Tiny Tim Big Little Book, 1937. Bruce Mohrhard Collection, Dowd Illustration Research Archive. Panel comic of three tin men walking in a row, Tiny Tim walking out of the head of a tin man, and Tiny Tim in front of a man's head with sharp, pointed rows of teeth.
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John M. Olin Library, Level 1, Thomas Gallery

The Culture of Comics: Beyond the Page

A cherubic Cupid driving a vintage Bentley with its top down with a couple riding in the backseat.
“The Adventures of Cupid” by Nell Brinkley, circa 1920. Walt Reed Illustration Archive, Dowd Illustration Research Archive.

The Culture of Comics: Beyond the Page exhibition features materials from the Dowd Illustration Research Archive collection from throughout the twentieth century. The exhibition examines comics and cartoons through themes of fandom and collecting, published works by underrepresented artists and writers, and original artworks. These materials, created by both historic and contemporary artists, include comic books, daily pages, cartoons found in popular magazines, marketing premiums, and other unique items that are part of the fabric of comic history.

A woman in a leopard-print leotard swings through the jungle with a spear in-hand while an elephant stampedes behind her.
Jumbo Comics, March 1949. Center for the Humanities Comics Collection, Dowd Illustration Research Archive.
A woman jumps upon and breaks a pencil in front of two young children.
“Talk of the Town” original drawing by Otto Soglow, 1946. Craig Yoe Teaching Collection, Dowd Illustration Research Archive.

Andrea Degener organized the exhibition with assistance from Master of Fine Arts in Illustration & Visual Culture student Maria Pellegrino.