`docs/latimes-request-DRAFT.md`

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# DRAFT — NOT SENT
**To:** Los Angeles Times Permissions (handled by Wrights Media) — LATimes@wrightsmedia.com (per latimes.com/about/how-to-obtain-rights-permissions; stated turnaround 15–20 business days)
**From:** Steve Abrams
**Subject:** Permission request — private, internal research viewing of Paul Conrad cartoon images (Los Angeles Times / Los Angeles Times Syndicate, 1964–2010)

Dear Los Angeles Times Permissions team,

I am compiling a private, non-commercial research index of Paul Conrad's editorial cartoons — the Times' chief editorial cartoonist from 1964 to 1993, whose work continued to be distributed through the Los Angeles Times Syndicate (later Tribune Media Services) until his death in 2010. The index records each cartoon's title, publication date, and where the original and published versions are held, and links researchers back to the Times archive (latimes.newspapers.com) and the holding institutions.

I am writing to ask permission for one narrow use:

- **Private, internal research viewing of Conrad cartoon images** from the Times' archive (for example, page images or cartoon clippings from latimes.newspapers.com, or images from the Times photo/graphics archive), used solely so that I and a small research team can visually identify and verify each cartoon's title and date.
- The images would be stored in an **access-controlled, private system**, marked noindex, **never published, redistributed, sold, or shown publicly**, and not used for any commercial purpose. Public-facing records, if any, would contain metadata and a link to the Times only — never the image.
- I will credit the Los Angeles Times on every record, honor any retention limit you set (including deletion on request), and follow any other terms you specify.

I understand that the Times offers an in-house research service, and I would also welcome a quote if the Times could supply a list of Conrad cartoons (headline/caption, run date, page) from its own index. If some rights belong elsewhere — for example to the syndicate successor (Tribune Content Agency) or to the Conrad estate — I would be grateful to be pointed to the right rights-holder, and I will seek their permission as well.

Please let me know whether this use can be authorized, and on what terms or fee.

Thank you for your time.

Kind regards,
Steve Abrams