Al Jaffee Papers, circa 1900-2019

Al Jaffee Papers, circa 1900-2019

Summary Information

Abstract

Al Jaffee (1921-2023) was a comic artist best known for creating MAD magazine's iconic Fold-In feature. The collection contains extensive original artwork, including sketches, tracings, and proofs documenting Jaffee's creative process. Publishing and commission contracts, correspondence, clippings, and a small amount of programs and ephemera from fan conventions and other public appearances are also included.

At a Glance

Call No.:
MS#1658
Bib ID:
10277813 View CLIO record
Creator(s):
Jaffee, Al
Repository:
Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Physical Description:
56 linear feet (7 record cartons, 10 manuscript boxes, 27 flat boxes, 1 tube, and 9 map case folders)
Language(s):
English .
Access:
You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

The following boxes are located off-site: Boxes 1, 22-28, 32-40, and 45. You will need to request this material from the Rare Book and Manuscript Library at least 72 hours in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

This collection has no restrictions.

Description

Scope and Contents

The collection contains includes artwork, correspondence, fan mail, contracts and publishing records, news clippings, inscribed books, and ephemera documenting the career of the comic artist and frequent MAD magazine contributor Al Jaffee. Though Jaffee's career in comics spans eight decades, the bulk of the collection dates from the 1990s through the 2010s.

Series I and II contain extensive original artwork, including sketches, tracings, and proofs documenting Jaffee's creative process. Some additional artwork created for friends and family members, most notably a group of handmade cards for Joyce Jaffee, is included in Series IV.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in 4 series. Materials in each series are arranged in chronological order.

Using the Collection

Restrictions on Access

You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

The following boxes are located off-site: Boxes 1, 22-28, 32-40, and 45. You will need to request this material from the Rare Book and Manuscript Library at least 72 hours in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

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

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Al Jaffee Papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Selected Related Material

Oral History interview with Al Jaffee, 2016: Interview of Al Jaffee by Suzanne Snider on March 18, March 21, and December 21, 2016.

Al Jaffee Sampling of Correspondence, 1962-2002: At the Ohio State University's Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum. Contains fan mail, Jaffee's correspondence with other cartoonists, and an audiocassette of an interview with Toni Mendez regarding her role in founding the National Cartoonists Society.

Accruals

The first group of materials was received in May 2013. Additional accretions were received in November 2013, April 2014, December 2014, July 2018, November 2019, and February 2022. Additions are expected.

Two additions were made to the collection after the first group of materials were processed: one in November 2019 (Boxes 42-45 and Mapcase drawer 15-H-18) and another in February 2022 (Box 41).

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection was donated to the Rare Book and Manuscript Library by Al and Joyce Jaffee in installments between 2013 and 2022.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Inscribed books processed ceh 06/21/2013.

Collection processed by Celeste Brewer. Finding aid written by Celeste Brewer in September 2018 and January 2019. Addition processed by Celeste Brewer in May 2023.

Artwork is physically arranged by size. Much of the collection's research value is in its demonstration of Jaffee's artistic process; as such, materials from individual projects were physically grouped together whenever possible.

Revision Description

2019-01-25 File created.

2019-01-31 xml document instance created by Celeste Brewer.

2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.

2020-06-24 Restriction on folder in Box 21 lifted. Contents were closed to researchers until after publication in MAD magazine.

2023-05-10 Addition to the collection integrated into container list by Celeste Brewer.

Biographical / Historical

Al Jaffee (1921-2023), born Abraham Jaffee on March 13, 1921, was an American cartoonist best known for his work for MAD magazine, and in particular the intricate Fold-In pieces he created for the magazine. Other popular works by Al Jaffee include the MAD feature "Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions" and the comic strip "Tall Tales," which was syndicated by the New York Herald-Tribune between 1958 and 1965. He illustrated his biography, Al Jaffee's MAD Life, the text of which was written by Mary-Lou Weisman. Jaffee also wrote and illustrated "The Shpy," published in the Brooklyn-based children's magazine Moshiach Times. As of 2016, he holds the Guinness World Record for the longest career as a comic artist.

Abraham Jaffee was born in Savannah, Georgia, to Mildred and Morris Jaffee, who were both Lithuanian Jewish immigrants. Six years after his birth, Mildred Jaffee returned to Zarasai, Lithuania, with Abraham and his three younger brothers. Mildred and her sons moved back and forth between Savannah and Zarasai until 1937, when Morris brought his three oldest sons to live in the United States permanently. The youngest Jaffee brother, David, was able to escape from Europe in 1940, but Mildred Jaffee did not. Her family had no contact with her after 1940, and she is presumed to have been killed in Nazi-occupied Lithuania.

After returning to the United States, Jaffee attended the newly established High School of Music and Art in New York City. His classmates included future MAD magazine staff members Will Elder, Harvey Kurtzman, John Severin and Al Feldstein. Jaffee worked as an artist for the U.S. military during World War II, during which time he changed his name twice: first to Alvin, and then to Allan Jaffee. After the war, he worked with Stan Lee at Timely and Atlas Comics. He sold his first work to MAD in 1955.

