Bob Fingerman Papers, 1975-2005

Bob Fingerman Papers, 1975-2005

Summary Information

At a Glance

Call No.:
MS#1850
Bib ID:
12829769 View CLIO record
Creator(s):
Fingerman, Bob, 1964-
Repository:
Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Physical Description:
3 linear feet (2 document boxes and 1 oversize folder)
Language(s):
English .
Access:
You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

The following box are located off-site: Boxes 1 and 2. You will need to request this material from the Rare Book and Manuscript Library at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

This collection has no restrictions.

Description

Summary

Written drafts, process drawings, and proofs for some of his longer-form works, including the comic he's best known for, Minimum wage, as well as original comic strip art from his own collection. These papers are part of a larger project to collect representative materials from the New York City comics scene.

Arrangement

Arranged in four series.

Using the Collection

Restrictions on Access

You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

The following box are located off-site: Boxes 1 and 2. You will need to request this material from the Rare Book and Manuscript Library at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Bob Fingerman Papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Accrual

Accruals expected

Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

2017.2018.M030: Source of acquisition--Curator: Karen Green. Method of acquisition--Purchase; Date of acquisition--1/23/2017.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Papers processed, ptl 8/30/2017.

Revision Description

2017-09-01 File created.

2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.

Biographical / Historical

Bob Fingerman is a Queens-born cartoonist, illustrator, and writer whose career began while he was still a student at SVA, making comics for his teacher Harvey Kurtzman's children's comics anthology, Nuts!.

Best known for his comic series Minimum Wage (Fantagraphics Books), as well as the graphic novel White Like She (Fantagraphics), Fingerman has made a substantial reputation in the world of comic art.

In 1984, while still in attendance at New York's School of Visual Arts, he produced work for Harvey Kurtzman (the creator of Mad magazine and Playboy's "Little Annie Fanny" as well as the recently collected Humbug) on the young readers anthology NUTS! Fingerman also created a series of parodies for the European market, which ran in such periodicals as France's L'Echo Des Savanes and Spain's El Vibora.

Fingerman produced work for a wide variety of venues: kiddy satire, men's magazines, and science fiction. His work appeared in Cracked; Screw; Penthouse; Heavy Metal; National Lampoon; High Times; The Village Voice; and Business Week.

Focusing on comics, he worked on the The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, as well as Dark Horse Comics and DC Comics' Vertigo imprint.

In 1993 Fingerman produced his first graphic novel, White Like She, a satire about a middle-aged black man whose brain is transplanted into the head of a white teenage girl.

His semi-autobiographical series Minimum Wage, was later reworked as the graphic novel, Beg the Question (Fantagraphics Books).

Fingerman produced a vampire novel, Bottomfeeder (M Press), in 2007, as well as a novella, Connective Tissue (Fantagraphics, May 2009). From the Ashes (IDW), featuring Bob and his wife Michele adrift in post-apocalyptic NYC. In 2010 the collected edition of From the Ashes was published, and second novel"Pariah".

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches for other collections at Columbia University, through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, and through ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

All links open new windows.

Genre/Form
Comics (Graphic works)
Satire
Name
Fingerman, Bob, 1964-
Place
New York (N.Y.) -- Social life and customs -- Comic books, strips, etc
Subject
Artist
Authors
Caricatures and cartoons
Cartoonists
Comic books, strips, etc
Graphic novels
Manners and customs

Series I: Published


Box 1

Brunetti, Ivan. Fragments (2001). One of 100 unique boxes containing pieces of original art, sketches, doodles, notes, postcards, etc.


Box 1

Fingerman, Bob. You Derverved It (2005)

Series II: Beg the Question


Box 1

Fingerman, Bob. Beg the Question (2002)


Box 1 Folder 1-4

Fingerman, Bob. Beg the Question (2001). Proofs

Series III: Minimum Wage


Box 1 Folder 5

Fingerman, Bob. Minimum Wage. Acetates #1


Box 1 Folder 6

Fingerman, Bob. Minimum Wage. Acetates #2


Box 1 Folder 7

Fingerman, Bob. Minimum Wage. Acetates #3


Box 1 Folder 8

Fingerman, Bob. Minimum Wage. Acetates #4


Box 2 Folder 1

Fingerman, Bob. Minimum Wage. Script, 23 pages


Box 2 Folder 2

Fingerman, Bob. Minimum Wage. 2000 #8. Script


Box 2 Folder 3

Fingerman, Bob. Minimum Wage. 2000 #9. Script


Box 2 Folder 4

Fingerman, Bob. Minimum Wage. 2000 #10. Script


Box 2 Folder 5

Fingerman, Bob. Minimum Wage. Script, new pages for chapter 10 (8 Pages)


Box 2 Folder 6 & 7

Fingerman, Bob. Minimum Wage. 2000 #11. Script


Box 2 Folder 8-11

Fingerman, Bob. Minimum Wage. Process sketches


Box 2 Folder 12-14

Fingerman, Bob. Minimum Wage. Process sketches (from a Box marked "Otis sketches M.J.")


Box 2 Folder 15

Fingerman, Bob. Process drawing of Sylvia, a character from Minimum wage


Box 2 Folder 16

Fingerman, Bob. Color sketchbook page with Sylvia on one side, a character from From the Ashes on the other


Mapcase 15-K-11 Folder 1

Fingerman, Bob. Blue pencil process drawings from Minimum wage

Series IV: Other Artists


Box 2 Folder 17

Arriola, Gus. Four Gordo Sunday strip color guides and one handcolored Sunday strip with photocopy of original art, undated


Box 2 Folder 18

Link, Marty. Print of Emma Lou daily strip, 12/29/1979, with handwritten inscription, 12/29/1979


Box 2 Folder 19

Walker, Mort. Rough of Beetle Bailey Sunday strip, 9/21/1975


Mapcase 15-K-11 Folder 1

Berry, Jim. Original art from Berry's world Sunday strip,, 1/4/1976


Mapcase 15-K-11 Folder 1

Unknown artist. Donald Duck production drawing


Mapcase 15-K-11 Folder 1

Unknown artist. Yogi Bear sketch


Mapcase 15-K-11 Folder 1

Dunagin, Ralph. Hand-colored color guide from Dunagin 's people Sunday strip, undated


Mapcase 15-K-11 Folder 1

Vermeer, Al. Preliminary art from Priscilla's pop Sunday strip, 4/28/??, with editorial notes on rear, 4/28/??


Mapcase 15-K-11 Folder 1

Caniff, Milton. Print of 1987 Thanksgiving illustration, hand-colored


Mapcase 15-K-11 Folder 1

Bachman, Evelyne. Watercolor illustration about cartoonists, undated


Mapcase 15-K-11 Folder 1

Outcault, R.F. Modern reprint of color Yellow Kid poster for New York Journal