Showing posts sorted by date for query mcintire. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by date for query mcintire. Sort by relevance Show all posts

Wednesday, January 01, 2025

Comic Arts Deaths in 2024

 This will be updated as notices continue to come in. The list is an annual feature of the Comics Research Bibliography. Links to obituaries or information on most of these creators can be found in CRB posts here throughout the past year. Updates are marked with *

Deaths in 2024 (with thanks to Bruce Guthrie’s Wikipedia mining, Ramin Zahed’s Animation Magazine list, *DD Degg’s Daily Cartoonist list,)  ) included *Lima Ohio’s monthly water bill cartoonist David Adams, Platinum Age comics scholar John Adcock, Thomas Nast biographer John Adler, Shamsuddin H. Akib aka Sham of Singapore, comic collector and Overstreet advisor Bill Alexander, Palestinian artist/cartoonist Mahasen al-Khateeb, *Thomas the Tank Engine producer Britt Allcroft,  Brazilian comic artist  Walmir Amaral, British comics consultant Irving Anderson, Hinako Arishara, Yū Asai, Italian comic book artist Sergio Asteriti, Graphic Policy podcaster Steven Attewell, G. Fawzi Baghdadli, Henson Shop creative supervisor David Barrington-Holt, shop owner Adam Barsa, Dan Dare fanzine “Spaceship Away” founder Rod Barzilay, Wildstorm editor Sarah Becker, animator and animation teacher Howard Beckerman, comic book dealer and historian Bob Beerbohm, American animator Peter Bennett, *comic book store worker and ICv2 columnist Steve Bennett, sports and editorial cartoonist Phil Bissell, occasional comics writer Terry Bisson, Sam Blanchard aka Shlepzig, Joyce Brabner, Jacques Bredy, Mark D. Bright, Chance Browne, animator Jan Browning, ‘Backyardigans’ creator Janice Burgess, British colorist John Michael Burns, British animator Emma Calder, Filipino comics artist Carlo J. Caparas, John Cassaday, Italian comics writer and historian Alfredo Castelli, Sergio Bonelli Editore secretary Ornella Castellini, Swiss cartoonist Daniel Ceppi, Marvel Studios art director and production designer Ray Chan, Pierre Christin, British comic artist Andrew Chiu, British comics writer Richmond Clements, co-founder of Bardon - a Barcelona-London comics artists agency Barry Coker, 1950s editorial and sports cartoonist Alex Cook, British comics writer Roger Noel Cook, Canadian animator Curtis James Crawford, British advertising comic Signal artist Roy Cross, *Tidalwave Comics writer Scott Davis, voice actor Diane Delano, Jose Delbo, Swiss animator Étienne Delessert, French comics artist Fred Dewilde, Scott Donaldson the inspiration for Bananaman, Starhead Comix and Brownfield Press publisher Michael Dowers, animation artist Shigeko Doyle, animation background designer Maurice Edwards, editorial cartoonist Tom Engelhardt, Jerry Fearing, comic book cover painter Max Fellwalker, Charlie Hebdo webmaster Simon Fieschi, animation background artist Martin Forte, cartoonist and animator Bob Foster, Ramona Fradon, newspaper cartoonist Charles Fredrick, Italian cartoonist Massimiliano Frezzato, Oregon cartoonist Bill Friday, art collector Keif Fromm, Disney animation manager Randy Fukuda, Verotika #9 single issue comic book writer Ray Garton, Disney technical director Christopher W. Gee, *British comics fan Kenny Gibson, Peter Gillis, French cartoonist Christian Godard, animator Brad Goodchild, Ripley’s Believe It or Not artist John Graziano, Adirondack Daily Enterprise cartoonist Phil “Bunk” Griffin, Marvel and DC marketing & licensing executive Francine Grillo, stop motion animator Mark Gustafson, editorial cartoonist Ed Hall, Superman Museum founder Jim Hambrick, Swedish editorial cartoonist Riber Hansson, British socialist cartoonist Alan Hardman, British cartoonist Merrily Harpur, TV animation writer Reid Harrison, anime voice narrator Doc Harris, co-founder of the D.C. Conspiracy Art Haupt, British comic book artist Jon Haward, voice actor and director Dan Hennessey, editorial cartoonist Jack Higgins, Greg Hildebrandt, animation effects and visual development artist Sean Pin Ho, gag cartoonist Wayne Horne, anime and game artist Mutsumi Inomata, African American cartoonist Tim Jackson, animator Jean-Guy Jacques, Heritage Auction vice president Ed Jaster, Galaxy Of Comics comic book