2009
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Robert Crumb
September 2009 - January 2010.
James Branch Cabell Library,
4th Floor Exhibit Area This exhibit on Robert Crumb, the founding father of underground comics, coincides with the Tuesday, October 27th event of "Genesis: A Conversation with R. Crumb and Françoise Mouly" to be held at the Carpenter Center, Richmond CenterStage.
For more information about the event click HERE.
The exhibit consists of a small portion of the many books, journals, comic books, and other materials featuring Crumb's work housed in Special Collections and Archives. A second exhibit highlights the work of Art Spiegelman, the comics artist and editor, best known for his Pulitzer Prize winning comic book memoir, Maus, A Survivor's Tale (1987). He is married to Françoise Mouly, the New Yorker art editor, who will be interviewing Crumb at the Carpenter Center.
Buster Brown from the Richmond Times-Dispatch, April 1, 1906.
A third exhibit using materials from the library's extensive Comic Arts collection focuses on "Early 20th Century Newspaper Strips" featuring Popeye, Li'l Abner, Little Nemo, and a full page of the Buster Brown newspaper strip from the April 1, 1906 issue of the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Books on other newspaper strips are also shown as are several reference books on the topic. These early newspaper comic strips were highly influential on artists like Crumb and Spiegleman.
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VCU Libraries' 2,000,000th Volume is Marvel Comics "Amazing Spider-Man, #583" featuring Barack Obama. The comic book highlights the historic election of the 44th President; VCU's proud tradition of diversity; and the national stature of VCU's Comic Arts Collection.
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VCU Libraries' 2,000,000th Volume Celebration
and a look back at the 1,000,000 Volume.
October 2009 - January 2010.
James Branch Cabell Library, 4th Floor Exhibit Area.
Two exhibit cases display materials associated with VCU Libraries' 2,000,000th Volume which was celebrated on Oct. 2nd, 2009 and its 1,000,000th volume celebration that took place in 1993. More information about the 2009 event is available here and here.
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Hispanic Heritage Month
James Branch Cabell Library,
4th Floor Exhibit Area
Hispanic Heritage Month is a month long observance (September 15 - Oct. 15) when America celebrates the culture and traditions of U.S. residents who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico, and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America, and the Latin Caribbean. VCU Libraries is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by hosting a special exhibit on resources in our collections relating to Hispanic history and culture. On display are a sample of the many books, films, and music recordings the library houses on Latin American society.
Also on display are two of the first Spanish language newspapers to be published in Virginia. Complete runs of the newspapers El Eco de Virginia and El Sol were donated to VCU Libraries in 2006. The issues were microfilmed and added to the Virginia State Newspaper Project. The newspapers can be accessed in the library's Special Collections and Archives department or on microfilm on the third floor of the library.
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The mastheads for
El Eco de Virginia and El Sol - Full runs of each newspaper were donated to VCU Libraries in 2006.
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Pop-Up Books by Robert Sabuda
April 2009 - December 2009.
James Branch Cabell Library,
4th Floor Exhibit Area
Robert Sabuda (b. 1965) is a pop-up book artist and children’s book illustrator. He specializes in paper engineering, or three-dimensional projects involving paper. Originally from Michigan, he moved to New York to study art at Pratt University. He currently works in New York City with studio partner and illustrator Matthew Reinhart. Sabuda’s pop-up books are all hand assembled by a small team of artists.
On display are 12 examples of Robert Sabuda’s pop-up books from the Betty Tisinger Collection. These pop-up books were recently donated to Special Collections and Archives by Betty Tisinger, a retired VCU professor from the department of Art Education in the School of the Arts.
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Alice in Wonderland (2003) by Lewis Carroll (Author - the original Book was published in 1865), and Robert Sabuda (Illustrator).
Special Collections and Archives
houses a large collection of Pop- Up Books.
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Charles W. Smith
(1893-1987)
and Richmond Magazine
Special Collections and Archives,
James Branch Cabell Library.
April 2009 - October 2009.
