William "Bill" Schelly papers, 1970-2019

Summary Information

At a Glance

Description

Scope and Contents

His fanzine collection is a collector's collection, representing the most important titles of the medium. His research materials provides substantive background to his books. There are taped interviews.

Using the Collection

Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Conditions Governing 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.

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

Conditions Governing Use

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish material from the collection must be requested from the Curator of Manuscripts/University Archivist, Rare Book and Manuscript Library (RBML). The RBML approves permission to publish that which it physically owns; the responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Accruals

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

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Subject Headings

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

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Genre/Form

Subject

History / Biographical Note

Content Description

Bill Schelly was a ubiquitous figure in comics fandom and fanzines from the early 1970s onward, as a teenage collector, contributor, and publisher. As an adult, he began writing meticulously researched histories of major comics figures, such as Harvey Kurtzman and Otto Binder. Much of this career is detailed in his memoir, SENSE OF WONDER. He bequeathed his extensive fanzine collection, taped interviews, and research materials to Columbia, in order to enhance an understanding of early fandom and support further research.