeant because "Sergeant Banks had done more to establish the State Guard in Worcester than any other individual" (Worcester Telegram, March 4, 1943). Furthermore, starting in 1942, Banks wrote a weekly column supporting the troops overseas, "Banx to the Yanks," which also appeared as a radio show on WTAG. The Worcester Evening Gazette published his final "Banx to the Yanks" column on November 24, 1945.

"Guardians of Our Commonwealth," Worcester Evening Gazette, June 2, 1942

"Banx Weekly Letter to Men in Service," Worcester Evening Gazette, December 12, 1942

After the conclusion of the war, Banks continued as a cartoonist for the Worcester Telegram and the Worcester Evening Gazette. He was one of 30 cartoonists who took part in a transcontinental group tour of 8 Air Force bases in a week throughout the country in 1951 (Worcester Sunday Telegram, October 14, 1951). In 1959, the Worcester Lodge of Elks named him "Newspaperman of the Year" (Worcester Telegram, October 8, 1959) and he continued to receive accolades from organizations even after his death.

James Albert Banks died unexpectedly in his sleep at the age of 67 on May 2, 1967. Tributes poured in from the Worcester-area community, including from friends and colleagues from the Worcester Telegram, the Worcester Evening Gazette, and Yankee Magazine; the many politicians and athletes who Banks featured in his works; and residents of Worcester who loved his cartoons. Banks had worked for the Worcester newspapers for 44 years.

"These Were Characters, Mascots Al Banx Created," Worcester Evening Gazette, May 2, 1967

Several hundred mourners attended the funeral at All Saints Episcopal Church in Worcester on May 4, 1967 and he was buried at the Worcester Memorial Park in Paxton. 

"Everybody's Banx by Al Banx and His Friends," Worcester Evening Gazette, May 22, 1967

Worcester's community continued to pay tribute to their beloved local cartoonist. His cartoons were exhibited at the Worcester Art Museum in September 1967 and a memorial window dedicated to Banks was installed at St. Luke's Episcopal Church. The imagery on the window featured sketches from the Bible as well as cartoon characters created by Banks. 

In 1974, Worcester Public Library's library board of directors approved a proposal from the Friends of Worcester Public Library to rename the then-named Conference Room A on the second floor of the Main Library in honor of Al Banx. The Friends then held a commemorative program on April 27, 1974 to officially dedicate the space as the Al Banx Room. The newly renamed space was intended to showcase a permanent display of some of the Banx cartoons on rotation. The commemorative event included a slide show of some of the cartoons, as well as recorded comments about the cartoonist and his works from his former friends and colleagues.

Pamphlet for dedication program - "Al Banx: Everybody's Cartoonist," 1974

Five months later, on September 18, 1974, the president/publisher and vice president/editor of the Worcester and Telegram & Gazette Inc. presented the library with a collection of more than 1,000 original Al Banx cartoons. Head Librarian John S. Hopkins accepted the donation in the Al Banx Room and was quoted as saying the cartoons represented, "a piece of local history."

The Banx Room moved to its present location on the first floor opposite the Saxe Room during the major library renovation that finished in 2001. 

For more information on James Albert Banks and his Al Banx cartoons: 

• Visit the third floor of the Main Library to access 
• Copies of the cartoon collection on microfilm 
• Copies of the limited edition bound publication, Al Banx: Everybody's Cartoonist from the Friends of Worcester Public Library, which contains reprints of some of his cartoons and columns as well as reminiscences about the man 
• Articles and ephemera relating to "Al Banx" in our biography clipping files 
• Visit the Newspapers & Magazines Desk on the first floor to access
• The many issues of the Worcester Telegram and Worcester Evening Gazette on microfilm and see how the cartoons appeared in the newspapers 

Sources:

"A Good Feeling Inside Al Banx Gave Everyone." (1967, May 4). Worcester Evening Gazette, p. 14

"Art and Mercy Temper Justice of Judge Banks." (1926, December 31). Worcester Evening Gazette, p. 2.

"Banks' Cartooning Class to Start Thursday Night." (1941, November 10). Worcester Evening Gazette, p. 7.

"Banks Given New Military Honor." (1935, August 8). Worcester Telegram, p. 7.

"Banks Promoted to Staff Sergeant, 21st Inf. M.S.G." (1943, March 4). Worcester Telegram, p. 4.

"Banks-Snow Marriage at Church Here Today." (1940, July 8). Worcester Evening Gazette, p 10.

"Banx Cartoons to be Featured in Special Art Museum Exhibit." (1967, September 19), p. 14.

"Banx is Named as 'Ambassador.'" (1940, July 2). Worcester Evening Gazette, p. 5.

"Banx Weekly Letter to Men in Service." (1942, December 12). Worcester Evening Gazette, p. 5.

"Cartoonists in Spare Time Cartoon Other Cartoonists." (1951, October 14). Worcester Sunday Telegram, p. 1C.

"City Enshrines Al Banx' Cartoons in Library." (1974, April 28). Worcester Sunday Telegram, p. 29A.

"Elks Pick Al Banx for Award." (1959, October 8). Worcester Telegram, p. 24.

"Everybody's Banx by Al Banx and His Friends." (1967, May 22). Worcester Evening Gazette.

"Friends of the Worcester Public Library." (1974). Al Banx: Everybody's Cartoonist.

"Guardians of our Commonwealth." (1942, June 2). Worcester Evening Gazette, p. 15.

"Library Gets Banx Cartoons." (1974, September 18). Worcester Evening Gazette, p. 7.

"Library to Honor Cartoonist Al Banx." (1974, April 9). Worcester Evening Gazette, p. 4.

"Library Room Honors Cartoonist." (1947, February 13). Worcester Evening Gazette, p. 12.

"Pull Up a Chair and Meet Al Banx Cartoonist 26 Years." (1948, September 9). Worcester Sunday Telegram - Feature Parade Section, p. 7.

"T&G Cartoonist Dies in His Sleep." (1967, May 2). Worcester Evening Gazette, p. 1.

"T-G Cartoonist J. Albert Banks, 67; Funeral Rites to Be Held Tomorrow." (1967, May 3). Worcester Telegram, p. 26.

"These Were Characters, Mascots Al Banx Created." (1967, May 2). Worcester Evening Gazette, p. 37.

"Window Dedicated to Cartoonist at St. Luke's Episcopal Church." (1967, November 6). Worcester Evening Gazette, p. 12.