Jaffee's first Fold-In, published in 1964, was intended as a one-off satire of double- and triple-fold-out pages in glossy magazines. Instead, it became MAD's longest-running feature, appearing in almost every issue from that date forward. Jaffee won a Special Features Reuben Award from the National Cartoonists Society for the Fold-In in 1972. Among other honors, Jaffee holds a Reuben Award (2008) and an Eisner Award (2013). He retired in 2020 at age 99, and died in York City on April 10, 2023.

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches for other collections at Columbia University, through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, and through ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

All links open new windows.

Genre/Form
Greeting cards
Illustrations
Letters (correspondence)
Proofs (printed matter)
Sketches
tear sheets
Name
Jaffee, Al
Subject
Cartoonists -- United States
Comic books, strips, etc
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Lithuania -- Personal narratives

Series I: MAD magazine, 1964-2018

Materials documenting every stage of the creative process are present in Series I for most of the Fold-Ins Jaffee created for MAD magazine between 2004 and 2018. Some cartoons used for Jaffee's MAD feature "Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions" and other, smaller MAD projects are also included.


Subseries I.1: Fold-Ins, 1970-2018, bulk 1997-2018


Mapcase 15-H-18 Folder 6

MAD #136: Inflation Fold-In full color original art with overlay, 1970


Box 26

Foreign language versions of Al Jaffee MAD Fold-Ins, circa 1970s-1990s


Box 19

Fold-In proofs, 1997-2010


Box 19

Mixed tracings for Fold-Ins, circa 2000s


Box 20

Tracing of a large person in a small chair, for a Fold-In, circa 2000s


Box 20

Tracings of scientists, for a Fold-In, circa 2000s


Box 22

MAD Fold-In tear sheets, circa 2000s-2010s


Box 26

List of Fold-In questions and answers MAD issues 1-436, 2003


Box 18

The student's body Fold-In, 2004


Box 18

Pocket rockets Fold-In, 2004


Box 18

Fan giveaways/spectator beatings Fold-In, 2004


Box 18

Barry Bonds/steroids Fold-In, 2004


Box 18

Wet t-shirt contests Fold-In, 2004


Box 19

O. J. Simpson Fold-In, 2004


Box 19

Ken Jennings Fold-In, 2004


Box 19

The Apprentice Fold-In, 2004


Box 19

Democratic primary Fold-In, 2004


Box 19

The Reagan funeral Fold-In, 2004


Box 19

Lindsay Lohan Fold-In, 2004


Box 30

William Hung Fold-In, 2004


Box 26

Reference images: Obama, politics, American military, 2004-2012


Box 4

Public surveillance cameras Fold-In, 2005


Box 18

Summer school Fold-In (#455), 2005


Box 18

Hurricane Katrina/Bush's approval rating Fold-In, 2005


Box 18

Gas prices Fold-In, 2005


Box 18

Intelligent design Fold-In, 2005


Box 18

Suicide bombers Fold-In, 2005


Box 19

Stealing iPods Fold-In, 2005


Box 19

Ashlee Simpson Fold-In, 2005


Box 19

XM vs. Sirius satellite radio Fold-In, 2005


Box 30

Poker Fold-In, 2005


Box 30

R. Kelly Fold-In, 2005


Box 4

Appallingly skinny actresses Fold-In, 2006


Box 13

Energy drinks Fold-In, 2006


Box 18

Government bugs Fold-In, 2006


Box 18

Bush's Cabinet Fold-In, 2006


Box 19

Heelys Fold-In, 2006


Box 19

Hillary Clinton Fold-In, 2006


Box 19

Losers on prom night Fold-In, 2006


Box 19

Osama bin Laden Fold-In sketches, 2006


Box 43 Folder 1

MAD #464: Osama bin Laden Fold-In full color original art, 2006


Box 30

Parents snooping on MySpace Fold-In, 2006


Box 30

Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey divorce Fold-In, 2006


Box 30

Exploding Dell laptops Fold-In, 2006


Box 4

Mark Foley/Al Jaffee Fold-In sketches, 2006-2007


Box 43 Folder 2

MAD #474: Mark Foley/Al Jaffee Fold-In full color original art, 2007


Box 15

The Sopranos finale Fold-In, 2007


Box 15

Twelve Step Programs Fold-In, 2007


Box 15

High School Musical Fold-In, 2007


Box 18

The family pet Fold-In, 2007


Box 19

Rachael Ray Fold-In, 2007


Box 19

Michael Vick Fold-In, 2007


Box 19

George W. Bush Fold-In, 2007


Box 19

Rocky Balboa Fold-In, 2007


Box 19

Sanjaya's solo album Fold-In, 2007


Box 19

World of Warcraft Fold-In, 2007


Box 19

Sudoku Fold-In, 2007


Box 4

Summer school Fold-In (#491), 2008


Box 4

TMZ Fold-In, 2008


Box 15

WALL-E Fold-in, 2008


Box 15

Global warming Fold-in, 2008


Box 15

Celebrity baby bumps Fold-In, 2008


Box 15

The maternity ward Fold-In sketches, 2008


Box 43 Folder 3

MAD #496: The maternity ward Fold-In full color original art, 2008


Box 15

John McCain Fold-In, 2008


Box 19

Jamie Lynn Spears Fold-In, 2008


Box 19

Dr. Phil Fold-In, 2008


Box 19

Major monkey humiliations Fold-In, 2008


Box 19

Amy Winehouse Fold-In, 2008


Box 19

Guitar Hero Fold-In, 2008


Box 4

500 issues of MAD Fold-In sketches, 2009


Box 43 Folder 4

MAD #500: 500 Issues of MAD Fold-In full color original art (customized signature), 2009


