LibGuides: Graphic Novels & Sequential Art: Museums, Collections & Exhibits

Research & Academic Library Collections

The following are collections held at other research and academic libraries. Most are print collections, though some have digital exhibits and collections.

British Cartoon Archive
The British Cartoon Archive 'is dedicated to the history of British cartooning over the last two hundred years. The BCA holds the artwork for over 200,000 British editorial, socio-political, and pocket cartoons, supported by large collections of comic strips, newspaper cuttings, books and magazines."
Cartoon Research Library
A comprehensive research collection containing more than: 250,000 original cartoons; 34,500 books; 1,000 serial titles; 2,800 linear feet of manuscript materials; and 2.5 million comic strip clippings and tear sheets. Covers all aspects of American cartoon art.
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Also see the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library at OSU: https://library.osu.edu/blogs/cartoons/tag/san-francisco-academy-of-comic-art/
Comic Art Collection, Michigan State University
Extensive collection of American comic books. Contains more than 200,000 comic books, 1000 books of collected newspaper comic strips, and several thousand books and periodicals about comics.
Comic Book Collection at Library of Congress
The largest publicly available collection of comic books in the United States is housed in the Serial and Government Publications Division. The collection includes U.S. and foreign comic books and includes nearly 140,000 comic books dating back to the 1930s.
Comic Book Industry Collection, University of Wyoming
The American Heritage Center at the University of Wyoming holds 100s of items documenting the work of the editors and writers of the comic book industry. Unique resources include Stan Lee Papers, Mort Weisinger Papers, Harold Elk Straubing Papers, and Michael Maltese Papers.

Museums

The following are museums dedicated to the history and impact of sequential art, or have extensive collections and exhibits related to comics, cartoons and graphic novels.

Cartoon Art Museum
Located in San Francisco. The collection includes comic strips, comic books, anime, political cartoons, graphic novels and underground comix.
Jack Kirby Museum & Research Center
To promote and encourage the study, understanding, preservation and appreciation of the work of Jack Kirby. most influential and prolific artists in comics. He co-created such enduring characters as Captain America, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, and the Hulk.
Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art
Located in New York City, the Museum of Illustration promotes the art and history of illustration. The permanent collection contains 2,500 pieces, and includes a curated collection of comic and cartoon art.
ToonSeum
ToonSeum celebrates the art of cartooning through workshops, exhibits, and cartoon-oriented education.

Special Exhibits

Library of Congress: Comic Art: 120 Years of Panels and Pages
Exhibit from the Library of Congress.