Karl Hubenthal image morgue index, 1949-1998
Collection context
- Creator:
- Hubenthal, Karl, 1917-
- Extent:
- 588 Megabytes 2 multi-page tiff files
- Language:
- English .
- Scope and content:
-
Hubenthal kept a meticulous morgue, or image library, for reference purposes. In hundreds of folders, clearly labeled by topic, he collected drawings, illustrations, cartoons, advertisements, and more. This was the "technology" that all cartoonists and illustrators used before Google Images, but Hubenthal's is remarkable for its organization and its breadth. Animator J.J. Sedelmaier notes that in thirty-five years in advertising he has "seen various morgue applications, and this is the EPITOME - even beyond - of what an artist/designer's morgue was; a totally lost element of our culture, and getting more 'loster' every day." Many of the drawings are Hubenthal's own, for a variety of clients, and there are many other 20th-century cartoonists' work included as well.
In a separate box, there is a collection of wire-service photos, many with visible air-brushing, and with dated descriptions attached. These run the gamut from Chancellor Adolf Hitler reviewing the troops in the mid-'30s to child actress Jane Withers, dressed as a clown, in a carriage drawn by a hippopotamus.
This collection consists of digitized versions of two notebooks that serve as indexes to the morgue—one in the numerical order of the files, the other in subject order. Each item in the collection—both the photos and the reference drawings—is labeled with the number of its folder, either by stamp or in red ink.
- Biographical / historical:
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Karl Hubenthal (1917-1998) was an editorial and sports cartoonist for nearly fifty years, primarily in the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner, but also syndicated in Hearst newspapers. He was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize five times (although he didn't win), and received twenty-five Freedom Foundation medals, among a host of other awards and recognition.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
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This collection is located on-site.
Collection closed until processed.
- Terms of access:
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Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.
- Preferred citation:
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Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Karl Hubenthal Image Morgue; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
- Location of this collection:
- Before you visit:
- Researchers interested in viewing materials in the RBML reading room must must book an appointment at least 7 days in advance. To make the most of your visit, be sure to request your desired materials before booking your appointment, as researchers are limited to 5 items per day.
- Contact:
- rbml@library.columbia.edu