Eugene Zimmerman was born in Basel, Switzerland in 1862 and in 1868 he was placed on a boat to America following after his father and brother. He struggled with poverty in his early life and began his artistic career as an apprentice sign painter.
Zimmerman studied and worked independently to build a cartoon porfolio and in May of 1883 he was hired by Joseph Keppler to work for Puck magazine. It was during this period that Zimmerman dropped the end of his name from his signature and was known professionally as "Zim."
In early late 1885 or early 1886 Zim moved to Judge magazine where he remained until his retirement in 1912. His work as a cartoonist and caricaturist became well-known.
Later in life Zim founded and was the first president of the American Association of Cartoonists and Caricaturists. His residence known as "Zim House" has been preserved in Horseheads, New York.