store founder Warren Jaycox, Yakari co-creator Job aka André Jobin, Boston Globe sports cartoonist Larry Johnson, André Juillard, Belgian colorist Dina Kathelyn, Disney layout artist Karen Keller, Congolese cartoonist Yves Kulondwa alias Kayene, David Kunzle, pioneering Japanese indie animator Yōji Kuri, Michael Leunig, Washington Post architectural cartoonist Roger K. Lewis, voice actor Rachael Lillis, voice actress Morgan Lofting, colorist Tom Luth, editorial cartoonist Bob Lynch, Simpsons’ Spanish-language voice actor Nancy MacKenzie, British cartoonist Ed MacLachlan, Playboy cartoonist Don Madden, Peter Maddocks, Spanish cartoonist Martí aka Martí Riera Ferrer, Japanese voice actor Taiki Matsuno, Fantagraphics book designer Ryan McCardle, English cartoonist Ed McLachlan, National Lampoon and Mad writer Brian McConnachie, Maryland fan historian Stuart McIntire, animation producer John McKenna, animator Bob McKnight, Disney animation painter Harlene Mears, animation sculptor Kent Melton, Scottish cartoonist John G. Miller, CG animator Mike Milne, animation model designer and storyboard artist David Mink, Canadian animation layout artist Chris Minz (aka Dr. Minz), Bernie Mireault, Canadian editorial cartoonist Ron Moffatt, Karl Moline, animator Don Moore, Razor comic book writer James A. Moore, South African comic book artist Karl Mostert, *manga scholar Tomohiko Murakami, Japanese voice actor Yasuo Muramatsu, writer of “The Girl Who Sang” Estelle Nadel, Israeli web cartoonist Revital Bornstein known as "Navy Bird", Paul Neary, San Diego Comic-Con volunteer Clydene Nee, clay and sand stop motion animation pioneer Eli Noyes, comic book writer Wes Ochse, ‘Doraemon’ Japanese voice actress Noriko Ohara, Spanish comics artist Jose María Ortiz Tafalla (aka Jaimie Ortiz and J.M Ortiz), Japanese voice of Doraemon Nobuyo Oyama, the Latino Comics Expo co-founder Ricardo Padilla, animation checker Gloria Palter, *Lowell Sun sports cartoonist Leo Panas, Don Perlin, Canadian animator Don Perro, Polish animation director Andrzej Piliczewski, Ed Piskor, Marvel Comics artist Brian Postman, Comicstorian YouTuber Ben Potter, Johnny Mutton creator and animator James Proimos, voice actor Peter Renaday, Disney animation producer Daniel Ridgers, Trina Robbins, Enric Badia Romero (aka Enrique Badía Romero), Comics Journal news editor turned comics scholar John Ronan, French cartoonist Stéphane Rosse, animator Harry Sabin, Russian animation director Vladimir Samsonov, Top Cow VP Elena Salcedo, Japanese manga artist Nanae Sasaya, animator Marty Schwartz, British comics artist Dave Shephard, Disney animation music writer Richard M. Sherman, anime art director and background artist Yukihiro Shibutani, animation assistant director Adam Somner, North Dakota editorial cartoonist Steve Stark, Elena Steier, SILENCE! comics podcast host Mark Stewart aka Amy Poodle, Latvian animator Roze Stiebra, Montreal’s Librairie Astro store owner Paul Stock, British cartoonist Bill Stott, comics writer Frank Strom, animation storyboard artist Michael Swanigan, British “Black” comic autobiography writer Tobias Taitt, Haruo Takahashi, Shojo manga pioneer Macoto Takahashi, Japanese voice actress Atsuko Tanaka, Japanese comics-inspired artist Keiichi Tanaami, anime lyricist and Peanuts translator Shuntaro Tanikawa, Japanese voice actress Tarako, cartoonist turned children’s book creator Mike Thaler, Spanish cartoonist Trini Tinturé, science fiction/fantasy artist and underground/overground cartoonist Larry Todd, Akira Toriyama, *animator Mike Toth, production director for Disney Publishing Marybeth Tregarthen, Italian comic artist Giorgio Trevisan, Dutch comics artist René Uilenbroek, Japanese voice actor Hideyuki Umezu, Kazuo Umezu, Benoît van Innis, Dutch editor and StripNieuws author Peter van Leersum, comic book cover artist Jeffrey Veregge, Russian animator Marina Voskanyants, Comix Connection co-owner Bill Wahl, Toronto fan artist Taral Wayne, first Marvel UK manager Raymond Wergan, Belgian cartoonist Étienne Willem, lesbian underground cartoonist Mary Wings, editorial cartoonist Don Wright, comic book artist John Wycough, animation writer and voice actor Tom Wyner, Japanese voice actor Eiji Yanagisawa, Japanese manga artist Kazu Yuzuki, Michael Zulli …