On display in the lobby of
Special Collections and Archives
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The April 1929 issue of Richmond Magazine featured a color linoleum block printing by Charles W. Smith (1893-1987) of the headquarters of the National Pepsi-Cola Corporation, 1224 W. Broad Street, Richmond, VA. The 1920s era building housed the fledgling Pepsi-Cola company from 1923 until 1931.
The building at 1224 W. Broad Street would later house the Jack Thompson Furniture company. In 1998 it was demolished by VCU to make way for its Sports Medicine Building which opened in July of 2001.
This exhibit features eight issues of Richmond Magazine, published monthly by the Richmond Chamber of Commerce from 1914 through 1933, with cover illustrations by Virginia artist and educator Charles W. Smith (1893-1987). His covers were color linoleum block printings featuring Richmond buildings. Eight of his cover illustrations are featured in this exhibit. Smith was a graduate of the Corcoran Art School and of Yale’s School of Fine Art. After teaching at the University of Virginia and in New York, Smith moved to Richmond to work for the printing firm Whittet & Shepperson. In 1927 he was the first professional artist to be hired by the Richmond School of Social Work and Public Health (later Richmond Professional Institute and now VCU) to teach art. This occurred a year before a full time art program was developed by Theresa Pollak (1899-2002). Smith became chair of the art department at Bennington College in Bennington, Vermont in 1936. In 1947 until his retirement in 1963 he taught art and chaired the art department at the University of Virginia. He died in Charlottesville in 1987.
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Hardcover image of The award wining "Watchmen" Graphic Novel by Alan Moore (Author) and Dave Gibbons (Illustrator).
The film version was released in March 2009.
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The Extraordinary Alan Moore
Special Collections and Archives,
James Branch Cabell Library.
March 2009 - September 2009.
James Branch Cabell Library, 4th Floor Exhibit Area.
Alan Moore (1953-) is highlighted in this exhibit. The British writer is most famous for his influential graphic novels including Watchmen, V for Vendetta,
From Hell, and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. The exhibit uses comic books, graphic novels, and other materials by or about Alan Moore from the library's Comic Arts Collection housed in Special Collections and Archives.
Learn more about the writer from the Alan Moore Fan Site or by visiting Special Collections and Archives and reading the extensive collection of works held by the library.
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Islamic Minature Paintings
March 2009 - December 2009.
James Branch Cabell Library, 4th Floor Exhibit Area
Between the thirteenth and sixteenth centuries Miniature Portraits in the Islamic World were produced - they were intimate, colorful, and intricately detailed paintings that depicted the pleasures of courtly life. The paintings also served as historical documents because they recorded important events in the lives of rulers. Calligraphy frequently accompanied miniature portraits, especially in albums depicting famous epics. The height of each portrait ranged from four inches to one foot.
The books in this exhibit are part of a collection of art books collected by Dr. Jane Gaston Mahler (1906- ), a former art history professor at VCU. The Art History Department donated the extensive book collection to Cabell Library in the 1970s. Much of the collection is housed in Special Collections and Archives. Dr. Mahler was co-author of History of World Art (1949), an early survey text on art history. Her area of specialization, however, was the art of Asia.
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Leaf from a copy of 'Assemblies' of Hariri which shows two figures seated. Syrian, 1237.
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Richmond's Mary Johnston shown here in This 1901 photograph taken shortly after the success of her second novel, To Have and To Hold.
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The Life and Works of Mary Johnston (1870-1936)
Special Collections and Archives,
James Branch Cabell Library.
March 2009 - December 2009.
James Branch Cabell Library, 4th Floor Exhibit Area.
In addition to showcasing her many novels, this exhibit includes resources about the life of Richmond's Mary Johnston (1870-1936), a successful writer who played an active part in the suffrage movement in Virginia.
Three of Johnston's books were adapted to film. Audrey was made into a silent film of the same name in 1916 and her blockbuster work To Have and to Hold was made into a silent film in 1918 and again in 1922. Pioneers of the Old South was adapted to film in 1923 under the title Jamestown.
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Slavery and Reconstruction in Richmond, Virginia
Special Collections and Archives,
James Branch Cabell Library.
February 2009 - June 2009.
