The Altruist

The Altruist was a mimeographed home-front World War II newsletter. It was produced in Casper by Richard “Dick” Tobin at the home of his parents at 1114 South Durbin, Casper, Wyoming. The title suggests a benevolent or service-oriented mission. Dick Tobin was an athletic star but was home during the war recuperating from a prior injury. To quote a February 10, 1944 article in the University of Wyoming’s Branding Iron, “Very appropriately the paper is titled the Altruist and the four-to-six page mimeographed sheet now has a circulation of 166 copies which go to every continent in the world.” Tobin studied engineering at the University of Wyoming and graduated from Midwest High School. He received an MVP trophy while playing on the high school football team in 1933. The first known issue of the sheet was dated March 6, 1943. This collection consists of copies dated June 28, 1943 through April 3, 1945. It includes seven issues and does not represent a complete run. The names of service members are included under their respective pages as an effort to help with search and retrieval using this small World War II newsletter.