Sunday, January 07, 2024

Comics Research Bibliography citations update, 1/6-7/2024

Seditious Amnesia: The Insurrectionists' roll call

Ann Telnaes

Open Windows Jan 6, 2024

https://anntelnaes.substack.com/p/seditious-amnesia

 

These MCU Post-Credits Scenes Are Still Waiting for a Payoff

by Michael Walsh

Dec 29 2023

https://nerdist.com/article/mcu-post-credits-scenes-without-a-payoff-or-resolution-yet-shang-chi-she-hulk-doctor-strange/

 

AIPT Comics Podcast Episode 254: Not just a toy tie-in: Joshua Williamson and Tom Reilly talk new G.I. Joe series 'Duke'

David Brooke and Nathan Simmons

December 31, 2023

https://aiptcomics.com/2023/12/31/aipt-comics-podcast-episode-254/

 

X-Men Monday #233 – Jordan D. White Reflects on 2023 and Teases 2024

Chris Hassan

December 25, 2023

https://aiptcomics.com/2023/12/25/x-men-monday-jordan-d-white-2023-2024/

 

Mickey Mouse Is Copyright-Free and the Internet Is Making the Most of It

From a teen slasher film to existential comics, people are wasting no time reimagining Steamboat Willie (1928) with often terrifying results.

  Sarah Rose Sharp January 3, 2024

https://hyperallergic.com/864923/mickey-mouse-is-copyright-free-and-the-internet-is-making-the-most-of-it/

 

RIP ATTILA FUTAKI, Artist for 'Severed,' 'Conan,' Percy Jackson Graphic Novels

Brigid Alverson on January 5, 2024

https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/55952/rip-attila-futaki

 

DC Comics Have Told Marvel That They Own Machine Man

Earlier this week, we looked at when DC Comics realised that Warner Bros. owned lots of intellectual property they could turn into comics.

 05 Jan 2024 

by Rich Johnston

 https://bleedingcool.com/comics/dc-comics-have-told-marvel-that-they-own-machine-man/

 

Gannett's Clarion Ledger Changes Comics – Updated with Indianapolis Star Changes

D. D. Degg      

https://www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2024/01/05/gannetts-clarion-ledger-changes-comics/

 

Close-Up: An Interview With Artist Beetle Moses

by James Prestridge

August 12, 2022

https://closeupculture.com/2022/08/12/close-up-an-interview-with-artist-beetle-moses/

 

[We are heartbroken to share the news that Stuart McIntire died of stomach cancer on January 6 ...]