James Branch Cabell Library, 4th Floor Exhibit Area
This exhibit coincided with VCU Libraries' Black History Month Lecture entitled "The Physical Presence of Slavery in Richmond, Virginia."
The event, held February 10, 2009, was a panel discussion and featured Dr. Jeffrey Ruggles, curator of prints and photographs at the Virginia Historical Society, Dr. Maureen G. Elgersman Lee, executive director of the Black History Museum and Cultural Center, and Delegate Delores McQuinn who has been a leader in the Richmond Slave Trail Commission.
The exhibit incorporates digital reproductions of many 19th century Richmond prints housed in Special Collections and Archives. The image above is of a Richmond slave auction published in the Illustrated London News, September 27, 1856.
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Photography and Typography Annuals
housed in Special Collections and Archives
March 2009 - September 2009.
James Branch Cabell Library, 4th Floor Exhibit Area
Two exhibit cases illustrate just some of the many art annuals housed in Special Collections and Archives.
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Black History Month - Feb. 2009
Jan. 2009 - June 2009.
James Branch Cabell Library, 4th Floor Exhibit Area
Our annual exhibit focusing on Black History Month includes a variety of materials on African American History including works published by or about Oliver W. Harrington (1912-1995) who is considered one of the greatest African American cartoonists.
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"Incredible Mr. Poe: Edgar Allan Poe in the Comics" - image of the cover of the exhibition catalog of the exhibit at the Poe Museum in Richmond.
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Bicentennial of Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849)
Special Collections and Archives,
James Branch Cabell Library.
January 2009 - December 2009.
James Branch Cabell Library, 4th Floor Exhibit Area.
This exhibit is a celebration of the work of Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) who was born 200 years ago on January 19, 1809. Born in Boston, Poe grew up in Richmond. The exhibit showcases a variety of materials related to Poe held by Special Collections and Archives including books by and about the writer. The exhibit includes color reproductions from the Southern Literary Messenger published in Richmond.
Poe wrote and edited for the magazine from 1835 to 1837. Special Collections and Archives holds a large run of original copies of the Messenger. |
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2008
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Front piece to the edition of the Cole Hoppus 1736 edition of
Andrea Palladio’s architecture, in four books.
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Rare editions of works by the Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio (1508-1580) held by Special Collections and Archives,
James Branch Cabell Library.
November 2008 - February 2009.
James Branch Cabell Library, 4th Floor Exhibit Area
and Special Collections and Archives.
The exhibit was created to corresponded with the 16th Annual VCU Symposium on Architectural History and the Decorative Arts which celebrated the 500th anniversary of Palladio’s birth. Part I of this exhibit is located in the 4th Floor Exhibit Area and includes books and related materials on the influence of Palladio in Virginia and in the United States. Part II is located in the Reading Room in Special Collections and Archives and includes various editions of works by Palladio held in Special Collections and Archives . |
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Tatana Kellner's fifty years of silence,Published in 1992.
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Artist Books from the Women's Studio Workshop. November 2008 - February 2009.
James Branch Cabell Library, 4th Floor Exhibit Area
Two display cases in the fourth floor corridor feature several artists' books produced from the Women's Studio Workshop, located in Rosendale, New York. Special Collections and Archives is a repository for the Women's Studio Workshop,the largest publisher of hand printed and hand bound artists' books in the United States. Click here to learn more about the VCU Book Art Collection.
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James Branch Cabell Library, ca. 1971 - showing images of houses on Park Ave - all demolished.
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VCU 40th Anniversary Exhibit
October 2008 - March 2009.
James Branch Cabell Library, 4th Floor Exhibit Area
VCU celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2008. The University was established in 1968 when the Medical College of Virginia merged with the Richmond Professional Institute. The exhibit includes several blown up photograph images of the Monroe Park Campus from the last 40 years and documents pertaining to VCU's inception.
Visit Historic VCU for information and over 200 historic images of the University's history.
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Cover of Edward gorey's The Gashlycrumb Tinies: or, After the Outing
Published in 1963.
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Published works by artist and illustrator Edward Gorey (1925-2000).
