Guide to the Leon Rubin Collection of Milton Caniff Reading Room Files, 1978-1989 SPEC.CGA.LRQ Finding aid prepared by BICLM Staff Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210
January 2026 This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2026-03-31T10:34-0400 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard Leon Rubin Collection of Milton Caniff Reading Room Files SPEC.CGA.LRQ Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 0.4 Cubic feet (1 box) 1978-1989 Leon Rubin was a member of The Ohio State University Communications Department and worked closely with the Milton Caniff Reading Room, which is known today the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum. Mr. Rubin was involved in the planning of the First Festival of Cartoon Art (1983); Second Festival of Cartoon Art (1986) and other events that occurred at the library in the 1970s and 1980s. These files capture the some of the early history of the cartoon library at Ohio State. (1) 5" letter document box English Rubin, Leon Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Audio-cassette player needed to access interview of Milton Caniff in Box LRQ 1/ Folder 10

 Arrangement of Materials

The files are arranged in chronological order.

 Preferred Citation

[identification of item], [box number/ folder number], Leon Rubin Collection of Milton Caniff Reading Room Files, SPEC.CGA.LRQ, Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, Ohio State University

 Scope and Contents

The Leon Rubin Collection of Milton Caniff Reading Room Files include planning and meeting notes, flyers, brochures, memos, clippings, news articles, and other materials pertaining to programs, initiatives, press and publicity of the cartoon library. Files include information on the First and Second Festivals of Cartoon Art, Walt Kelly's 75th Birthday Celebration, Steve Canyon's retirement, support from the Hearst Foundation, and the library's founding donor, Milton Caniff. Mr. Rubin provided a typed inventory of the files that can be found in the scope and content notes at the folder level.

 Biographical Note

Leon M. Rubin, a 1977 graduate of The Ohio State University School of Journalism, worked for the Office of University Communications and Development from 1978-1980 and again from 1983-1989. During that time, as associate editor of OSU onCampus, he began to write stories about the Milton Caniff Research Collection when it was housed in two converted classrooms in the Journalism Building and first got to know Lucy Caswell (Professor Emerita/ founding curator of the Milton Caniff Reading Room which is known today the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum). In 1983 and 1986, he served on the planning committees and managed public relations for the first two Festivals of Cartoon Art. He also was involved in publicizing the celebration of the 75th anniversary of “Pogo” cartoonist Walt Kelly’s birth in 1988 and the “retirement” of Steve Canyon from the Air Force in 1989. He earned an M.A. in Communications in 1987. After serving as Director of Marketing and Development Communications, Leon left Ohio State to move to Boca Raton, Florida, in 1989. He later opened his own public relations consulting firm, The Rubin Communications Group, where he worked primarily with nonprofit organizations. He and his wife, Suzi, now live in Dahlonega, Georgia, where he is mostly retired but continues to work as a freelance writer.

Biographical information provided by the donor, Leon Rubin.

 Processing Information

BICLM Staff, January 2026

 Access to Materials

Materials in this collection are available for use, but may be used in the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum reading room only.

 Acquisitions Information

CGA.2025.066: Leon Rubin, August 2025

 Comic books, strips, etc. Libraries--Comic books, strips, etc. Milton Caniff materials LRQ 1 1 1978-1985 Scope and Contents

Folder contents:

Handwritten notes from interviews with Lucy Caswell by Leon Rubin, c. 1978; Flyer from Milton Caniff Research Room, November 1978; Letter from Milton Caniff to Leon Rubin – November 4, 1978; Letter from Milton Caniff to Leon Rubin – May 30, 1979; Invitation to dedication of Milton Caniff Research Room, May 19, 1979; Program and poster, dedication of Milton Caniff Research Room; Friends Line Newsletter, April 1979 – stories on Milton Caniff Research Room and Journalism Library; Inventory of Caniff Research Room materials, April 1979 (Memo from Lucy Caswell to Leon Rubin); Flyer for “Art for Everybody,” exhibition of cartoons from Milton Caniff Research Room – May 16-June 12, 1979 – and “An Evening with Our Cartoonist” at Columbus Main Library, May 17, 1979; OSU News release, Milton Caniff’s 75th birthday event, dated December 30, 1981; Typed onCampus story about mysterious donation of George Bellows painting to Milton Caniff Library – year uncertain (with handwritten notes); Editor & Publisher story following Milton Caniff’s death in 1988; Memo from Arthur Brodeur to Linda Bowers re: donation of Milton Caniff’s papers to OSU, June 17, 1988; “Fan letter” to Milton Caniff from Peter Cousins – October 1985; OSU News release, May 4, 1979-Frank Stanton at ceremonies for Milton Caniff Research Center; Letter from Paul Fell to Leon Rubin

