Dorothy Henry (October 31, 1925 – December 21, 2020), born Dorothy Alice Leenknecht, was an American cartoonist and illustrator. She drew and wrote a newspaper comic strip, ''Bill and Sue'', in London in the 1950s.

Early life and education

Dorothy Leenknecht was born in

Detroit Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...

, Michigan, the daughter of August Leenknecht and Dorothy Jean Waltham Leenknecht. She graduated from

Cass Technical High School Cass Technical High School (simply referred to as Cass Tech) is a four-year Public magnet high school in Midtown Detroit, Michigan, United States. from the University Cultural Center Association, retrieved June 9, 1001 It was established in 19 ...

in 1943. She studied art at

Wayne State University Wayne State University (WSU) is a public university, public research university in Detroit, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1868, Wayne State consists of 13 schools and colleges offering approximately 375 programs. It is Michigan's third-l ...

and the

Detroit Institute of Arts The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) is a museum institution located in Midtown Detroit, Michigan. It has list of largest art museums, one of the largest and most significant art collections in the United States. With over 100 galleries, it cove ...

, and with the

Art Students League of New York The Art Students League of New York is an art school in the American Fine Arts Society in Manhattan, New York City. The Arts Students League is known for its broad appeal to both amateurs and professional artists. Although artists may study f ...

. She earned an associate degree in art from

St. Clair County Community College St. Clair County Community College (SC4) is a public community college in Port Huron, Michigan. It serves as the primary center of higher education for the Blue Water Area. SC4 offers associate degree and certificate programs. It also offers on ...

Career

During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, Leenknecht was a member of the

Civil Air Patrol Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a Congressional charter, congressionally chartered, federally supported Nonprofit corporation, non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliaries, auxiliary of the United States Air Force (USAF). CA ...

. While she was a young wife and mother living in London in the 1950s, Dorothy Manning took over drawing and writing an existing comic strip, ''Bill and Sue'', for the ''Daily Herald''. Back in Michigan, Dorothy Henry was staff illustrator at the ''

Port Huron Port Huron is a city in and seat of government of St. Clair County, Michigan, United States. The population was 28,983 at the 2020 census. The city is bordered on the west by Port Huron Township, but the two are administered autonomously. Por ...

Times Herald''. She was an active member of the Port Huron Hiking Club, the Blue Water Art Club, the Sarnia Rock and Fossil Club, and the Blue Water Lapidary Society. She was president of the board of trustees at the Port Huron Museum. In 1975, she had a one-woman show of her works, including comic strips, commercial illustrations, sketches and paintings, at the Port Huron Museum.

Personal life

Dorothy Leenknecht married twice. Her first husband was Englishman Lawrence Sydney Rayson Manning; they married in 1951, and had two children, Jessie and Robert. Her second husband was electrical engineer Howard Patrick Henry Jr. She died in 2020, aged 95 years.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Henry, Dorothy American female comics writers American female comics artists 1925 births 2020 deaths Artists from Detroit People from Port Huron, Michigan American women comic strip cartoonists American women illustrators Art Students League of New York alumni People associated with the Detroit Institute of Arts Wayne State University alumni Cass Technical High School alumni People of the Civil Air Patrol American comic strip cartoonists 21st-century American women