Amy McIntire

Stuart McIntire January 6 2024

https://www.facebook.com/stuart.mcintire/posts/pfbid02crKJtC6dfW3N5m4S8hLWtBiToZhN1BMPBN8mJ6covg5EBkbe2kMD94G5MDKTFmkwl

 

Who do we think we're kidding? [Speed Bump letter]

Arthur F. Manfredi Jr.

Washington Post January 6 2024: A15.

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/01/05/john-kelly-dog-trauma-mark-rothko/

 

The tragedy of dogs treated like dogs [Mutts letter]

Janet Halpin

Washington Post January 6 2024: A15.

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/01/05/john-kelly-dog-trauma-mark-rothko/

 

These politicians denied democracy on Jan. 6. Now, they want your vote.

By Steve Brodner

Jan. 2 2024

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/interactive/2024/steve-brodner-politicians-jan-6/

 

David Mack Appreciates Reference To His Covers In Posters for Echo

Echo first appeared in Daredevil #9 in 1999, co-created by the writer David Mack (who also did the covers), Joe Quesada and Jimmy Palmiotti.

06 Jan 2024

by Rich Johnston

https://bleedingcool.com/comics/david-mack-appreciates-reference-to-his-covers-in-posters-for-echo/

 

Scott Snyder On The First Panel Of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns

Frank Miller, Klaus Janson and Lynne Varley recreated superhero comics with Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and is still teaching lessons.

06 Jan 2024   by Rich Johnston

https://bleedingcool.com/comics/scott-snyder-on-the-first-panel-of-batman-the-dark-knight-returns/

 

Marvel Comics Tried To Get Jim Lee To Take Over X-Men, After Krakoa

In the new Robservations podcast, Rob Liefeld shares some gossip that Jim Lee came close to returning to the X-Men comic books last year.

5 Jan 2024

by Rich Johnston

https://bleedingcool.com/comics/marvel-comics-tried-to-get-jim-lee-to-take-over-x-men-after-krakoa/

 

Value Over Replacement Batman

Does Batman sell Batman? Or is it more complicated than that? Let's find out, as we answer some good ol' fashioned Bat-Questions.

By David Harper

April 5, 2022

https://sktchd.com/longform/value-over-replacement-batman/

 

"It's a Period of Change for the Industry": Publishers Discuss the Direct Market Environment and How They're Managing It

By David Harper

January 4, 2024

https://sktchd.com/longform/publisher-feature-2024/

Saturday, January 06, 2024

Stuart McIntire of Maryland Funnybook Fandom has passed away

Stuart McIntire, owner of the Facebook group, "Maryland Funnybook Fandom" has passed away. Stu was a font of knowledge about area cartoonists, and his passing will be a big loss to the community. His wife Amy has posted a note on his personal FB page that he died in hospice of stomach cancer.

I didn't know Stu well enough to write anything more personal, or even professional, but I hope to get someone who did write a formal obituary for ComicsDC. Stu wrote a few articles and comments for us here at ComicsDC.
 
With permission of his family, here's the note from his Facebook page:
 
We are heartbroken to share the news that Stuart McIntire died of stomach cancer on January 6, though we are grateful that he was comfortable at home and surrounded by most of his favorite people. He was only 65 years old.
 
Stu and his beloved wife Amy were inseparable since their first date over 45 years ago. He was the biggest fan of his three children and their partners: Katie & Vann Crucillo, Sarah & Joe Garifo, and Kevin McIntire. He got immense joy from being Papa to his five grandchildren: Molly, Steven, Asher, Logan, and Phoebe.
 
Stu loved sharing his love of Halloween, his comics collection, Universal classic monsters, the AFI Top 100, 20th-century American politics and ephemera, and making (and of course, eating) damn good barbecue. He was a gentle man: sentimental, nostalgic, playful, intelligent, creative, curious, kind, and brave.
 
