Thomas Nast: Timeline

1863   Thomas Nast draws the modern Santa Claus for ''Harper's Weekly,'' although Santa existed previously.

1870   A political cartoon for the first time symbolizes the United States Democratic Party with a donkey ("A Live Jackass Kicking a Dead Lion" by Thomas Nast for ''Harper's Weekly'').

1874   ''Harper's Weekly'' publishes a cartoon by Thomas Nast considered the first important use of an elephant as a symbol for the Republican Party Republican Party (United States)

For a detailed history and bibliography see History of the United States Republican Party [i]. ... 

. .