Notable Collections

Comics and Comic Art at the Browne Popular Culture Library; contact: Tyne Lowe, Manuscripts Archivist, trlowe@bgsu.edu

The Browne Popular Culture Library (BPCL) at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, OH, has an outstanding collection of comics, original comic art, and archival materials related to comics creation and culture. Our holdings of comic books, comic strip collections, comics zines (and mini-comics), graphic novels, and manga are particularly strong. Our original comic art includes works by renowned comics creators like Ken Ernst/Allen Saunders (Steve Roper; Mary Worth), R. Crumb, Ernie Bushmiller (Fritzi Ritz), and Mort Walker (Beetle Bailey; Hi and Lois).

Comic Book Collection; contact: archives@csusb.edu

This collection contains approximately 3,000 comic books and graphic novels primarily covering the Marvel and DC Universes (e.g., Avengers, Spiderman, Batman, Superman). Also contains comic books adapted from cartoon series such as Archie and Heathcliff as well as those produced by The Walt Disney Company. A selection of alternative, underground, and adult-themed comics from publishers such as Aardvark-Vanaheim, Kitchen Sink Press, and Dark Horse comics are also included.

Comics at Columbia; contact: Karen Green, Curator for Comics and Cartoons, klg19@columbia.edu

The circulating collection comprises roughly 25,000 titles in a wise variety of languages, with English, French, and Spanish predominating. It is distributed across on-campus libraries and offsite storage. Special collections consists of rare print books, periodicals, minicomics, and fanzines, as well as archival collections of creators, editors, publishers, fans, and researchers, including original art, manuscripts, correspondence, contracts, and more. There is also a web archive of webcomics and creator websites.

Edwin and Terry Murray Fanzine collection; contact: Danny Sarmiento, Curator for General Collections, dls144@duke.edu

Edwin L. and Terry A. Murray, brothers residing in Durham, N.C., have been collectors of comic books and other pulp culture for forty years. The Murray Fanzine Collection contains approximately 1150 comic book, science fiction and fantasy fanzines, collected by Edwin and Terry Murray, representing fandom in these genres from the early 1950s to 2019, as well as advertisements for fandom gatherings and conventions.

Graphic Medicine Collection; contact: Matthew Noe, Lead Collection & Knowledge Management Librarian, Matthew_Noe@hms.harvard.edu

The Graphic Medicine Collection at Harvard Medical School seeks to make accessible any and all examples of the intersections of comics and health, illness, caregiving, disability, and associated sociopolitical realities. The collection is primarily in English, with other languages being added as possible.

Contact: Kate Morris, Head of Special Collections, morriskn@jmu.edu

Bradley and Brian Flota Comic Book Collection

The Bradley and Brian Flota Comic Book Collection consists of 59.8 cubic feet of over 9,700 comics from the years 1952-2008. There is a wide range of comic book genres between the years 1952-2008. However, the majority of the issues were released in or near to the 1980s, just before and while Brian Flota was actively collecting the materials. Some major publishers in this collection include Marvel Comics, DC Comics, and Dark Horse Comics.

Black Studies Research Comic Book Collection

This collection was created through a Provost Diversity Curriculum Grant in 2017. It was created by Mollie Godfrey, Professor of English, and Brian Flota, Librarian, to support Dr. Godfrey’s English 359 course “African American Graphic Novels.” The collection includes books that prominently feature Black characters and subject matter as well as those by Black comic book creators (writers, artists, pencillers, inkers, publishers, etc.).

Comic Art Collection, contact: Jason Larsen, Comic Studies Librarian, larsenja@msu.edu

The Comic Art Collection at Michigan State University is one of the earliest academic collections of its kind in the United States. It began with a modest donation of 6,000 comics in 1970 which coalesced into a formal collection in the mid-70s. Today the collection primarily focuses on serial and monographic comic works and contains approximately 350,000 items. Comics materials span comics history from the late 19th century to the present and includes materials from a wide range of current and no longer extant publishers. In addition to comics, the collection includes academic comic studies literature, collections of comics and cartoon strips, and several archival collections.

Comic Book Collection, contact: Scott Krafft, Chief Curator of the Charles Deering McCormick Library, s-krafft@northwestern.edu

The McCormick comics collection contains nearly 3,000 issues dating back to the early 1930s. The library also holds many comics precursors such as illustrated “Big Little Books” (Whitman Publishing Company) that drew their subjects from radio programs and newspaper comics, as well as dime novels.

The Dark Horse Comics Collection, contact: Michael Bowman, Associate Dean, bowman@pdx.edu

The collection contains every Dark Horse comic book, graphic novel, collected edition, book, print, poster, statue, figure, and all other products.