Stu wants all of his family and friends to know that he loves you very much and you all touched his life in meaningful ways. He really enjoyed keeping up with all of you over the years.
 
The details of his memorial service are forthcoming. In the meantime, please give your dad a big hug and consider making a donation in Stuart’s honor to No Stomach for Cancer (nostomachforcancer.org) or the National MS Society (nationalmssociety.org).
 

Tuesday, September 06, 2022

Comics Research Bibliography citations update, 9/3-4-5/22

Diane Noomin – RIP

 by D. D. Degg

September 2, 2022

https://www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2022/09/02/diane-noomin-rip/

 

Paper Girls Sales Quadruple After Amazon Prime Video TV Show

 September 2, 2022

by Rich Johnston

https://bleedingcool.com/comics/paper-girls-sales-quadruple-after-amazon-prime-video-tv-show/

 

Rob Liefeld Vs. Mike Carlin Over Hawk & Dove From 1988

September 3, 2022

by Rich Johnston

https://bleedingcool.com/comics/rob-liefeld-vs-mike-carlin-over-hawk-dove-from-1988/

 

King of Collectibles [Ted Hake]

Samantha Drake CGS'06

25 Aug 2022

https://thepenngazette.com/king-of-collectibles/

 

Warner Bros. figures it might as well cancel DC FanDome while they're at it

Like Batgirl, DC's own virtual fan event is no longer on the calendar.

Matt Schimkowitz

AV Club September 1 2022

https://www.avclub.com/warner-bros-cancels-dc-fandome-while-they-re-at-it-1849487859

 

The Persinger Scrapbook: An Esoteric and Ephemeral Cultural Artifact

 by Stu McIntire

September 05, 2022

https://comicsdc.blogspot.com/2022/09/the-persinger-scrapbook-esoteric-and.html

 

Andy Marlette & Pensacola News Journal Part Ways

by D. D. Degg

September 3, 2022

https://www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2022/09/03/andy-marlette-and-pensacola-news-journal-part/

 

Waco Tribune-Herald Replaces Comics With Puzzles

by D. D. Degg

September 4, 2022

https://www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2022/09/04/waco-tribune-herald-replaces-comics-with-puzzles/

 

Cartoonist Stephan Pastis revisited

Tom Falco

10 with Tom blog September 2, 2022

https://10withtom.com/2022/09/02/cartoonist-stephan-pastis-revisited/           

 

Masha Zhdanova Takes 2022 Locher Award

by D. D. Degg

September 2, 2022

https://www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2022/09/02/masha-zhdanova-takes-2022-locher-award/

 

'The Catholic Cartoon': This 19-year-old wants to bring a comic from Instagram to your parish bulletin [religion]

Cristobal Spielmann

August 31, 2022

https://www.americamagazine.org/arts-culture/2022/08/31/catholic-cartoon-joshua-masterson-243654

 

35 years of 'Off The Mark' [Mark Parisi]

    By Joann Mackenzie

    Sep 3, 2022

    https://www.gloucestertimes.com/news/35-years-of-off-the-mark/article_f61da2ae-2897-11ed-a6fd-db258102c13f.html

 

Sept. 2, 2022

A Genius Cartoonist Believes Child's Play Is Anything But Frivolous [Lynda Barry]

By David Marchese

Photograph by Mamadi Doumbouya

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/09/05/magazine/lynda-barry-interview.html

 

After a Climate Catastrophe, These Birds Flocked to the Moon

By Etelka Lehoczky

 

BIRDS OF MAINE, by Michael DeForge | Illustrated | 459 pp. | Drawn & Quarterly | $34.95

A version of this article appears in print on Sept. 4, 2022, Page 13 of the Sunday Book Review with the headline: Winging It.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/02/books/review/after-a-climate-catastrophe-these-birds-flocked-to-the-moon.html

 

Teaching with Comics: Empirical, Analytical, and Professional Experiences

Editors:

    Robert Aman,

    Lars Wallner

Palgrave Macmillan 2022

https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-05194-4

 

