This collection represents a lifetime of work by B. N. Duncan spanning the 1970s until the artist’s death in 2009. It contains copies of his publications as well as photocopies and originals of his art work and writing for the The Tele Times, The Telegraph Avenue Calendar and various S/M publications.

It is worth noting that a high percentage of the collection is in photocopy form. Duncan was an avid collector and he systematically copied everything he drew or wrote. He filed everything in large manila envelopes which he labeled in felt tip marker. Labels on folders listed here have been transcribed as they appeared on the envelopes.

The collection contains biographical notes, sketchbooks, notes and diaries in addition to drawings and examples of his sculpture and although it does not contain a full run of the Tele Times it has a near complete run. He corresponded widely with other underground cartoonists and the collection contains both letters he received from others working at the start of the underground comics scene and copies of his letters to them.

The collection is of interest not just for its underground comics/ zine contents but also because it offers a snapshot of life on the street for the homeless and marginalized in and around Berkeley at the end of the 20th century. There is Berkeley memorabilia, examples of street publications and eighteen boxes of Duncan’s photographs of street people, some of which featured in the ‘Telegraph Street Calendar’. There are many examples of work by Berkeley homeless artists who Duncan helped and encouraged including ‘Sparky’, ‘Cliff Mason’ and ‘Narayana’. The blown up photocopies he used for an exhibition of work by artist’s living on the margins of society called ‘Artists on the fringe’ are here. The collection also contains Duncan’s audio recordings which offer additional documentation of life on the sidelines of society in Berkeley at this time.

Duncan’s S/M cartoons were numerous and the collection contains many examples and workings and reworkings of S/M themes for publication. He had a long standing relationship with the Society of Janus and all of his cartoons for them are here.

Duncan’s publications reside in this archive but records for his publications also appear in the Ohio State Universities Library Catalog. Larger original art items have been separated and appear in the BICLM art database.