November 2008 - February 2009.
James Branch Cabell Library, 4th Floor Exhibit Area
Special Collections and Archives houses one of the largest collections of American artist Edward Gorey's (1925-2000) books - over 50 titles and growing. Gorey's illustrations and stories are noted for their often macabre themes. For instance, in The Gashlycrumb Tinies (1963) Gorey tells the tale of 26 children (each representing a letter of the alphabet) and their untimely demise in rhyming didactic couplets - "E is for Ernest who choked on a peach. F is for Franny sucked dry by a leech."
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Tarzan of the Apes
August 2008 - January 2009.
James Branch Cabell Library, 4th Floor Exhibit Area
This exhibit on Tarzan features comic books, rare books, movie stills, and various reference materials collected by Special Collections and Archives.
The official Tarzan site is Here.
Visit our Comic Arts Collection home page for more information about our comic book collection.
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Cover of DC Magazine's AUG 1973 comic book Tarzan - one of nearly 30,000 comic books held by Special Collections and Archives.
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Hispanic Heritage Month
September 2008 - February 2009.
James Branch Cabell Library, 4th Floor Exhibit Area
In celebration of the Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 - Oct. 15), Special Collections and Archives staff have chosen a number of materials from its collections that illustrate contributions from the Latino community to American and Virginia history and culture. These materials include two examples from our collection of local newspapers El Sol and El Eco de Virginia published in Spanish by and for Virginia Latinos. Another display drawn from the Comic Arts Collection features the works of the Hernandez brothers, graphic artists known for their collaboration on the alternative comic, Love & Rockets.
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Gay & Lesbian Collection,
Special Collections and Archives
October 2008 - February 2009.
James Branch Cabell Library, 4th Floor Exhibit Area
In conjunction with the release and book signing reception for the book, Lesbian and Gay Richmond, by Beth Marschak and Alex Lorch, Special Collections and Archives mounted a display of Gay and Lesbian - related materials drawn from several collections housed in the department. Many of the materials featured were included as images in the book. The book is available from Arcadia Publishing.
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Lesbian and Gay Richmond (2008) by Alex Lorch and beth Marschak
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Manga Comic Book Collection,
Special Collections and Archives
October 2008 - February 2009.
James Branch Cabell Library, 4th Floor Exhibit Area
Manga is the Japanese word for comics. It is used in the English-speaking world as a generic term for all comic books and graphic novels that were originally published in Japan. However, Manga is often considered an artistic and storytelling style that can also encompass non-Japanese works.
Special Collections and Archives holds 800 manga graphic novels and 200 manga comic book titles.
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Cover of Akira, vol. 1., published in 2000, was considered a breakthrough in the manga form for its original artwork and story line.
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Richmond Zine Collection,
Special Collections and Archives
October 2008 - February 2009.
James Branch Cabell Library, 4th Floor Exhibit Area
This exhibit focuses on the Richmond Zine Collection held in Special Collections and Archives. The department has nearly 100 Richmond titles of zines produced from the 1980s through today.
![Richmond Poets Agains the War! Vol. I, Issue I [2002]](images/zinetwo.jpg)
Richmond Poets Against the War!
vol.I., Issue I [2002] |
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Will Eisner Award Collection,
Special Collections and Archives
October 2008 - February 2009.
James Branch Cabell Library, 4th Floor Exhibit Area
Will Eisner (1917-2005), an acclaimed comics writer and artist,
revolutionized the world of comic books twice - first with the 1939 comic
The Spirit, a gritty, adult-themed newspaper comics insert, and again in
1978 with one of the first modern graphic novels, A Contract with God,
and other Tenement Stories. In between he and his company, American
Visuals Corporation, showed that comics could be used as popular
educational tools with such works as Comics and Sequential Art and the
U.S. Army Publication, PS Magazine.
In 1988, the comics community created the Will Eisner Comic Industry
Awards because of Eisner’s contribution to the appreciation and study of
comics. James Branch Cabell Library’s Special Collections and Archives
has been the repository for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards
Archives since 2005.
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Eisner Award winners along with the actual Eisner Award.
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