    Front Matter

    Pages i-xix

    PDF

    Introduction: Teaching with Comics: Empirical, Analytical, and Professional Experiences

        Robert Aman, Lars Wallner

    Pages 1-13

    Comics as a Tool for Inquiry

        Front Matter

        Pages 15-15

        PDF

        Breaking Boundaries: The Place of Comics in Art Education

            Clio Ding

        Pages 17-37

        The Superpowers of the Interrogative Mode

            Noran Amin

        Pages 39-62

        Comics and Social-Emotional Laughter

            Dona Pursall

        Pages 63-84

    Art Education

        Front Matter

        Pages 85-85

        PDF

        Comic Art Ed: Making Comics Is for Everyone!

            Cathy G. Johnson

        Pages 87-109

        Cartooning in Educational Contexts: A Promising Way to Promote Cross-Curricular Work with Children and Adolescents

            Ana Pedrazzini, Constanza Zinkgräf, Paola D'Adamo, Lucía Bugallo, Mariana Lozada

        Pages 111-130

        Loosening the Straight-Away of Thinking: Comic-Making as Arts Education

            Hannah Sackett

        Pages 131-150

    Language, Culture, and Communication

        Front Matter

        Pages 151-151

        PDF

        'Multi Is More': Towards Media-Awareness and Multiliteracy in the Flemish Classroom Through Italian Comics

            Eva Van de Wiele, Michel De Dobbeleer, Mara Santi

        Pages 153-169

        Astérix in Scottish National Education

            Laurence Grove

        Pages 171-184

        Developing Disciplinary Literacy Practices with Comics: Highlighting Students' Strengths, Questionings, and Knowings in School Spaces

            Ashley K. Dallacqua, Dani Kachorsky, Sara Kersten-Parrish

        Pages 185-203

        Developing Student Creativity Through the Exploration and Design of Science Comics

            Sylvia Pantaleo

        Pages 205-228

    Social Sciences

        Front Matter

        Pages 229-229

        PDF

        Using Comics to Teach East German History

            Michael F. Scholz

        Pages 231-253

        #BlackFemaleIdentityConstructions: Inserting Intersectionality and Blackness in Comics

            Grace D. Gipson

        Pages 255-276

        Materializing the Past: Teaching History Through Graphic Novels

            Zane Elward

        Pages 277-297

        Immigrant Voices and Empathy: A Guide to Transformative Listening in Ruillier's Les Mohamed

            Kirby Childress

        Pages 299-323

 

Sep 18, 2021 • 45M

A Conversation With Grant Morrison

The full audio and transcript, at last!

Jonathan Hickman

3 Worlds 3 Moons

Sep 18, 2021

https://3w3m.substack.com/p/a-conversation-with-grant-morrison#details

 

Tokyo Rose: Zero Hour and the History of Japanese Characters in Comics

Eileen Gonzalez Aug 30, 2022

https://bookriot.com/japanese-characters-in-comics/

 

Jemisin and Campbell's FAR SECTOR comes out on top at the 2022 Hugo Awards [Green Lantern]

Dean Simons

09/05/2022

https://www.comicsbeat.com/jemisin-and-campbells-far-sector-comes-out-on-top-at-the-2022-hugo-awards/

 

Emerald City Comic Con 2022: Which Creators Make Other Creators Ask, "How Are They So Good?!"

David Harper

Sep 2, 2022

SKTCHD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDpInhAak_U

 

Nailed It: Comic Artists on the Page, Panel, Cover, or Detail That Was Just Right

By David Harper

August 30, 2022

https://sktchd.com/column/nailed-it-comic-artists-on-the-page-panel-cover-or-detail-that-was-just-right/

 

Topical Reviews: From Krakow to Krypton: Jews and Comic Books and Masters of the Comic Book Universe Revealed!