Contact: Special Collections & University Archives, askscua@sdsu.edu

Comic Arts Collection

The SDSU Comic Arts Collection includes more than 120,000 published comics in addition to archival collections and ephemera, mini-comics and zines, cartoons in historic magazines, and a modest amount of original comic art. Secondary sources from the collection focus on research about comics. Primary source collection strengths emphasize alternative and independent titles, underground comix, drawn books and Modern Age comics, as well as materials that document the history of comic book culture, fandom and the creative process behind comic book production. Special attention is paid to collecting works that celebrate diversity, document the human condition and shed light on issues of social justice. Included in our holdings are the life’s work of American comic book author and cartoonist, Donna Barr, and the J. Gordon Melton Vampire Collection, which includes more than 10,000 comic books featuring vampires.

Ted Adams & Robbie Robbins IDW Founders Collection

The Ted Adams & Robbie Robbins IDW Founders Collection contains every publication, including unreleased titles, from IDW and its imprints.

J. Gordon Melton Vampire Collection

Dr. J. Gordon Melton is a Distinguished Professor of American Religious History at Baylor University’s Institute for Studies in Religion in Waco, Texas. The comics portion of his collection includes more than 10K titles.

Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum; contact: Wendy Pflug, Curator for Collections/Associate Professor, pflug.9@osu.edu

The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum is the largest and most comprehensive academic research facility documenting printed cartoon art. It functions as an archive, a research library, and a museum. The collection contains extensive collection of original cartoon art, comic books, magazines, journals, books, graphic novels, correspondence and archives, along with newspaper comic clippings, sections, and tearsheets. Materials date from the 1700s to present day.

Contact: Andrew Lippert, Special Collections Processing Archivist, andrew.lippert@ucr.edu

Eaton Collection of Science Fiction and Fantasy

The Eaton Collection of Science Fiction & Fantasy is one of the world’s largest, richest, and deepest collections of science fiction, fantasy, horror, utopian literature and related genres. Included in the Eaton collection is a sizeable contingent of comics, manga, and anime, totaling approximately 55,000 items amounting to nearly 850 linear feet of materials. The majority of the comics cover the mid- and late-20th century, representing both the big publishers (Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, Image, Vertigo, etc.) as well as small or indie publishers (Fantagraphics, Oni Press, Innovative, Les Humanoïdes Associés, etc.). We continue to collection comics, with an emphasis on works from BIPOC and LGBTQIA creators and communities.

Fred Patten Collection on Science Fiction and Animation

This collection contains materials created and collected by Fred Patten, best known for his involvement in the Science Fiction fan community and work as an historian in the Anime, Manga, and Furry fandoms. The primary focus of this collection is on Science Fiction, Animation, Anime, Manga, Furry fandom, and related genres. Materials include fliers, posters, programs, progress reports, press clippings, audio/video recordings, toys, clothing, and other material.

Stu Shiffman papers

Stu Shiffman was an artist in the science fiction and fantasy community during the 20th century. He was best known for his funny animals and furry cartooning. This collection includes original cartoon art by Stu Shiffman.

Suzy Covey Comic Book Collection; contact: Steve Hersh, Public Services Assistant, special@uflib.ufl.edu

The Suzy Covey Comic Book Collection directly supports the Comic Studies Program offered by the Department of English at the University of Florida, but its holdings are open to all having an interest in the field. The collection is useful for those interested in the history and development of sequential art formats, particularly in the United States and includes original and reprint comic books, strips, caricatures and related items. The collection holds items from every recognized “Age” of comics as well as every genre, including daily humor strips and political satire as well as superhero, funny animal, and underground comics.

South Asian Comics Collection; contact: Mara L. Thacker, South Asian Studies & Global Popular Culture Librarian, Associate Professor, mthacker@illinois.edu, 217-300-5717

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign collects South Asian comics, including graphic novels, single-issue [“floppy”’] comics, comic strips, original comic art, digital comics, mini-comics, or other comics-related material. The library also collects related research studies on South Asian graphic novels, as well as works inspired by them, such as video adaptations. The majority of the collection comprises Indian comics in English and selected vernacular languages, especially Hindi, Tamil, and Bengali. The collection also includes comics from Pakistan and Bangladesh in English, Urdu, and Bengali, and a limited number of comics from Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bhutan.

Latin American Comic Zines and Comics; contact: Peter Balestrieri, Curator of Popular Culture, peter-balestrieri@uiowa.edu

This collection is made up of Latin American comics and comic zines.

