Tag Archives: library of congress

SPX Acquires the Dean Haspiel Collection and Other Mini-Comics for the Small Press Expo Collection at the Library of Congress

Posted on by

The Small Press Expo has announced that Dean Haspiel has donated his mini-comic collection to the Small Press Expo Collection at the Library of Congress.  The collection is comprised of over 600 mini-comics spanning over 15 years.  Among the collection’s rare holdings are mini-comics by Raina Telgemeier, Charles Burns, Sara Varon, Nick Abadzis, Kevin Huizenga, Ron Rege, Alex Robinson, Brian Ralph, Scott Morse, Leela Corman, Paul Hornschemeier, and others, including a rare promotional mini-comic for Craig Thompson’s Blankets and two limited edition mini-comics of political cartoons by Jeff Smith of Bone fame.

Haspiel had to say:

I can’t think of a more honorable home for my massive mini-comics collection than the Library of Congress. I’d like to publicly thank and commend Warren Bernard, Chris Oarr, Karon Flage, Greg McElhatton, Greg Bennett, Eden Miller, the late Jeff Alexander, and the rest of the SPX gang for years of allowing me to discover and enjoy so many diamonds in the rough that turn into comix gold.

This is on top of the previous donation of mini-comics and tabloid newspapers at least year’s show.  Over 120 mini-comics, tabloid comics and graphic novels have been added so far.  The Library of Congress has sent many of these for long term preservation.

Georgia Higley, head curator of the Serial and Government Publications Division of the LIbrary of Congress, has this to say:

A wealth of creativity was donated to the Library in this first year of the SPX-LC agreement.  I was impressed with the diversity of subject matter, formats, and artistic styles represented by this year’s comic book donations.  To an even greater extent I was impressed with the generosity of the creators and publishers who willingly gave their work to us for safekeeping.   From the tiny two-inch square mini-comic to the oversize hardback and from the promising newcomer to the long-established publisher, it’s obvious that the independent comic book is alive and well and now is represented at the Library of Congress.  We look forward to next year!

This is a first of it’s kind partnership to preserve the legacy of indie comics and focuses on limited edition mini-comics, the exact type of works you’d see at the SPX show.

Around the Tubes

Posted on by

It’s the weekend and it’s another UFC fight tonight, yay!  Here’s some comic book news to spend your time reading waiting for the fight.

Around the Blogs:

ICv2 – Galactic Guardians HeroClix – I want my Rocket Raccoon and Groot figures!

ComiChron – November 2011 puts industry back in black for 2011 – How long before Marvel is back on top?

WNYC – Tibet, Through the Lens of Comics – Could be a cool exhibit to check out.

The Beat – Haspiel donates minicomics to Library of Congress – I might have to check this out.

 

Around the Tubes Reviews:

Shoopette’s Book Review – Any Empire

Announcing the creation of the Small Press Expo Collection at the Library of Congress

Posted on by

Official Press Release

Announcing the creation of the Small Press Expo Collection at the Library of Congress

Bethesda, Maryland; August 30, 2011 – The Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels, and alternative political cartoons, is pleased to announce the establishment of the Small Press Expo Collection at The Library of Congress.

In a first of its kind relationship, SPX is creating with the Library of Congress an ongoing collection that will focus on the craft and diversity of the independent comics community. Only those who have attended SPX as guests or exhibitors can have their works considered for the collection.

The primary emphasis will be on those works that are not submitted as part of the Library of Congress copyright deposit program, allowing the Library of Congress to expand its collection in areas that would not be otherwise available to its collections staff. This will include self published mini-comics and comics, as well as the new wave of tabloid comic sections that have become popular in the last few years.

Every year, SPX will team with Library of Congress curators and collections staff to solicit selected exhibitors for works to be included in the collection. In addition, all Ignatz Award nominees in the various print categories will automatically become part of the collection, with the winner of the Ignatz Award for the Best Online Comic to be archived as part of the Library of Congress digital collections program. The collection will also include all posters, flyers, badges, and other artistic ephemera created for SPX by comic artists, as well as having the SPX web site digitally archived.

“The Library of Congress has been collecting comic books and original cartoon art before most collectors took it seriously as an art form.  The Small Press Expo (SPX) Collection will enhance the Library’s existing holdings and allow future researchers to see the full spectrum of cartoon art that is available today,” said Sara W. Duke, curator of popular and applied graphic art in the Library’s Prints and Photographs Division.

SPX is honored to work with the Library of Congress to preserve the cultural wealth of  the Small Press Expo and its guests/exhibitors, and thereby enhancing the Library of Congress extensive comic book and original art collections.

Questions about the Small Press Expo Library of Congress Collection should be directed to warren@spxpo.com.

SPX 2011 will be held Saturday, September 10 from 11am-7pm and Sunday, September 11, 12-6pm at The North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Admission is $10 for a single day and $15 for both days.

Additional information about SPX 2011 can be found at http://www.spxpo.com.

Wertham Papers on Display

Posted on by

Bookmark and Share

Comics CodeWashington City Paper reports that in May, the Library of Congress opened 222 containers of psychiatrist Fredric Wertham’s papers.  Wertham in 1954 wrote Seduction of the Innocent which targeted comic books for corrupting youth and leading to juvenile deliquency.  This sparked a decade long attack on comic books including Senate hearings.

The Library of Congress has had the papers since 1987 and have been sealed except to people approved by Wertham’s estate (all two of them).  The collection includes, notes, drafts and material related to his work.

The uproar caused by Wertham lead to the Comic Code Authority, crippling entire genres of comics, and the creation of Mad Magazine.

The Fredric Wertham papers are open by appointment, and a list of what they include is online.

Recent Entries »