Library Communications

Zap! Wham! Ka-Pow! The Gardner Fox Comics Collection Exhibit Opens at Knight Library

October 20, 2009

Wonder Woman comic book cover A new exhibit in Knight Library features items from the Gardner Francis Fox Collection. Located in the two entryway corridors of the library, the exhibit includes comic book covers, manuscripts, correspondence, fan letters, and research notebooks.

Gardner Francis Fox (“Gar”) (1911–1986) was an extraordinarily prolific writer whose work spanned multiple genres: westerns, science fiction, espionage, crime, swashbucklers, sorcery, historical fiction, erotica, women’s romances, fantasy novels—and comics. In all his efforts, Fox was a diligent researcher of details who maintained his own research files and a 2,000-book reference library in his home. His work appeared under his own name and ultimately under some 36 pseudonyms, both male and female.

In 1967 Gardner Fox’s literary agent, August Lenniger, encouraged him to donate his papers to the University of Oregon. The collection, housed in Special Collections and University Archives in Knight Library, includes his personal collection of about 950 comics, many containing the stories he scripted.

The exhibit traces the history of comic books through various "ages" including The Golden Age, The Atomic Age, and The Silver Age. It reflects the social, political, and cultural milieu and events of the time. Profiling people of certain nationalities, ethnicities, races, cultures, and genders is evidenced throughout multiple genres of comics. Stereotyping can be clearly seen in many western comics, especially those with Native American characters, as well as comics set during times of war and national crisis.

The exhibit, which runs through January 31, 2010, was curated by Cassie Schmitt and Marilyn Reaves in Special Collections and University Archives. Cristian Boboia in Image Services was the graphic designer and production artist for the exhibit.

The exhibit is part of the Understanding Superheroes Conference, slated for October 23 – 24, 2009, at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art.The UO Libraries is one of the sponsors of the conference.

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