Mazinbiige Indigenous Graphic Novels Collection; contact: Lyle Ford, Senior Lead, Indigenous Engagement, lyle.ford@umanitoba.ca

Mazinbiige Indigenous Graphic Novels Collection was created in 2013. It has been used to support Indigenous graphic novel courses taught at University of Manitoba and provide students with resources to explore Indigenous stories. The collection is comprised of approximately 300 items held in the Elizabeth Dafoe Library.

Contact: Marian Toledo Candelaria, Head of Special Collections & Rare Books, m.toledocandelaria@missouri.edu, 573-882-3755

Comic Art Collection

The Comic Art Collection specializes in underground comic books, graphic novels, and published reprints of classic comic strips and cartoons. Holdings include Marvel and DC Comics, manga, zines, and comics by Missouri creators. Special Collections also maintains a core reference collection on comics, including price guides, encyclopedias, and scholarly publications. The collection contains over 13,000 catalogued comic books, journals, and monographs.

Allen C. Bluedorn Comic Collection

The collection consists of microform copies of Golden Age era comic books dating from 1920 to 1959. It was donated in 1991 by Allen C. Bluedorn, former faculty at the University of Missouri.

Bonnet-Brown Comic Art Syndicate Collection

The Bonnet-Brown Comic Art Syndicate of Chicago is believed to have published eleven strips, cartoons, and other features from December 5, 1932, through April 24, 1933. Published strips, cartoons, and features by various comic strip artists of the 1930s, including Burne Hogarth, V.T. Hamlin, Leon A. Beroth, Ken Reynolds and Art Helfant. It includes microform of photocopies of The Waynesboro News-Virginian newspaper, 1932-1933. The comics featured are “It’s Possible,” “Ivy Hemmanhaw Says,” “Bellboy 13,” “Alley Oop,” “The Adventures of Tom, Dick and Harry,” “Smokie,” “Luke Barker Says,” Editorial Cartoon, “Odd-But-True Inventions,” “Chucky,” as well as a few other features.

Edgar Everett Martin Papers, 1926-1972; 1935-

Edgar Everett (“Abe”) Martin (1898-1960) is the creator of “Boots and Her Buddies,” which was introduced as a daily comic strip on February 18, 1924. The Edgar E. Martin Collection I contains information about Edgar E. Martin and “Boots and Her Buddies,” including original comic strips from 1942-1959, selected clippings of the strip, and articles from the same period. The Edgar E. Martin Collection II contains materials that have been added since the Martin I collection was placed on deposit in 1991 and 1992.

Editorial Cartoons Syndicate Proofs Collection, 1970-1998

Currently includes works from the Cartoonists & Writers’ Syndicate, North America Syndicate, Inc., and United Feature Syndicate. The collection includes works by the following illustrators: Dani Aguila, Rex Babin, Scott Bateman, Clay Bennett, John Branch, Gary Brookins, Brian Duffy, Ed Gamble, David M. Hitch, David Horsey, Jimmy Margulies, Joel Pett, Bruce Plante, Mike Ritter, Margaret Scott, Kevin Siers, Ann Telnaes, John Trever, Wright, and Clyde Wells.

Frank Stack Papers, 1957-

The collection contains material published from Frank Stack’s college days, through the early underground comic book period and to the publication of “Our Cancer Year” in 1995. There is an extensive collection of letters from Gilbert Shelton, William Helmer, the Rip Off Press, and others. “Continuities” by Harvey Pekar for which Stack prepared art work are in the collection. Includes copies and originals of articles from newspapers, student circulars, and periodicals about Frank Stack and (his pen name) Foolbert Sturgeon. The bulk of the materials are correspondence with co-workers, comics associates, students and publishing companies.

George Fett Original Cartoons

The collection includes comic strip proofs from artist George Fett (1920-1989) for “Sniffy,” later named “Little No-No and Sniffy,” which eventually became “Norbert.” The contents of the collection date between 1973 and 1977.

John Tinney McCutcheon Collection of Editorial Cartoons

John Tinney McCutcheon (1870-1949) is often referred to as “the Dean of Cartoonists” and is best known for his political and satirical work. The majority of the items in this collection are original pen and ink cartoons drawn for the Chicago Tribune from 1903 to 1944. These editorial cartoons focus on social issues, economics, politics, and both World Wars. The collection also contains illustrations drawn for Cosmopolitan from 1912 to 1926, many of which accompanied the humorous stories by George Ade in his collection entitled “Fables in Slang.” Reproductions of some of McCutcheon’s more popular cartoons, and some original pen and ink drawings are also included in the collection.