Box 15

Jim Cramer stocks Fold-In, 2009


Box 15

Denny's Grand Slam breakfast Fold-In, 2009


Box 15

Snappy Answers snowboarding conversation Fold-In, 2009


Box 15

Conan O'Brien vs. Jay Leno Fold-In, 2009


Box 14

Tiger Woods Fold-In, 2010


Box 14

Kim Kardashian Fold-In, 2010


Box 15

Jersey Shore Fold-In, 2010


Box 15

Pop Idols Fold-In, 2010


Box 19

Al Jaffee's greatest fear Fold-In, 2010


Box 19

Watching MAD TV Fold-In, 2010


Box 20

Royal Flush Fold-In poster, 2010


Box 26

Fold-In ideas from MAD magazine, 2010


Box 30

Luggage Fees Fold-In, 2010


Box 23

The MAD Fold-In Collection boxed set production, 2010-2011


Box 30

The MAD Fold-In Collection cover proof, circa 2010


Box 2

Obamacare Fold-In, not used, circa 2010s


Box 2

Fold-In accessories: small sketches, lists, etc., circa 2010s


Box 14

Angry Birds Fold-In, 2011


Box 15

The Flip-Flop Fold-In, 2011


Box 15

Miami Heat Fold-In, 2011


Box 15

Xbox Fold-In, 2011


Box 30

Spider-Man on Broadway Fold-In, 2011


Box 30

Gay unions Fold-In, 2011


Box 30

Derek Jeter Fold-In, 2011


Box 14

Tan Mom Fold-In, 2012


Box 14

College debt Fold-In, 2012


Box 14

Privacy on the Internet Fold-In sketches, 2012


Box 43 Folder 5

MAD #515: Privacy on the Internet Fold-In full color original art, 2012


Box 15

Snooki's pregnancy Fold-In, 2012


Box 30

Popular Science Fold-In, 2012


Box 6

Mitt Romney's tax returns Fold-In, 2012 December


Box 5

March Madness Fold-In, 2013


Box 14

Snooping Fold-In sketches, 2013


Box 43 Folder 6

MAD #523: Snooping Fold-In full color original art, 2013


Box 14

Uncle Sam on Kickstarter Fold-In, 2013


Box 2

Retracted Fold-In: The Next Mass Shooting, 2013


Box 21

The Last Fold-In, 2013


Box 21

Fold-In proofs, 2013-2017


Box 8

E-Cigarettes Fold-In, 2014


Box 14

Bieber Fever Fold-In, 2014


Box 14

The Cold War Fold-In, 2014


Box 14

Binge-watching Fold-In, 2014


Box 14

Botched Executions Fold-In, 2014


Box 14

Chemical Warfare/Alex Rodriguez Fold-In, 2014


Box 18

Presidential campaign commercials Fold-In, 2014


Box 2

Anti-vaccination parents Fold-In, 2015


Box 5

Weird Al Yankovic Fold-In, 2015


Box 5

Jon Stewart Fold-In, 2015


Box 5

Passwords Fold-In, 2015


Box 8

Bill Cosby Fold-In sketches, 2015


Box 43 Folder 7

MAD #537: Bill Cosby Fold-In demo and full color original art, 2015


Box 2

Drones Fold-In, 2016


Box 2

Flint, Michigan water crisis Fold-In sketches, 2016


Box 43 Folder 8

MAD #539: Flint, Michigan water crisis Fold-In full color original art, 2016


Box 5

Female Ghostbusters Fold-In, 2016


Box 6

Football Concussions Fold-In, 2016


Box 6

Texting While Driving Fold-In, 2016


Box 6

Trumpcare Fold-In, 2016


Box 5

Chicago Cubs Fold-In, 2016


Box 6

Fake News Fold-In, 2016


Box 6

Alex Jones/Info Wars Fold-In, 2017


Box 6

Fracking Fold-In sketches, 2017


Box 43 Folder 9

MAD #545: Fracking Fold-In full color original art, 2017


Box 6

Fidget Spinners Fold-In, 2017


Box 4

Selfie Fold-In, 2018


Box 6

Dentists Fold-In, 2018


Box 6

Flat Earth Fold-In, 2018


Box 6

Bulletproof vests Fold-In sketches, 2018


Box 44 Folder 1

Fold-In, MAD #3 (new): Bulletproof vests, 2018


Box 44 Folder 2-3

MAD #6 (new): The in memoriam reel Fold-In sketches, 2018, 2 folders


Box 6

Rising Sea Levels Fold-In, 2018


Box 45 Folder 17

Correspondence on Fold-In concepts, 2018 October-December


Box 4

April Fool Fold-In (not used), undated


Subseries I.2: Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions, 1968-2015


Mapcase 15-H-18 Folder 4

MAD #118 feature: Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions (the second iteration of this feature) inked original art, 1968


Box 42 Folder 5

MAD #153 feature: Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions: Stupid TV Commercials inked original art and mechanicals with overlays, 1972


Box 23

Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions contract with E.C., 1989-2001


Box 20

Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions proofs, 1990, circa 2000s


Box 12

MAD's All New Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions proofs and overlays, missing pp. 81, 105, 67, 65, 9, 5, 109, 35, circa 1991


