University of Kent comic book collection
British Cartoon Archive's Database
The British Cartoon Archive has added cataloguing and contextual information to the cartoons, but the database is consulted by thousands of academics and researchers, many of whom have detailed specialist knowledge. In 2006 the Archive recognised this expertise by enabling users to edit the database themselves.
The Archive is located in the Templeman Library at the University of Kent, Canterbury. It contains over 100,000 drawings of editorial, socio-political, and pocket cartoons as well as comic strips. The collection dates back to 1904 and includes work by W.K.Hasleden, Will Dyson, Sidney 'George' Strube, David Low,Vicky, Emmwood, Michael Cummings, Ralph Steadman, Mel Calman, Nicholas Garland, Chris Riddell, Carl Giles amongst many others. Large donations and extended loans have been made by individuals, cartoonists and institutions. Part of cartoon by Strube Daily Express 23/3/1929
No purchases of cartoons are ever made. The British Cartoon Archive accepts not only entire portfolios of an artist's work but also representative examples usually selected by the artists themselves. The collection continues to grow rapidly. Along with its original drawings, the British Cartoon Archive has a library of over 5,000 books, periodicals and cuttings on cartoons, caricature and humour.