Samantha Baskind

2011, Shofar: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Jewish Studies 29:2 : 165-168

https://www.academia.edu/12465298/From_Krakow_to_Krypton_Jews_and_Comic_Books_and_Masters_of_the_Comic_Book_Universe_Revealed_book_review_2_books_

 

Topical Reviews: Harvey Pekar: Conversations

Jordana Hall

2011, Shofar: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Jewish Studies 29:2 : 165-168

Online at https://www.academia.edu/12465298/From_Krakow_to_Krypton_Jews_and_Comic_Books_and_Masters_of_the_Comic_Book_Universe_Revealed_book_review_2_books_

Monday, September 05, 2022

The Persinger Scrapbook: An Esoteric and Ephemeral Cultural Artifact

 by Stu McIntire


ser·en·dip·i·ty
/ˌserənˈdipədē/
noun
the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.
"a fortunate stroke of serendipity"

Fredonia, Kansas is a small town (population <2,500) in the southeastern region of the State. It is surrounded by farmland and is an atypical representation of mid-American life... a living celebration of faith, family and community. It's the type of place where high school sports and the annual Homecoming event are a Big Deal.

A barber shop once existed on N. 6th Street, run by a gentleman named I.A. Persinger. Persinger's establishment, called The Bungalow, was approximately a block over and a block up from my grandparent's house on N. 7th Street, which was on a corner across the street from the high school.

The Bungalow was known to draw customers from at least as far away as Moline, in Elk County, some 40 miles away. That was no small thing during the Depression when resources were scarce. It was almost certainly a communal spot. While customers waited, they could peruse and write in, or sign, a delightfully unique item that Persinger created. It began as a scrapbook in which the barber collected his favorite newspaper comic strip, Wash Tubbs (Roy Crane was the creator of the strip from April 14, 1924 - May 29, 1943).

What set Persinger's Scrapbook apart from "any other" scrapbook were the notations and commentary Persinger added, along with scribblings penned by delighted customers. Persinger's Scrapbook is notable, as has been described by researchers and scholars, as a diary, almanac, and news source. Some of the comments Persinger penned read almost as quaint, humorous and poetic high school yearbook inscriptions.

This is no typical scrapbook. It tips the scales at some 35 pounds and is at least a foot thick, if not more so. It was lovingly collected, collated and bound over a number of years by its owner and willingly shared with the public. It survived (surprisingly intact, considering its handling) decades of constant page-turning and reading not to mention the ravages of decay common to pulp materials.

To our good fortune, the Columbia University Libraries are now the custodians of the Persinger Scrapbook. The link here is to a video presented by Library staff that describes the challenges faced when deciding how best to restore this treasure for future generations. The goal, if it can be achieved, is to digitize as much of the content as possible and to make it available as an eBook. Watch the video through and share in the glee expressed by the presenters. While doing so, give a thanks to Maggie Thompson for her considerable efforts to this happen.

On a personal note, though Persinger predated me and the rest of my family, he was active in Fredonia for the decades of my grandfather's young adulthood and middle age. They were neighbors and possibly friends. It is entirely possible that Persinger was my grandfather's barber. It is possible my grandfather held the Persinger Scrapbook and read through it. (My grandfather was a comic strip fan from his childhood days of Alphonse & Gaston, Bringing Up Father, Foxy Grandpa, and the Yellow Kid). If I may dream... it's entirely possible the Persinger Scrapbook includes one or more of my grandfather's handwritten messages. Time - and careful conservation - will tell. I, for one, eagerly anticipate seeing the page-by-page high-res scans once Columbia University is able to release a digitized version. That is true even if no sign of my grandfather's hand is detected.

My mother lived out her final years in Fredonia, where she grew up and graduated high school. She and my dad relocated there after my dad's retirement. My mom owned and operated an antique shop for a time. She was a local history buff and would have been ecstatic with this discovery. Even if my mother never knew I.A. Persinger on a personal level, there is no doubt she knew who he was, as well as his wife and daughter. I was made aware of this too late to share with my mom and well beyond the time I could query my grandfather. I've been to Fredonia countless times but do not have a personal history there. I see this as one more connection which though tenuous, is no less treasured.