Showing posts with label Library of Congress. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Library of Congress. Show all posts

Sunday, December 31, 2023

Happy New Year from ComicsDC (during the New Gilded Age)

 Happy New Year from ComicsDC! as the story remains the same over a century later - only the names at the table change.

 
  • New Year's eve at the hotel prosperity / Kep.
  • -  Caption: The Head Waiter Sorry, sir, but all our tables are reserved.
  • -  Illus. in: Puck, v. 66, no. 1713 (1909 December 29), centerfold.
  • https://www.loc.gov/resource/ppmsca.27593/

Summary

  • Illustration shows waiters Joseph G. Cannon and James S. Sherman turning away a man labeled "Average Citizen" and a woman at the "Hotel Prosperity" dining room because all the tables have been reserved; there are signs on the tables that read "Reserved for Wool Interests, Reserved for Coal Trust, Reserved for Steel Trust, Reserved for Senator Aldrich and Party, Reserved for Cold Storage Interests, Reserved for Sugar Trust, Reserved for Ice Trust, [and] Reserved for Franchise Grabbers".

Names

  • Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956, artist

Created / Published

  • N.Y. : Published by Keppler & Schwarzmann, Puck Building, 1909 December 29.
 

Wednesday, December 27, 2023

Sunday, December 24, 2023

Merry Christmas from Mike and ComicsDC!

from Puck Christmas 1896 / C.J. Taylor. Puck, v. 40, no. 1031, (1896 December 9), cover. 

Courtesy of Library of Congress at https://www.loc.gov/item/2012648493/
 

Sunday, December 17, 2023

War comics in LOC's serials exhibit case

 Library of Congress's serials division houses the comic book collection, and they usually have a small exhibit case right inside the entrance where people come for their library cards. This month's is on war and Christmas and there are two comic books in the case along with other publications. One is a Sgt Rock comic, and the other is the Dogs of War graphic novel.

Friday, December 08, 2023

Passengers aboard an American airliner - who are reading comic strips in 1941 UPDATED

Passengers aboard an American airliner. Photo by John Collier, Jr., 1941 Dec. //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/fsa.8c33775
 
It's a Sunday comic section, and she has a second part on her lap. I can't make out what the strip she's reading is though. Any thoughts?

 
My friend, the Portuguese comics historian Leonardo de Sa, identified it, "I believe that's "Out Our Way." It should be the November 30, 1941 Sunday. Here it is, as published the following day in The Tacoma Times:" https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88085187/1941-12-01/ed-1/seq-14/
 
As you can see from the the page, it's from when it had transitioned into being "The Willets."
 

Wednesday, November 01, 2023

Georgia Higley, "America's comic book librarian," retires from Library of Congress

by Mike Rhode

I don't know if anyone actually ever called her "America's comic book librarian," but someone should have.

On October 31, 2023, Georgia Higley retired from the Library of Congress (LOC) where she had worked for 33 years upon joining the staff as a library intern in 1990. Georgia had been in charge of the Newspapers and Current Periodicals division and had overseen the rebuilding, strengthening, and spotlighting of one of the largest comic book collections in the world and possibly the largest in America. The website for the collection calls it, "The largest publicly available comic book collection in the world is comprised of over 165,000 original print issues and 12,000 different titles that span 1934-present."

The following bullet points about her career were initially pulled from the LOC's internal newsletter The Gazette (January 30, 2004) and updated by one of her colleagues:

  • Began her career at the Library of Congress on September 4, 1990.
  • Served in varying capacities: intern, reference librarian, automated reference service specialist, acting head of Reference Section, co-founder of the LOC Reference Forum, trustee for the LOC Professional Association Continuing Education Fund, section head of Newspaper and finally newly reorganized Physical Collections Services Section
  • Headed the Newspaper Section from 2004 to 2020.
  • In 2020 appointed head of the Physical Collections Services Section – a combined section of newspapers, government documents and current periodicals, responsible for acquiring, preserving and serving physical collections of the division.
  • Significant force behind the expansion and preservation of the comic book collection in the early 2000s through today.