Miss Mizzou Collection

Newspapers, magazines, calendars, bookmarks, comics, photographs of material focusing on Miss Mizzou, a character created by cartoonist Milton Caniff and used in his popular Steve Canyon comic strip. Also included is The Complete Steve Canyon live action DVDs, 1958/1959, Volumes 1 and 2, and the Steve Canyon Special Edition DVD original 1958 live action TV series. Also references to cartoonist and author J.B. Winter’s book Miss Mizzou: A Life Beyond Comics, published August 13, 2014. Material covers roughly the years 1951-2015.

Missouri Creators Comic Collection

The Missouri Creators Comics Collection includes graphic novels, zines, mini-comics, and comic books created by Missouri residents. There are 243 resources currently listed in the collection.

Mort Walker Collection, 1946-2001

The focus of the collection is on Mort Walker’s visit to the University of Missouri in 1992 as a Scholar-in-Residence. A highlight of the visit was the unveiling of a bronze statue of Beetle Bailey. Prior to that occasion Walker donated original cartoons, animation cels, books, lithographs and posters to the University of Missouri Libraries. Newspaper articles about the visit are in the collection. Additionally, original cartoons donated by Jean Walker are in the collection. Also included are reproductions of Walker’s work for Showme in 1946 and 1947. Showme was a humor magazine produced by students of the University of Missouri for which Walker served as art editor and editor.

Ralph Barton Collection

Caricature drawings of artist Ralph Barton, containing copies of work he did for newspapers, various theater and entertainment magazines and periodicals, such as Puck, The New Yorker, Collier’s, Photoplay, Vanity Fair, Judge, and Harper’s Bazaar. Also, his illustrations in one of the most popular books of the 1920s, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. The work covers c.1908 to the 1930s. With some reproductions in articles, 1981, 1983,1986.

Underground Comics Syndicate Proofs Collection

The collection consists of a sample of underground comics published by Rip Off Press, and includes the work of comic artists Ted Richards, Frank Stack (Foolbert Sturgeon), Dave Sheridan, Gilbert Shelton, Harry Driggs (R. Diggs), Bill Griffith, J. Michael Leonard, Sheridan Anderson, Larry Gonick, and Joel Beck. Materials in the collection date from 1976-1978.

V. T. Hamlin Collections

The V.T. Hamlin Collections contain materials about Alley Oop, a long-running comic strip created in 1931. The collection contains examples of Hamlin’s work from high school until the end of his career, including earlier cartoon work. It also includes works by and about Hamlin’s Alley Oop successors, Dave Graue and Jack Bender. The materials span from 1932 to the present.

Contact: Richard Graham, Professor of Libraries, rgraham7@nebraska.edu

Dan F. and Barbara J. Howard Collection of Comic Art

Dan Franklin Howard, emeritus professor of art at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, was a renowned artist, personal friend of Will Eisner, and collector of original comic art. This diverse range of 126 comic art pieces are in the permanent collection of the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery on the UN-L campus.

Government Comics Collection

This collection contains materials produced by various government agencies, with a majority from the United States, but includes various items from states, the U.N. and others.

Educational Comics Collection

This collection contains materials often designated as promotional or giveaway comics, with an educational intent or by an educational entity, including assessment and curriculum items.

Political Comics Collection

This collection contains materials often designated as promotional or giveaway comics, with a political intent or by a political entity.

Malcolm Ater Collection

Malcolm Ater produced comic books for politicians, government agencies, and commercial industries through his company Commercial Comics, Inc. This collection includes those comics, as well as letters with clients such as George Wallace, scripts, and original art. Physical materials are kept at West Virginia University Libraries.

Comic Arts Collection; contact: Sarah Scarr, Arts Collections Curator, scarrse@vcu.edu

The Comic Arts Collection at VCU consists of comic books and comic arts related materials from the late 19th century to the present, including 19th century humor magazines, early 20th century comics publications, Underground Comix, original art, manuscript collections, minicomics, Tijuana Bibles, fanzines, and comic art and popular culture reference periodicals. The collection is the repository for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards. Notable manuscript collections include the papers of M. Thomas Inge and Charles Vess. The collection grows annually; development emphasizes incorporating underrepresented voices, marginalized perspectives, and civil rights and social justice themes.

Dowd Illustration Research Archive; contact: Andrea Degener, Curator of the Dowd Illustration Research Archive, andread@wustl.edu

The Dowd Illustration Research Archive is comprised of original art and printed material from many fields of popular pictorial, graphic and material culture. The artwork in the collections largely consists of pieces created specifically for commercial purposes like popular magazines, newspapers, comic books, advertisements, animations, books, and calendars. The archive also holds objects, such as toys and games, that are relevant to popular culture. Altogether, the archive supports the serious study of visual culture.