Old king coal’s crown in danger
Subject(s): Coal, Fuel, Petroleum industry and trade, Smoke
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A dejected coal sculpture of a royal figure labeled “Old King Coal” wears robes and a crown which he holds onto his head. In the background are factories burning oil for fuel and spewing thick black smoke which drifts, in the shape of a hand, toward the coal sculpture with the intent of snatching the crown from his head.
Comments and Context
This feast of iconography by cartoonist Pughe also is prophetic. Oil was a relatively new commodity in the United States at this time, but today less than a third of America’s energy is provided by coal.
Collection
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Creation Date
1902-09-17
Creator(s)
Pughe, J. S. (John S.), 1870-1909
Period
U.S. President – 1st Term (September 1901-February 1905)
Repository
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division
Page Count
1
Record Type
Image
Resource Type
Rights
These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
Old king coal’s crown in danger. [September 17, 1902]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o276262. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Pughe, J. S. (John S.), 1870-1909. Old king coal’s crown in danger. [17 Sep. 1902]. Image.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. May 7, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o276262.
APA:
Pughe, J. S. (John S.), 1870-1909., [1902, September 17]. Old king coal’s crown in danger.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o276262.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. May 7, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs.
APA:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs.