Box 26

Holy Cow! Not Another MAD Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions photocopies, 1992


Box 8

Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions calendar sketches, circa 2000s


Box 8

Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions calendar photocopies, circa 2000s


Box 26

Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions book contents list, circa 2000s


Box 26

Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions photocopies, circa 2000s


Box 13

Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions sketches, 2011


Box 13

Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions sketches and tracings, 2011


Box 27

Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions copies, 2011


Box 5

Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions tracings, original art, proofs, and tear sheets,, circa 2011


Box 4

Weird Al Yankovic Snappy Answers tracings, 2015


Box 6

Weird Al Yankovic Snappy Answers full-color original art, 2015


Box 29

Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions copies and overlays, undated


Box 29

Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions original art and overlays, undated


Box 7

Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions book art, pp. 8-17, 36-39, undated


Box 7

Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions book art, pp. 72-87, undated


Box 7

Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions book art, pp. 88-105, undated


Box 7

Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions book art, pp. 106-121, undated


Box 7

Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions book art, pp. 122-137, undated


Box 7

Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions book art, pp. 138-153, undated


Box 7

Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions book art, pp. 154-171, undated


Box 7

Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions book art, pp. 172-187, undated


Subseries I.3: Other MAD magazine work, 1963-2017


Box 45 Folder 2

Photocopies of Al Jaffee features, probably from MAD magazine, circa 1950s-1960s


Box 41

Model rocket made out of sheet metal which Jaffee built for MAD magazine #76, January 1963

Jaffee designed a feature called "If Kids Designed Their Own Xmas Toys." This rocket is as an example.

Also includes an Al Jaffee "Certificate of Authenticity" and a photocopy of a page from MAD Magazine, May 1963 (featuring the rocket).


Box 23

MAD magazine contracts, 1964-2011


Mapcase 15-H-18 Folder 1

MAD #101 feature: MAD Puzzle inked original art with overlays and redrawing, 1966

Handle carefully: some glued components detached


Box 42 Folder 2

MAD #103 feature: MAD's "Share the Wealth" Income Tax Form inked original art, 1966


Mapcase 15-H-18 Folder 2

MAD #105 feature: A MAD Look at Shut-Ins inked original art with overlays, 1966


Mapcase 15-H-18 Folder 3

MAD #110 feature: MAD Hate Book inked line art, 1967


Box 42 Folder 3

MAD #111 feature: Outdoor Sports Indoors inked original art, 1967


Mapcase 15-H-18 Folder 5

MAD #131 feature: A MAD Peek Behind the Scenes of a Hospital inked original art with overlay, 1969


Box 42 Folder 4

MAD #139 feature: Hawks and Doves inked original art, 1970


Box 44 Folder 4-5

MAD #153 feature: The Car-Owner's Hate Book original art with overlays, 1972, 2 folders


Box 42 Folder 6-7

MAD #159 feature: Planned Obsolescence in Everyday Products inked original art, 1973, 2 folders


Box 42 Folder 8-9

MAD #161 feature: Crime Foilers for the Average Citizen inked original art with overlay, 1973, 2 folders


Box 42 Folder 10

MAD #166 feature: MAD's Cheap, Revolutionary Way to Eat Out and Lose Weight, 1974


Box 8

Tracings for Al Jaffee's MAD Monstrosities, circa 1990


Box 23

Writer/artist MAD contracts and payments, 1990-2012


Box 22

MAD magazine, 1999, 2001-2002, 2006-2014


Box 8

Alfred E. Neuman collectible coin preliminary work, circa 2000s


Box 20

Mixed tracings, circa 2000s


Box 20

Tracings for a multipanel comic, circa 2000s


Box 21

MAD magazine layout sheets, circa 2000s


Box 22

MAD tear sheets, circa 2000s


Box 23

MAD Writers Guidelines, circa 2000s


Box 26

MAD magazine work for Tim Johnson, circa 2000s


Box 30

Life Savers Kickerz Fold-In advertisement, 2002


Box 22

MAD Kids tear sheets, 2005-2012


Box 8

MAD Kids art, 2006-2007


Box 18

Dodge Fold-In advertisements, 2006-2007


Box 31

2009 Al Jaffee Calendar proof, 2008


Box 8

2009 Al Jaffee Calendar, 2009


Box 20

"Brawl at the Wall Peace Fights" tracings, 2009


Box 21

"Brawl at the Wall Peace Fights" original art and proof, 2009


Box 6

MAD's Asshole of the Month full-color original art, circa 2010s


Box 45 Folder 10

MAD magazine ephemera, 2010s


Box 13

MAD magazine Al Jaffee's 90th birthday thank you card, 2011


Box 14

"What if Batman were Jewish?" tracings, 2012


Box 4

"Boy Scout Merit Badges for the Digital Age" sketches, 2013


Box 26

Batman and Superman MAD magazine special edition comics, 2013 June


Box 45 Folder 16

"I am Charlie" sketch, circa 2015

Probably produced as a gesture of solidarity following a terrorist attack on the offices of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.