While Georgia was running the section that collected comics, in 2011 the Library and the Small Press Expo (SPX) began to work together to ensure the preservation of America's alternative and mini comics through a cooperative program that saw LOC librarians fanning out throughout the SPX exhibit floor and asking cartoonists to donate copies of their works. Those works were then added to a Small Press Expo collection (actually two - one of comic books, and one of original art, prints, and ephemera) at the Library. As of this writing 3,345 comics have been cataloged. The project is the work of scores of people, but Georgia has been one of the mainstays of it.

When asked about her plans at her recent retirement party, Georgia said that she might volunteer for SPX in the future, but in the meantime she would be working on cleaning out an old shed falling apart in her backyard. We wish her well in both of those endeavors. 
 
 


 
The comic book collection remains open for research and the division is currently being overseen by longtime comic book reference librarian Megan Halsband. 


This article has been posted simultaneously to the ComicsDC and International Journal of Comic Art blogs.

Tuesday, August 08, 2023

Finding Comic Books and Newspapers at the 2023 National Book Festival

(updated with Sara Shepard)

Finding Comic Books and Newspapers at the 2023 National Book Festival

August 8, 2023

Posted by: Malea Walker

 https://blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2023/08/finding-comic-books-and-newspapers-at-the-2023-national-book-festival/

This year's National Book Festival will take place on August 12, 2023, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Every year we are treated to the opportunity of seeing some our favorite authors and creators at the National Book Festival. The Festival also includes tables and pavilions with fun activities and giveaways. This year you will be able to learn more about the Library's collections of comic books and newspapers at the Library of Congress Pavilion, and hear from some incredible authors and artists at the six other stages. Don't miss your chance to see these presentations at the National Book Festival!

 
Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden greets visitors on the expo floor at the National Book Festival, September 1, 2018. Photo by Shawn Miller/Library of Congress.

At the Library of Congress Pavilion, Hall DE (Level 2, North Building)

Comics Come Alive! 10:15am-10:45am

"Did you know that the Library of Congress has one of the largest publicly accessible comic book collections in the world? Come see some highlights from the comic book collection and share your interests!"

How Sara Shepard Made a Best Friend 10:20 am - 10:45 am EDT 

  • Fifth grade is full of surprises: good, bad, silly, weird—you name it. The first installment of a new middle grade series, Sara Shepard’s “Penny Draws a Best Friend External” follows young Penny Lowry as she navigates changing friendships, a family secret and her feelings of anxiety. Moderated by Carolyn Belefski.

Finding LGBTQIA+ Hidden History 11:45am-12:15pm

"Historic newspapers are a rich yet often overlooked resource when it comes to studying LGBTQIA+ history. This presentation provides recommended search tips and strategies, focusing primarily on the kinds of unique resources that can be found in our Chronicling America historic newspaper collection."

In addition to these presentations, you can find a table with more information about Chronicling America* and other historic newspaper collections staffed by librarians from the Newspaper & Current Periodical Reading Room. Our staff will be happy to help demonstrate search and browse features, and answer your questions.

And don't miss your chance for some hands-on creation of your own at our Zine table!

Logo created for "Library of Awesome" pop-up exhibit, June 2017.

Comic Book and Graphic Novel Presentations

Me, My Story, My Pictures with Jarrett J. Krosoczka and Pedro Martín, Discovery Stage, 11:40am-12:10pm

"What's it like to not only divulge the details of your life but also draw them for everyone to see?! Jarret J. Krosoczka's "Sunshine" follows his experience working at a camp for terminally ill children. "Mexikid" tracks Pedro Martín's journeys to Mexico to visit his grandfather. Through memorable text and art, we know more about these writers—and maybe ourselves. Moderated by Kahîn Mohammad."

What If?: Time Travel, Supervillains and Other Everyday Things with Jamar Nicholas and Nisi Shawl, Discovery Stage, 1:05pm-1:35pm

"What happens when magic becomes your everyday? Set in a world where superheroes and ordinary people coexist, Jamar Nicholas' graphic novel "Leon the Extraordinary" follows superpower-less Leon's mission to save his fifth grade class from an app that turns them into zombies. In Nisi Shawl's "Speculation," 10-year-old Winna embarks on a quest to break a family curse using wish-granting spectacles. Moderated by Megan Halsband."

