Last April, I broke the news that Jean Schulz had contributed $1 million dollars to the renovation of the Sullivant Hall building which will be the future home of the Ohio State Cartoon Library and Museum. Jean also pledged to match an additional $2.5 million by other donors. The university is now taking online donations.
The new library and museum is the worldâ??s largest collection of original cartoon art with over 400,000 works and artifacts from all genres of cartoon art. Additionally, it houses 36,000 books; 51,000 serial titles; 3,000 linear feet of manuscript materials; and 2.5 million comic strip clippings and tear sheets.
Sullivant Hall, the Cartoon Library & Museumâ??s new home, will have 3 museum-quality galleries along with the much needed archival space.
On a personal note, Jenny Robb was kind enough to give me a tour the research library back in 2007 and it was an incredible experience to see original artwork by Hal Foster, George Herriman, Milt Canniff (read more of my visit and impressions of the library here). When the Sullivant Hall is complete, it’s going to be the cartoon museum without rival. I’m excited for Lucy Shelton Caswell, her staff and this great opportunity. I hope you’ll take a few minutes and donate as well.
Looking at OSU’s art department website, it appears they don’t have any sort of program for comics or sequential art. I hope that will change with this glorious resource!
I can’t wait to head back to the museum this summer on my Ohio trip. The future project is quite exciting!