Box 22

MAD magazine inscribed to Al Jaffee by Weird Al Yankovic, 2015 June


Box 2

MAD sketches for Fundalini pages: National Donut Day, 2016


Box 4

"MAD Redesigns the U.S. Map" back cover art, 2016


Box 20

"Yet Another Fairy Tale Scene We'd Like to See" art for MAD back cover art, 2017


Box 4

MAD Follies #7 Nasty Card, undated


Box 20

Templates for cards and "Thank You for Writing" stationery, undated

Series II: Other comics and illustrations, 1945-2014

Series II contains original art created by Jaffee for other entities than MAD. These include the New York Herald-Tribune-syndicated cartoon "Tall Tales" (1958-1965) and several other unpublished cartoons that were created for potential newspaper syndication. The series also includes illustrations and background research for Jaffee's 2009 biography, Al Jaffee's MAD Life, and illustrations for the Moshiach Times' "Der Shpy" dating from circa 1990s to 2013. Sketches, proofs, and tear sheets of advertisements and other contract work done by Al Jaffee are included as well.


Subseries II.1: Syndicated comics, 1950-2009


Box 17

Syndicate cartoon specs: Art for unidentified comic, circa 1950s-1960s


Box 13

Syndicate cartoon specs: TV or Not TV, 1950


Box 16

Syndicate cartoon specs: Klumsy Kat/Alex, 1952


Box 16

Syndicate cartoon specs: Clem N' Tiny (first version), 1957


Box 16

Syndicate cartoon specs: Clem N' Tiny (another version), 1957


Box 32

Tall Tales proofs, 1958


Box 32

Tall Tales proofs, 1959


Box 32

Tall Tales proofs (may be unused), 1959


Box 34

Tall Tales Sundays, 1959-1963


Box 27

Tall Tales Sunday proofs, circa 1960s


Box 33

Tall Tales daily proofs, circa 1960s


Box 33

Tall Tales newspaper, mostly unused, circa 1960s


Box 33

Tall Tales pulled for Al Jaffee's MAD Rejects book, not all used, circa 1960s


Box 34

Tall Tales proofs (used in book), circa 1960s


Box 33

Tall Tales proofs (not used, may be extras), circa 1960s


Box 33

Tall Tales proofs (not used, may be extras), labeled "hold", circa 1960s


Box 33

Tall Tales proofs (not used, may be extras), labeled "rejected", circa 1960s


Box 34

Tall Tales proofs used in Tall Tales book, circa 1960s


Box 34

Tall Tales proofs, not used, circa 1960s


Box 34

Tall Tales Sundays photostats, circa 1960s


Box 30

AFTERthoughts strip copies, circa 1960s


Box 17

Syndicate cartoon specs: Finkelstein's Monster, 1960


Box 13

Syndicate cartoon specs: Finkelstein's Monster, 1960


Box 32

Tall Tales proofs, 1960


Box 16

Syndicate cartoon specs: Gerald, 1961


Box 32

Tall Tales proofs, 1961


Box 32

Tall Tales proofs, 1962


Box 16

Syndicate cartoon specs: Georgie's Dragon, 1963


Box 32

Tall Tales proofs, 1963


Box 33

Tall Tales proofs, 1964


Box 17

Syndicate cartoon specs: Jaffee's Spot, 1965


Box 17

Syndicate cartoon specs: Mr. Showbiz, 1965


Box 33

Tall Tales proofs, 1965


Box 33

Tall Tales proofs, 1966


Box 26

Tall Tales book contents list and afterword, 2007


Box 23

Tall Tales book contract, 2007, 2012


Box 13

Tall Tales book signing sign, circa 2008


Box 4

Tall Tales book introduction and title art, 2008


Box 4

Tall Tales book tracings, 2008


Box 23

Tall Tales book production, 2008


Box 26

Tall Tales book proofs, 2008 March


Box 31

Tall Tales book proofs, 2008 April


Box 29

Barnes and Noble Tall Tales book signing poster, 2008 December


Box 23

Abrams Books catalog with Tall Tales entry, 2008-2009 Fall/Winter


Subseries II.2: Der Shpy, 1986-2017


Box 22

Moshiach Times tear sheets, 1986-2002


Box 26

Der Shpy templates, references, and tear sheets, circa 1990s-2010s


Box 26

Der Shpy printed material with art by Al Jaffee, circa 1990s-2010s


Box 11

Moshiach Times Der Shpy artwork, circa 2000s


Box 43 Folder 10

Moshiach Times special holiday color cover original art, circa 2000s-2010s


Box 22

Moshiach Times , 2005, 2009-2017


Box 5

Der Shpy tracings, circa 2010s


Subseries II.3: Al Jaffee's MAD Life, 1995-2010


Box 28

"Z" research, 1995-2008


Box 28

"Z" research: illustration sketches, chapters 1-5, circa 2008


Box 28

"Z" interview notes and research, circa 2008


Box 35

Research for "Z" (Al Jaffee's MAD Life), circa 2008


Box 35

Rough book notes for Al Jaffee's MAD Life, circa 2008


Box 35

Al Jaffee's MAD Life script and color pages, circa 2008


Box 35

Al Jaffee's MAD Life final color illustrations set, corrected, circa 2008


Box 35

Al Jaffee's MAD Life color illustrations, uncorrected, circa 2008


Box 35

Al Jaffee's MAD Life color illustrations, uncorrected, numbered and titled, circa 2008