Alan Gratz. Photo credit: Courtesy of the author.

Captain America and Alan Gratz: What More Do You Need? Discovery Stage, 2:30pm-2:55pm

"A human, a sidekick and a captain. What more do you need to become a superhero? Alan Gratz brings us a World War II adventure featuring Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes up against an army of undead ghosts in "Captain America: The Ghost Army." Hear Gratz talk about superheroes and the real United States Ghost Army unit. Moderated by The Washington Post's David Betancourt."

Drawing Yaqui Delgado with Meg Medina and Mel Valentine Vargas, Discovery Stage, 3:10pm-4:10pm

"How do you add faces to characters you've never seen? Is it hard to draw a beloved novel? In this program artist Mel Valentine Vargas is joined by National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Meg Medina. Together they will share how they transformed Medina's "Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass" into this new graphic novel adaptation. Moderated by Monica Valentine."

Monday, July 10, 2023

Greg Bennett collection of cartoon drawings at Library of Congress

Greg Bennett may have sold his share of Big Planet Comics and decamped to Northern Europe, but part of him remains here... at the Library of Congress. Most of these pictured are from SPX when Greg was more involved in organizing it. The Stan Sakai might have been done at a signing at the store, and I don't recognize Mike Luce at all, but I remember most of the others. Whatever happened to Joe Chiapetta anyway? Reference photos are by Sara Duke.

Bryan Talbot

Craig Thompson

Jonathan Ames by Dean Haspiel

Bacchus by Eddie Campbell

Farel Dalrymple, The Wrenchies,

Jeff Smith

Jessica Abel

Joe Chiapetta

Jhonen C. Vasquez's Squee

Jon Lewis

Metaphrog

Mike Luce

Ronja Berge from Tusj magazine, Norway

Stan Sakai

Unknown Mexican cartoonist

[The Greg Bennett collection of cartoon drawings]

Published/Created

  • [between 1992 and 2020]

More Information

Description

  • 41 items ; sheets 61 x 46 cm and smaller.

