History of ASCII Art [Question]

I "discovered" ASCII art about 1 1/2 years ago... I'm curious as to its background.
I have yet to see anything written about it in a textbook.  But I have heard that
it was around in the 60s- of course not like it is on the internet today.  Someone
also mentioned to me (a long time ago) that they used to create pictures on 
the keypunch computer cards... who was it?  

 Is there anyone out there in cyberspace who
would be willing to share their tales with us newbies?  
                   .---.
                  (_---_)
                 (_/6 6\_)
                  (  v  )
                   `\ /'
                .-'': ;``-. 
               /   \,Y./   \
              /     (:)___  \ 
             :   .-'XXX`-.`\_;  
              `.__.-XXX-.__.'\_   
               /  / XXX \  \   `\_
              /      XXX    \     `\    
             /        XXX    \     _`\___
    jgs     /                 \  (`--"""-')
           /                   \ (=-=-=-=-)
           `--...___   ___...--' (________)
                    ```
Either post for all, or send me personal email.
Thanks-

-joan
--
jgs  (\/)   .-.  .-.
      \/   ((`-)(-`))                                   (\/)
            \\    //      (\/)     I LOVE ASCII ART!     \/
             \\  //        \/
      .="""=._))((_.="""=.
     /  .,   .'  '.   ,.  \            joan stark
    /__(,_.-'      '-._,)__\      <spu...@juno.com>
   `    /|             |\   `                               (\/)
       /_|__         __|_\                                   \/
 (\/)    | `))     ((` |           ASCII ART GALLERY:
  \/     |             |   http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/7373/
        -"==         =="-

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 __ .  . __
(o.\ \/ /.o)
 \__\/\/__/
 /O /==\ O\
(;O/ \/ \O;)

   _______
  |.-----.|
  || jgs ||
  ||_   _||
  `--)-(--`
 __[=== o]___
|:::::::::::|\
`-=========-`() 

     ,sSSs
   ,SSSS_/ ,_
   sS/`))\//
  sS//|_(_/      _,
  SS\\\  `""-.-'` /
sSS` jgs-==-'`'-._\

 ___________
|  _______  |
| |       | |
| |       | |
| |       | |
| |_______| |
|___________|

//O\\

|\/\/\/|
|      |
|      |
| (o)(o)
C      _)
 | ,___|
 |   /
/____\

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