Box 35

Al Jaffee's MAD Life illustrations, extras and early versions, circa 2008


Box 35

Al Jaffee's MAD Life illustrations, notes and reference, circa 2008


Box 35

Al Jaffee's MAD Life proofs, circa 2008


Box 45 Folder 7

"Al Jaffee: Defying the Laws of Gravity" by Mary-Lou Weisman, circa 2008-2010


Box 23

Al Jaffee's MAD Life production, 2008-2010


Box 25

Correspondence about Al Jaffee's MAD Life, 2008-2010


Box 9

Al Jaffee's MAD Life sketches, circa 2009


Box 9

Al Jaffee's MAD Life original art: tracings, circa 2009


Box 9

Al Jaffee's MAD Life original art: ink line drawings, circa 2009


Box 10

Al Jaffee's MAD Life original art: photocopies, circa 2009


Box 10

Al Jaffee's MAD Life original art: prints, photographs, etc., circa 2009


Box 10

Al Jaffee's MAD Life original art: tracings, circa 2009


Box 10

Al Jaffee's MAD Life original art: ink line drawings, circa 2009


Box 10

Al Jaffee's MAD Life original art: rough cover sketches, circa 2009


Box 23

Al Jaffee's MAD Life publishing contract, 2009-2011


Box 10

Borders book signing poster for Al Jaffee's MAD Life, 2010 September 29


Box 23

Press and reviews of Al Jaffee's MAD Life, 2010-2011


Box 28

Photocopies of art for Al Jaffee's MAD Life, circa 2010


Box 28

News clippings and reviews of Al Jaffee's MAD Life, circa 2010


Subseries II.4: Advertising, contract work, and commissions, 1945-2016


Box 26

"Howl While You Heal,", 1945


Box 42 Folder 1

Humbug Christmas issue inked original illustration, 1956


Box 27

Benson and Hedges advertisement proofs, circa 1960s


Box 27

Lambs Club short films advertisement proofs, circa 1960s


Box 27

Passport Scotch advertisement proofs, circa 1960s


Box 21

Metropolitan Sunday Newspapers advertisement proofs and tear sheet, 1960


Box 20

Playboy magazine cartoon proof, 1964


Box 26

Playboy magazine tear sheets and copies, 1964 December-1986 September


Box 44 Folder 6

TRASH #7 feature: Collectible stamps full color original art, 1964


Box 23

Celebrity book blurbs, 1967, 1997, 2010


Box 21

Nation's Business advertisement proofs, 1969


Mapcase 15-J-14

Inforex dinosaur advertisement two-page spread, Wall Street Journal, 1969 May 14


Box 21

Ohrbach's advertisement proofs, 1970


Box 27

Population Institute tear sheets, circa 1970s


Box 20

Inforex advertisement proofs, circa 1970s


Box 21

Inforex advertisement proofs, circa 1970s


Box 15-J-14

Printed poster of gorilla for Inforex ad, circa 1970s


Box 26

Magazine clippings with art by Al Jaffee, circa 1970s-1990s, 2017


Box 27

Fold-Ins by others, circa 1970s-2010s


Box 26

Esquire magazine tear sheets, 1972 April


Box 4

Advertising proofs, circa 1980s


Box 1

T-shirts with Al Jaffee art, 1985, 2011


Box 26

University of Cape Town Hedgehog Stampede cartoon, 1987


Box 27

BBDO Chicago Fold-In advertisement proof, 1989


Box 23

Gallery shows, 1989-2013


Box 26

Al Jaffee Hallmark cards, circa 1990s


Box 45 Folder 3

Al Jaffee one pager, 1990


Box 23

Mark Cohen correspondence and contracts, 1990-1999


Box 26

MTV Fold-In advertisement proof, 1991


Box 20

Cape Kong poster, 1993, 1998


Box 20

Provincetown Public Library Fun-Raiser posters and other Provincetown fundraiser posters, 1993-2009


Box 26

Contract work for corporate promotional publications, 1993-2010


Box 20

Provincetown Tennis Club poster design, 1999


Box 23

Licensed Al Jaffee art, 1999-2010


Box 23

Magazine commissions: contracts and payments, 1999-2011


Box 4

The Rock Snob's Dictionary art, circa 2000s


Box 4

Panels for Puck magazine, circa 2000s


Box 20

Mixed tracings on politics: Richard Nixon, George W. Bush, pig spec art for Greta Morgenstern New York Times column, circa 2000s


Box 27

Honorariums to other artists and art commissioned for books, circa 2000s


Box 26

Film: GQ Giuliani article, Al Jaffee at easel, "Whale Watch," and Passport Scotch advertisement, circa 2000s


Box 26

"Rudy Giuliani's Cranky Answers to Constituent Questions" GQ magazine clippings, 2000 February


Box 23

Al Jaffee books: foreign, 2000-2001


Box 23

Humbug artwork agreement, Kurtzman, 2002-2009


Box 18

Vh1 "Bands Reunited" Fold-In, 2003


Box 27

Vh1 "Bands Reunited" Fold-In ad campaign, contracts and tear sheets, 2003


Box 20

Wolf, Greenfield and The Johnson Group Fold-In holiday cards tracings and proofs, 2003


Box 27

Wolf, Greenfield and The Johnson Group Fold-In holiday cards, contracts and proofs, 2003