Rights advisory

Access advisory

LC classification

  • Unprocessed in PR 13 CN 2023:074

Contents

  • 1. Darick W. Robertson, Damned space beavers, 2002, ink drawing; -- 2. Mark Burrier, [Underground pool], stamped Sep 23 2009, ink drawing; -- 3. Nick Bertozzi (artist), Bill Weaver (writer), Incredible drinkiN' buddies versus postmodernism, ©1998, 6 ink drawings; -- 4. [Drawing of man playing guitar flying over another man], graphite on tracing paper; -- 5. Brett Warnock, Cherry poppin' daddies, © 1992, porous point pen drawing; -- 6. Jon Lewis (writer and penciler), Dave Nothing (inker), and Jeff Mason, letterer, Veiled phantom, 5 drawings; -- 7. Thom Hartigan, [Sea captain], 9/17/97, porous point pen drawing; -- 8. Dean Haspiel, [Yellow man wearing suit jacket], 2008, watercolor and charcoal; -- 9. Jessica Abel, [Four people reading comics, perhaps SPX promotional art], 2007, ink drawing; -- 10. Joe Chiapetta, [Young child clutching crayons and drawing], 1992, ink wash drawing; -- 11. Pete Sickman-Garner, Hey, Mister comics #4, [1998], porous point pen drawing; -- 12. Tom Scioli, Philip K Dick Total recall, [between 2001 and 2020], porous point pen drawing; -- 13. Nick Bertozzi, Living with Dean [Haspiel], 1998, porous point pen on envelope; -- 14. Matt Wagner, For Greg [Robot lifting off into space], colored pencil, porous point pen on black paper; -- 15. G., [Four panel vertical drawing featuring a turtle, rabbit, and a fox, as well as a dachshund wearing "policia secreta"], ink drawing; -- 16. Hurricane Lamps, [between 1999 and 2004], ink and blue pencil drawing; -- 17. Tom Hart, Is that all of them?, 1998, ink and tonal film overlay drawing (w/letter); -- 18. [Comic about music in English and Danish, 5 out of 7 drawings], 5 drawings, watercolor, ink, and graphite with overlays; -- 19. Jeff Smith, [Presentation drawing featuring characters from Bone] [2013?], porous point pen drawing; -- 20. Brian Talbot, [Presentation drawing featuring a woman with her hair tied up and wearing a red hat], 2000, watercolor and ink drawing; -- 21. Jhonen C. Vasquez, [Presentation drawing featuring the character Squee], porous point pen drawing; -- 22. Stan Sakai [Japanese-American artist], [Presentation drawing featuring the character Miyamoto Usagi from the series Usagi Yojimbo], 2000, porous point pen drawing accompanied by letter; -- 23. John Chalmers and Sandra Marrs aka Metaphrog, [Presentation drawing featuring a turtle and a bee], 2001 watercolor and ink drawing; -- 24. Callum Campbell, [Presentation drawing featuring an insect-like creature], 2001 crayon and charcoal drawing; -- 25. Farel Dalrymple, Petite investigator gets in this sheet, [ca. 2013] watercolor and ink drawing accompanied by letter; -- 26. [Five design drawings for a mini comic cover] 5 ink wash and graphite drawings, some with blue pencil; -- 27. [J. J. Liu?], [Rat or guinea pig], 1997 porous point pen drawing; -- 28. Eddie Campbell, Eddie Campbell's Bacchus [2002?] porous point pen and opaque white drawing; -- 29. Mike Luce, [Drawings for and of iron, includes letter and illustrated envelope, 1997 ink and porous point pen drawings; -- 30. Jim Woodring, Small Press Expo 2011, 2011, 1 print accompanied by envelope; -- 31. Farel Dalrymple, The Wrenchies, [ca. 2014], 1 print; -- 32. Hope Larson, Salamander dream, [2005] risograph print accompanied by sticker; -- 33. Paul Pope, Pulphope, [2021?] photomechanical print on mount; -- 34. [Hurricane lamps logo design], [between 1999 and 2004], photocopy with ballpoint inscription; -- 35. John Chalmers and Sandra Marrs aka Metaphrog, [Character facing window in bedroom with robot Comforter] 17/50 photomechanical print; -- 36. Primal Groove Press, So distinctly Top Shelf, © 1996, photomechanical print; -- 37. Brian Biggs, Topshelf on parade, 1998, screenprint; -- 38. John Chalmers and Sandra Marrs aka Metaphrog, [Woman lying on bed] photomechanical print; -- 39. The first ever AdHouse patch, embroidery mounted on photomechanical print; -- 40. Craig Thompson, Neil Gaiman The last angel, [2000] screenprint; -- 41. Mike Zulli, Neil Gaiman The guardian angel tour, © 1994, offset lithograph, 2 variants

Browse by shelf order

Notes

  • This catalog record contains preliminary data.
  • Title devised by Library staff.

Acquisition source

  • Gift; Greg Bennett; 2023; (DLC/PP-2023:074).

LCCN

  • 2023631531  

Copyright cartoon images from Library of Congress (UPDATED)

Comics historian Warren Bernard has been volunteering at the Library of Congress for years to help them catalog their editorial collections. Now he's identifying artists in the Copyright collection. Through the official exchange program at the Library of Congress, available to any qualifying institution, duplicate material not retained by the Library has been delivered to Columbia University's Butler Library and the Norman Rockwell Museum. Here's some images of some of the early 20th century cartoon material.

Sara Duke states that researchers can always make appointments in the Prints & Photographs Division to see the items the Library retained, as not everything had duplicates. Selections will be digitized when the project is complete. "I can say on behalf of the archivist and myself, we’re thrilled that duplicate material is making its way into other institutions, where researchers who might not have access to travel to Washington will be able to consult it."






Sykes was a major Philadelphia cartoonist and this may have been for a billboard.

Edelweiss Beer hired French for an ad campaign. A lot of these joke tropes survived for a hundred years.


Warren notes John McCutcheon's influence in the art, and the dog device.

A pool hall campaign by cartoonist Chapin:

Bud Fisher, Bob Edgren, and Rube Goldberg testimonials: