The Adolph Strauss collection
A little wit.
A lot of
human nature.
Everyday peculiarities, observed with a raised eyebrow. Discover Why Is It? through the drawings, magazine proofs, and papers that brought it to life.
Open the collectionFrom the classic Cable Tow magazine feature
Explore the collection
From the first idea
to the printed page.
01 / 106 pages
The collected book
The complete 106-page collection, brought together in one volume.
02 / 18 pages
Original artwork
Ink, pencil, and the expressive characters behind the observations.
03 / 45 pages
Magazine pages
The feature as it took shape in proofs prepared for Cable Tow.
04 / 25 pages
Notes & correspondence
Handwritten ideas, revised drafts, letters, and working papers.
An observation from the collection
“Why is it that the minute certain individuals mislay an item they immediately accuse someone of stealing it?”
Adolph Strauss · Why Is It?
Preserving a paper trail
The finished work.
And the life behind it.
Collected by Larry Feldman, with additional scanning by Lara Feldman, these materials bring together the published humor and the surviving evidence of its making.
Explore the working papers ↗