Box 23

Book commissions, contracts, and payments, 2003-2012


Box 20

Alter Ego magazine cover proofs, 2004


Box 22

Alter Ego magazine, 2004 April, 2014 July


Box 20

Hooked on the Cape poster, 2005


Box 23

Personal commissions: contracts and payments, 2005, 2009


Box 20

Vice magazine "Chair Party" art, 2006


Box 20

Vice magazine comics issue cover art, 2006


Box 20

Vice magazine "Rollicking Responses to Inane Inquiries" art, 2006


Box 21

The Complete Humbug book jacket proofs, 2008


Box 23

PLAZM t-shirt design, 2009


Box 19

Squa Tront/Jerry Weist Fold-In, 2009


Box 23

Personal commissions: photocopies and correspondence, 2009-2013


Box 18

Javits Center, NYC ComiCon 2010 Fold-In, 2010


Box 19

San Diego Comic Con Fold-In, 2010


Box 20

"X Marks the Spot!" Fold-In for Scholastic Math, 2010


Box 26

"X Marks the Spot!" Fold-In commission for Scholastic Math, 2010


Box 20

Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art "Is This the Al Jaffee Art Exhibit?" poster sketches and proof, 2010


Box 4

Captain Rochester sketches, 2010


Box 23

The Art Hustle artist trading cards and Captain Rochester trading cards, 2010


Box 31

Captain Rochester collector card press sheets, 2010


Box 36

The Art Hustle Artist trading cards, series 1 and 2 factory sets, 2010


Box 36

Captain Rochester collector cards, sets 1 and 2, 2010


Box 4

Mixed sketches by Al Jaffee, circa 2010


Box 22

Royal Flush magazine, 2011


Box 4

Garfield #9 cover, 2012-2013


Box 23

Garfield #9 cover commission, 2012-2013


Box 23

Spongebob Comics , 2012-2014


Box 26

Spongebob Comics reference images, 2012-2014


Box 4

Rube Goldberg tribute art, 2013


Box 21

Batman comic book special Fold-In cover, 2013


Box 8

Action Comics variant cover sketches and reference images, 2014 December


Box 18

Smoke Signal Fold-In full-color original art and tracings, 2014-2015


Box 20

Fantagraphics 40th anniversary multipanel comic, 2016


Box 2

Various pieces for Columbia, 2016


Box 8

Kingsman Fold-In print ad for the New Yorker, 2017


Box 44 Folder 7

Afterword artwork for The MAD Art of Caricature by Tom Richmond, 2019


Box 4

"The Highwayman (Updated)" cartoon, undated


Box 4

Super Rabbit tracings, undated


Box 4

Anti-smoking devices cartoon tracings, undated


Box 8

Marx Brothers art for Hirschfeld/Daniel Kinske, undated


Box 20

Tracing of stairs, undated


Box 21

Proof of MAD cover art commissioned by Al Jaffee's dentist, undated


Box 23

Al Jaffee book advertisements, undated


Box 26

Willie Weirdie continuity, undated


Box 20

Art for pp. 44-45 of unidentified book, undated


Subseries II.5: Art sales and donations, 1992-2015


Box 23

MAD art sales, 1992-2012


Box 23

Sotheby's auction, 1995-1996


Box 23

Ohio State University gifts, 1995-2012


Box 23

Al Jaffee art auctions, 2000-2015


Box 23

Donated art, 2006, 2009


Box 45 Folder 19

Certificate of Authenticity for Al Jaffee artwork, 2019

Series III: Panels, conventions, exhibitions, and press, 1964-2017

Series III includes materials related to Jaffee's appearances in public events and in the press. Clippings of interviews with Jaffee and reviews of his work are included. Some material related to Jaffee's 2006 retrospective exhibition, "Is This the Al Jaffee Art Exhibit?" at the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art is also included. In addition, there are programs and other ephemera from panels, fan conventions (cons) at which Jaffee appeared, and comic arts industry award ceremonies circa 2000s-2010s. Publishing and commission contracts and related correspondence are also included, as is a small amount of documentation related to the sale or donation of original artwork by Al Jaffee.


Box 23

Articles in Provincetown and Cape Cod papers and magazines, 1991, 1993, 2000


Box 23

Berta Walker Gallery, 1993, 1998


Box 23

East End Gallery, 1998


Box 23

Articles Al Jaffee is quoted in, 1998-2008


Box 23

Articles about MAD magazine, 1999-2009


Box 22

Journal of MADness , 2000


Box 27

Boston Globe Magazine , 2000 August


Box 27

Mixed clippings mentioning Al Jaffee, 2000s-2010s


Box 23

Fine Arts Work Center, Provincetown, 2001-2006


Box 27

Cape Cod Voice , 2003 July


Box 27

Village Voice , 2004 January 14-20


Box 23

Beck Fold-In music video, 2005


Box 22

Vice magazine, 2006


Box 23

Vanity Fair/Mike Sacks interview, 2006


Box 21

Layout proof for New York Times story on Al Jaffee, 2008


Box 23

Congratulations on New York Times article, 2008


Box 24

San Diego Comic Con, 2008


Box 24

Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater, 2008


Box 27

New York Times Magazine Will Elder story, 2008 December


Box 27

New York Times Al Jaffee stories, 2008 March, 2008 May, 2010 October


Box 24

Reuben Awards, 2008, 2012, 2018


Box 24

All other Cons, 2008-2013


Box 24

National Cartoonists Society, 2008, 2015-2016, 2018


Box 30

King Con Brooklyn poster, 2009


Box 24

New York Comic Con, 2010


Box 45 Folder 8

Recording and appearance contracts, 2010, 2012


Box 23

Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art exhibit, 2010 October 5-2011 January 20


