The Battle of Atlanta and the Georgia Campaign (William Key, 1958) — illustrated by Atlanta Journal staff cartoonist Lou Erickson. Originally serialized in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 1957, this Civil War history became a permanent volume published by Twayne (New York) after Key’s death in March 1958. Multiple contemporary Atlanta Journal articles (Sept. 14, 16, and 21, 1958) reviewed and promoted the book, explicitly crediting Erickson’s illustrations, some signed “Eric.” This project stands as Erickson’s most fully documented non-editorial illustration work, linking him to Georgia’s Civil War Centennial publishing wave. See additional images for period reviews and credits.
Artwork Details
Unit / Aircraft: N/A (Book illustration) Author: William Key (Atlanta Journal staff writer) Illustrator: Lou Erickson (Atlanta Journal staff artist; signed some illustrations “Eric”) Date / Range: 1957 serialization – 1958 publication Dimensions / Medium: Hardcover book, 87 pages; illustrated with pen-and-ink drawings Description: William Key’s The Battle of Atlanta and the Georgia Campaign offers a detailed narrative of General William T. Sherman’s campaign through Georgia in 1864, culminating in the Battle of Atlanta. Erickson’s illustrations punctuate the text with expressive, historically rooted drawings that visualize troop movements, leaders, and pivotal engagements. His contributions lend visual clarity and dramatic emphasis to Key’s journalistic narrative. Historical Context: Serialized in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 1957, then published by Twayne in 1958. Contemporary reviews (Sept. 14, 16, and 21, 1958) credited Erickson by name, noting his signed “Eric” illustrations. The book reflects Atlanta’s mid-20th-century Civil War publishing boom, which blended journalism, illustration, and commemoration in the lead-up to the Civil War Centennial. Erickson’s involvement shows his range beyond editorial cartooning, positioning him within Atlanta’s cultural production of the era. Verso / Notations: None on file (book copy standard). Paper: Standard offset printing on book stock. Condition: Near Fine (copy shown has light edgewear, dust jacket tears). Provenance (public note): Published by Twayne Publishers, 1958; illustrated by Lou Erickson; documented in three contemporary Atlanta Journal articles crediting his work. See Additional Images:
Sept. 14, 1958 Atlanta Journal review crediting Erickson
Sept. 16, 1958 Atlanta Journal feature with Mrs. Key at book signing, again crediting Erickson
Sept. 21, 1958 Ernest Rogers column noting Erickson’s “Eric” signature
Book cover and selected interior illustrations
Media/Art/Status/Artist: Book illustration / Published art / Erickson credited illustrator / Lou Erickson Suggested Tags: Lou Erickson, William Key, Atlanta Journal, Civil War Centennial, Battle of Atlanta, Georgia history, Civil War publishing, mid-century illustration, 1950s Atlanta culture
