Comic Art collection, circa 1884-2016

Summary Information

At a Glance

Call No.:
MS#1828
Bib ID:
12444183 View CLIO record
Creator(s):
Green, Karen, 1958-
Repository:
Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Physical Description:
9 linear feet (1 half size manuscript box (letter), 1 tall manuscript box (legal), 1 flat box (15x19), 4 flat boxes (21x25), 5 mapcase 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.

This collection is located on-site.

This collection has no restrictions.

Description

Scope and Contents

A teaching collection of original comic art, much of which sheds light on various historical styles or techniques. Accompanied by several comic books. Materials includes daily newspaper strip art, Sunday newspaper strip art, single-panel cartoons, comic book pages, and related comics material, such as printing plates and ephemera.

  • Series I: Fred Fox and Roger Armstrong comic strip art, 1950-1961, undated

    Fred Fox was an American writer and cartoonist, born as Frederick Louis Fox in New York. He was involved in the creation of Charlie Plumb's 'Ella Cinders' strip for the Metropolitan Newspaper Service since the 1920s. He took over the writing of the strip anonymously in 1940 and assumed complete control between 1945 and 1961, leaving the artwork during the final year of his tenure to Roger Armstrong.

    This long run of the long-running comic strip "Ella Cinders" (1925-1961) is by writer Fred Fox and artist Roger Armstrong, and represents the closing years of the strip. The main character, Ella, was modeled on silent film actress Colleen Moore, and retained her 1920s look while other characters reflected the period in which they were drawn. Also included are 31 "tryout" strips for a never-syndicated strip "Perilous Pauline" which indicate potential editorial changes. Both strips manifest frequent use of almost pristine Zip-A-Tone, a material used to add texture to simple line art.

    "Roger Armstrong and Fred Fox Ella Cinders and Perilous Pauline Daily Comic Strip Original Art Group (United Feature Syndicate, 1950-1961). This massive group lot features 343 Ella Cinders dailies that span a decade. Also included in this lot are 31 Perilous Pauline try-out strips, for an astounding total of 374 strips in all. Each daily has an approximate image area of 19" x 5.5", and they average in Very Good condition. Auction: 7201 Lot: 92010" (from auction description)

    Fred Fox (author), Roger Armstrong (illustrator). Gift of Gregory Benton, 2017.

  • Series II: Ghetto Brother, 2014

    Six pages from the graphic novel Ghetto Brother, written by Julian Voloj and drawn by Claudi Ahlering. These pages are from a graphic novel about Benny Melendez, who was a major gang leader in the 1970s (and the inspiration for the charismatic leader in the film "The Warriors"), and who later discovered his Jewish heritage. The pages focus primarily on NYC in the 1970s and on religion.

    Gift of Julian Voloj and Claudi Ahlering (the creators), 2019.

  • Series III: Art Young, 1890s-1930s

    Series consists of original art and cartoons created by Art Young (1866-1943), a cartoonist and illustrator, best known for his Socialist viewpoint. He illustrated political cartoons for magazines such as The Metropolitan Magazine, The Masses, New Masses, Life, Liberator (1977-1924), Good Morning (1919-1921), New Yorker, The Nation, etc. The political cartoons cover topics such as the Broadway Theatre and Actors Equity, capitalism, the Brooklyn Rapid Transit, political corruption, the economy, family planning, working class dignity, immigration, and more. Also included is a caricature drawing of Boris Bakhmeteff, Brander Matthews, and Arturo Giovannitt.

  • Series IV: General Comic Art, 1884-2016

    Series consists of original art, sketches, pencil and ink drawings, newspaper strips, cartoons, and comic book pages, dating from 1884 to 2016.

  • Series V: Printed Matter, 1908-1969

    Series includes printed comic books, ephemera, musical programs, sheet musics, tabloid comic, and books, dating from 1908 to 1969.

  • Series VI: Printing Plates and Blocks, 1920s, 1992

    Series consists of printing plates and blocks related to comics.

Arrangement

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.

This collection is located on-site.

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); Comic Art Collection; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Related Materials

Edwina Dumm papers, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Jerry Robinson papers, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

R. Robert Pollak Comic Art collection, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Mort Meskin Art collection, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Accruals

Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

2015-2016-M009. Purchase, 2015.

2015-2016-M157. Purchase, 2016. Date of acquisition--5/26/2016.

2016-2017-M112. Purchase, 2017. Date of acquisition--1/23/2017.

2017-2018-M001. Gift of Gregory Benton, 2017

2018-2019-M059. Purchase from Swann Galleries, Periodyssey, Heritage Auctions, 2018.

2018-2019-M141. Purchase from Heritage Auctions; Gift of Douglas D. Vogel (V.T. Hamlin Alley Oop), 2019. Accessioned 2019 March.

2019-2020-M028. Purchase from Heritage Auctions, 2019

2019-2020-M073. Gift of Mitchell Berger, 2019.

2019-2020-M074. Purchase from eBay, 2019.