Box 24

Panels and appearances, 2010-2012


Box 30

It's a MAD MAD SCAD Weekend poster, circa 2010


Box 1

Comic Art Professionals Society Sergio award bandanas for Al Jaffee, 2011


Box 23

Strips borrowed by James Sturm, Center for Cartoon Studies, 2011


Box 24

CAPS Las Vegas, 2011


Box 24

Savannah College of Art and Design, 2011


Box 30

Comic Art Professional Society Honoree 2011 poster, 2011


Box 22

Stay Tooned magazine, 2011 March


Box 22

Draw! , 2011 Spring


Box 27

Connect Savannah , 2011 November


Box 24

Scripts: Tom Gammil, "NCS at Roths" and Laura Terusso, "Bum Future", 2011-2013


Box 24

Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art ArtsFest, 2011, 2014


Box 24

Comic New York Columbia University symposium, 2012


Box 24

Authors Out Loud, Washington, D. C., 2012 December


Box 22

FilmFax, 2012-2013 Winter


Box 24

Rube Goldberg's Foolish Questions, 2013


Box 27

Wall Street Journal , 2013 April 20-21


Box 45 Folder 13

Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame presentation program, 2014 June 20


Box 45 Folder 14

Comic Arts Brooklyn festival program booklet, 2014 November 6-9


Box 24

Celebrating Al Jaffee panel at Columbia University, 2014


Box 24

92nd Street Y Rube Goldberg panel, 2014


Mapcase 15-J-14

National Cartoonists Society Christmas party poster, 2014


Box 20

AARP Magazine article proofs, 2016


Box 27

Forward , 2016


Box 24

Baltimore ComiCon, 2016 September


Box 23

New York Waste interview, 2017


Box 45 Folder 18

Ziggy Pig and Silly Seal Marvel one-shot comics (not by Al Jaffee), 2019

Series IV: Correspondence and personal materials, circa 1970s-2017

Series IV includes correspondence with other cartoonists and fan mail. It also includes books inscribed to Al Jaffee by his colleagues. Materials related to Al Jaffee's 90th and 95th birthday parties—large events attended by many of Jaffee's colleagues in comic arts—are also included. Finally, Series IV includes a group of birthday and anniversary cards made for Joyce Jaffee by Al Jaffee, and several boxes of books inscribed to Al Jaffee.


Box 45 Folder 1

Jaffee family photographs, circa 1900-1950, 2001


Box 3

Handmade cards for Joyce Jaffee, by Al Jaffee, circa 1970s-2010s


Box 3

Handmade cards for others, by Al Jaffee, circa 1990s-2010s


Box 25

Letters to Al Jaffee, 1997,1999-2014


Box 20

Art made for family members, circa 2000s


Box 44 Folder 8

Sketches for family members and fans, circa 2000s-2010s


Box 45 Folder 4

Memories of the Catskills by Al Jaffee, circa 2000s-2010s


Box 45 Folder 5

Watercolor of a planter shaped like a pig, titled "Quinta Mia," Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; artist unidentified, circa 2000s-2010s


Box 15-J-14

Al and Joyce Jaffee 150th birthday signed poster, 2001


Box 45 Folder 6

Correspondence, 2005-2018


Box 3

Al Jaffee birthday art from other cartoonists, 2006, 2011, 2016-2017


Box 45 Folder 12

Al Jaffee birthday art from other cartoonists, including a birthday Fold-In by Johnny Sampson, 2014, undated


Box 25

Letters to Al Jaffee from other cartoonists, 2008-2013, 2016-2017


Box 21

Congratulations from other cartoonists, circa 2009


Box 20

Tributes to Al Jaffee by other cartoonists, circa 2010


Box 45 Folder 9 Item 3-4

"Al Jaffee Archives" (possibly duplicates of United States Holocaust Memorial Museum interview), circa 2010s, 2 DVDs


Box 45 Folder 9 Item 5

Ford Team Detroit Al Jaffee Blu Ray, circa 2010s, 1 Blu-ray discs


Box 45 Folder 11

Jaffee at 90: The Complete Al Jaffee/MAD Checklist, compiled by Doug Gilford, 2011


Box 13

90th birthday art for Al Jaffee from other cartoonists, 2011


Box 24

Birthday wishes from your fans, 2011


Box 24

Birthday wishes from your colleagues, 2011


Box 15-J-14

"Happy Birthday, Al" signed poster, 2011


Box 24

90th birthday fan mail, 2011 March


Box 25

Fan mail, 2011-2017


Box 45 Folder 15

Fan mail, 2014-2020


Box 25

Cards and notes from other cartoonists, 2012-2014


Box 20

Proof of Republican presidential primary candidates artwork, not by Al Jaffee, circa 2016


Box 45 Folder 9 Item 1-2

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum interview with Al Jaffee, 2016 May 21, 2 DVDs


Box 4

Signed print of MAD #1 cover concept by Harvey Kurtzman, undated


Box 37

Inscribed books, undated


Box 38

Inscribed books, undated


Box 39

Inscribed books, undated


Box 40

Inscribed books, undated