Ohio State University, Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum Records 1979-2019

3.56 Cubic feet

(18) letter file folders; (2) cartons; (2) 5" letter document boxes

The Ohio State University, Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum was established in 1977 as the Milton Caniff Reading Room following a donation of artwork and papers from Caniff. As of 2019, it is the largest academic research facility specializing in printed cartoon art. This collection contains correspondence, publications, and other administrative records, including correspondence from Charles Schultz, the Inks serial publication, and articles on the cartoon museum itself; materials date from 1979 to 2019.

[identification of item], Ohio State University, Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum Records, RG.8.L.32, Ohio State University Archives, Ohio State University

This collection contains correspondence, publications, and other administrative records, including correspondence from Charles Schultz, the Inks serial publication, and articles on the cartoon museum itself. Materials date from 1979 to 2019.

This collection is unprocessed. Materials are arranged in the order received.

Materials in this collection are available for patron research, but may be used only in the University Archives Reading Room. Audiovisual materials may need a use copy produced before access is allowed. Some materials in this collection may be stored off-site, and are only available if requested 72 hours in advance of your visit. Contact the University Archives for more information.

Materials in this collection may be protected by copyright, and are made available for research and educational purposes. In general, the OSU Libraries do not own the copyright for materials from our collections and cannot grant copyright permissions for these materials. The user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status. If copyright protection applies, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exceptions to the law. Works in the public domain are not protected by copyright and do not require permission to use.

• English

English

Accession Number UA.2005.0020: Lucy Caswell, date unknown; Accession Number UA.2008.0024: Lucy Caswell, date unknown

The Ohio State University, Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum was established in 1977 as the Milton Caniff Reading Room. It was originally located in the campus’s Journalism Building. The collection initially was founded with the gift of papers and artwork from Ohio State University alumnus, cartoonist Milton Caniff. In 1989, the name was changed several times to the Library for Communication and Graphic Arts; the Cartoon, Graphic, and Photographic Arts Research Library; and the Cartoon Research Library. The institution's name changed in 2009 to the Cartoon Library and Museum in July, and again in September of the same year to the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum.

Notable collections within the Cartoon Library include art and manuscripts from famous cartoonists, the International Museum of Cartoon Art collection, Bill Blackbeard’s San Francisco Academy of Comic Art collection, and an extensive collection of Japanese manga, along with many others. As of 2019, the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum is the largest academic research facility specializing in printed cartoon art.

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

This collection is unprocessed. Finding aid written by: Audrey Wimbiscus, January 2020

Finding aid prepared by Audrey Wimbiscus