2019-2020-M122. Purchase from Heritage Auctions, 2019

2019-2020-M135. Purchase from Heritage Auctions, 2020.

2019-2020-M136. Gift of Julian Voloj, 2019.

2021-2022-M062. Gift/Purchase, 2021

2021-2022-M084. Gift of Annie Koyama, 2021.

2021-2022-M115. Gift of Scott Kraynak, 2022.

2021-2022-M139. Purchase and Gift of Karen Green, 2022.

2021-2022-M155. Purchase from Heritage Auctions, 2022.

2022-2023-M002. Purchase, 2022

2022-2023-M089. Gift of Karen Green, 2023.

2022-2023-M098. Gift of Rick Meyerowitz, 2023.

2023-2024-M021; 2023-2024-M022. Opper: Gift of Jim Vadeboncoeur Jr., 2023; 2 Fullers donated by Karen Green, 2023.

2023-2024-M103. Gift of Karen Green and Warren Bernard, 2024.

2023-2024-M104. Purchased by Michelle Chesner, 2024.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Collection-level record describing unprocessed material made public in summer 2018 as part of the Hidden Collections initiative.

Inventoried by a student worker under the supervision of Karen L. Green, 2023. Processed and finding aid created by Yingwen Huang, 2024.

Biographical / Historical

The collecting of materials in the Comic art collection began in 2015 by Curator Karen Green. Items often come from donors, artists, and purchases from various sources such as Heritage, Swann Galleries, Periodyssey, eBay, etc. This is a growing collection.

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
Comics (Graphic works) CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Comics -- Educational CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Drawings (visual works) CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Ephemera (general object genre) CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Pen and ink drawings CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Printing plates CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Sheet music CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Sketches CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Wood blocks (printing blocks) CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Name
Anderson, Murphy CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Arriola, Gus CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Bell, Gabrielle CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Berndt, 1899-1980 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Branner, Martin Michael, 1888- CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Briggs, Clare A., 1875-1930 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Burchett, Rick CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Campbell, E. Simms (Elmer Simms), 1906-1971 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Capp, Al, 1909-1979 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Carlson, Wallace, -1967 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Carter, Ad, 1895-1957 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Chaykin, Howard V. CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Colón, Ernie CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Cory, Fanny Y. CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Cotter, Joshua W. CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Crumb, R. CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Cruz, Roger CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Dalrymple, Farel CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Darcy, Dame, 1971- CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Day, Chon, 1907- CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Dunn , Bob, 1908-1989 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Dunn, Jimmy CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Elgin, Jill CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Forsythe, Vic, 1885-1962 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Fox , Fontaine, 1884-1964 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Fradon, Ramona CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Graetz, F. (Friedrich), approximately 1840-approximately 1913 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Gray, Harold, 1894-1968 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Green, Karen, 1958- CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Griffin, Syd B., 1854-approximately 1910 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Hamlin, V. T. (Vincent T.), 1900-1993 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Harbin, Dustin CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Hasen, Irwin, 1918-2015 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Hatlo, Jimmy, 1898-1963 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Helfant, Art, 1898-1971 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Jenkins, Burris Jr., 1896-1966 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Jurgens, Dan CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
King, Frank, 1883-1969 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Kurtzman, Harvey CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Larsen, Howard CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Lethem, Jonathan CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Link, Stanley, 1894-1967 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Little, Tom, 1898-1972 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Lynch, Jay CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
McBride, Clifford, 1901-1951 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
McManus, George, 1884-1954 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Meskin, Mort, 1916-1995 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Messick, Dale CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Murphy, Jimmy, 1891-1965 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
O'Neill, Harry F., 1891-1958 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Opper, Frederick Burr, 1857-1937 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Orlando, Joe CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Pérez, George, 1954-2022 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Rodrigues, Charles CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Rose, Carl, 1903-1971 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Rubinstein, Josef CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Ryan, Matt CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Saunders, Allen, 1899-1986 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Shults, A. B. (Albert B.), 1868-1913 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Smith, Sidney, 1877-1935 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Swan, Curt CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Swanson, George, 1897-1981 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
TAD, 1877-1929 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Turner, Leslie, 1899-1988 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Tuthill, Harry J. CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Van Buren, Raeburn, 1891-1987 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Webb, Bob, 1915-2000 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Weiss, Morris, 1915-2014 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Wertz, Julia CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Westover, Russ, 1886-1966 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Willard, Frank H., 1893-1958 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Williams, Gaar, 1880-1935 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Winner, Doc, 1885-1956 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Witherby, Michael CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Woggon, Elmer CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Young, Art, 1866-1943 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Place
Comic books, strips, etc., in art CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
New York (N.Y.) -- Social life and customs -- Comic books, strips, etc CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Subject
Animals in comics CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Caricatures and cartoons CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Comic books, strips, etc CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Comic books, strips, etc -- Publishing -- United States CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Depressions -- 1929 -- United States -- Pictorial works CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Graphic artists CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Political cartoons -- United States CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID