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“All I know is what I read in the papers,”
a portrait of Will Rogers by artist Charles Banks Wilson

Will’s commentary and wit in his syndicated newspaper columns made him a leading journalist of the early 20th century. Display “All I Know is What I Read in the Papers” in your office or home while proudly recognizing your contribution to journalism education and the Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation.

ABOUT THE PAINTING:

Charles Banks Wilson’s portrait of Will Rogers has had a spectacular history. In the early 1950s the Gerlach-Barklow Co. commissioned the painting and used it as a calendar illustration. NBC then purchased the rights to reproduce the picture and sent out color mats of the portrait. The picture was featured on the covers of the Sunday magazine sections of 72 large metro newspapers across the nation. It has appeared in several exhibitions, including at the New York’s World Fair in 1962 and at the Will Rogers Memorial in 1989.

The portrait was purchased in July 1962 by the Oklahoma Press Association to showcase in the lobby of its new building. Will’s famous quote “All I know is what I read in the papers,” has long been the official emblem of the association. The original portrait is there for you to see whenever you visit OPA headquarters.

The portrait is completely accurate, in the clothing Will wears, his spectacles, his typewriter – even the news columns portrayed depict authentic news stories of Will’s day.

The 16"x20" image is printed on 20"x24" archival-matte paper.