 First Festival of Cartoon Art LRQ 1 2-3 1982-1983 (2 folders) Scope and Contents

Folder contents:

Initial promotional brochure (Bil Keane cover illustration); Promotional brochure; Exhibition catalog; Event program (with participant caricatures by Jeff Stahler); Cartoons at the Movies program – Drexel Theatre; Invitation to private party at the Wigwam – October 14, 1983; Business card from Fred Lasswell, “Barney Google and Snuffy Smith” cartoonist; Festival of Cartoon Art follow-up story from OSU Quest, by Leon Rubin – December 1983; Correspondence with cartoonists granting permission to use artwork in Quest; Letter from Leon Rubin to Milton Caniff apologizing for misstating his graduation year; Schedule for participants Photographs of cartoonists from Chalk Talks: Mike Peters (2); Kate Palmer (2); Bil Keane; Draper Hill; Fred Lasswell (2); List of Columbus and Ohio artists represented in exhibition; Notes and minutes from planning committee (early 1983 through Festival), News releases: Festival announcement – 6/4/83; Festival exhibitions – 9/20/83; Registration still available – 9/20/83; News coverage: Columbus Citizen-Journal – 5/27/83; Columbus Dispatch – 6/5/83; Columbus Dispatch – 10/9/83; The Booster – 10/10/83; Luke Feck column – undated (before Festival); Columbus Dispatch – 10/23/83; The Lantern – 10/17/83; Society of Professional Journalists 1982-83 Roster

 Second Festival of Cartoon Art LRQ 1 4 1985-1986 Scope and Contents

Folder contents:

Planning Committee correspondence, agendas and minutes – August 1985 through post-Festival; Festival promotional brochures; Festival program (with Jeff Stahler caricatures); Festival exhibition catalog; Festival news releases – 6/17/86 and 9/26/86; Lucy Caswell letter to Vice President Tom Tobin inviting him to introduce Jim Davis, plus Jim Davis bio and draft of Tobin’s introduction; Letter from Arnold Roth to Lucy Caswell with biographical information and drawings, plus introduction of Arnold Roth by Leon Rubin for appearance at Thurber House; Columbus Dispatch full-page preview story about Festival – 12/12/86; Draft follow-up Festival story by Leon Rubin – December 1986

Hearst Foundation support grant LRQ 1 5 1986-1987 Scope and Contents

Folder contents: Proposal to Hearst Foundation, including meeting notes and correspondence

 Walt Kelly's 75th birthday celebration LRQ 1 6 August 1988 Scope and Contents

Folder contents:

Promotional flyer/invitation (4 copies); Planning Committee notes; News release – 6/22/88; News release – 8/19/88; Bio information – Bill Watterson; Bio information – Walt Kelly; Pogo Fan Club and Pogo for President information; Agenda and schedule for Selby Kelly; Exhibition brochure (2 copies); Pogo Party brochure with trivia questions;

Steve Canyon Retirement LRQ 1 7 April 1989 Scope and Contents

Folder contents:

News Advisory – 3/28/89; Agenda for event; Photo of Steve Canyon’s medals in shadow box; Multiple news clippings

 Booklets, brochures, letters, and other materials about CGA LRQ 1 8 1985-1989 Scope and Contents

Transcript of Milton Caniff interview for OSU Encounter by Leon Rubin LRQ 1 9 May 1979 Scope and Contents

Leon Rubin transcibed the interview of Caniff for the dedication of the Milton Caniff Reading Room for the publication, "OSU Encounters."

 Audio-cassette of Milton Caniff Interview for OSU Encounter LRQ 1 10 May 1979 Scope and Contents

Leon Rubin interviewed Caniff for the dedication of the Milton Caniff Reading Room for the publication, "OSU Encounters."

 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

1 audio-cassette tape; player need to listen