John Benson Comics interviews, 1965-1974

Collection context

Creator:
Benson, John (John L.), 1940-
Extent:
1.25 Linear Feet 12 magnetic-tape reels
Language:
English .
Scope and content:

These interviews, conducted by John Benson with comics greats such as William M Gaines, Will Eisner, Harvey Kurtzman, and more, were published in abridged form in fanzines such as SQUA TRONT and ALTER EGO. Originally on reel-to-reel tapes, they will be digitized, giving listeners an unedited glimpse into the views of legends at the heights of their careers.

Inventory (2 pages) is available; boxes are lettered to correspond with the list.

Biographical / historical:

John Benson is a pioneering figure in comics fandom history, and these interviews fit well with the Hames Ware collection, and the future Bill Schelly bequest. The interviews capture legends of the field, interviewed by a deeply-knowledgeable interlocutor.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Material is unprocessed. Please contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

This collection is located on-site.

Terms of access:

The RBML cannot provide access to original time-based media material which has not been first been reformatted for preservation. Researchers are welcome to examine archival time-based media items and decide whether they wish to place an order for Audio/Video reformatting. If copyright and/or condition restrictions apply, it may not be possible to digitize a requested item. Please note that A/V reformatting is handled by an outside vendor and typically takes 6-8 weeks.

Location of this collection:
6th Floor East Butler Library
535 West 114th Street
New York, NY 10027, USA
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